E- LEARNING: MERITS AND DEMERITS

Nowadays, the teaching-learning activities are completely disturbed as the lockdown due to fatal pandemic COVID-19 had made the educational institutions and all other organizations closed. The educational institutes were closed especially for the safety of students and will be continued until the situation becomes normal. The associate in the educational field had come upon with the new method of continuing regular classes. Keeping all the criteria and precautions in mind including social distancing and staying home, the government has decided to continue teaching-learning activities through online using e-gadgets.

Though this new method of education helps to run the classes efficiently, there are lots of problems roaming around which if not solved in time can create a bigger issue for teachers, parents and students later on. As a coin has two sides inseparable, same thing applies with every new topics and ideas. Therefore, we can get both merits and demerits of e-learning in this drastic situation due to global pandemic. Here are some of the merits and demerits of e-learning or online classes faced by teachers, students and parents:

Merits of E-learning (Online Learning) :

• E-learning enables both the teachers and students to get into teaching-learning activities from anywhere at any time.
• E-learning provides better understanding of courses using different effective and interactive tools for presentation of specific topic and group discussion or communication.
• While attending online classes, there is very less chance of being disturbed by friends. It is also beneficial for teachers as they don't have to yell at the students time and again like in the regular class.
• E-learning offers more individual attention. Through online classes students can individually get the answers  to their queries without being disturbed by anyone like in classroom.
• E-learning tends to make students cultivate the habit or skills of better time management. As students should be on time in class, it has helped them a lot to be self- disciplined as well.
• E-learning enhances the active participation/ involvement of parents in students study review. Through online classes it is convenient for parents to remain up-to-date with their children's academic performance.
• E-learning helps the teachers to deal with weak and less-attentive students as they can check out the activities of every students who are online.
•  E-learning has become more beneficial teachers as they can keep records of each and every assignments, assessments and academic performances of each students.
• E-learning has developed the better technical skills and communication in students as they have to use technology for every activities during this fatal pandemic.
• E-learning tends to improve virtual communication and collaboration among the teachers and students to replace the real (face-to-face) interaction till the situation becomes normal. 

Demerits of E-learning (Online Learning) :

• The biggest problem of online learning is limitation of technology. Many students are deprived of education as they don't have reach to e-gadgets or technology.
• Students and teachers both are likely to face internet connectivity issue which can affect the teaching-learning activities. Whereas in some cases, students tell internet connectivity issue as the reason of bunking classes even when it is not true.
• The students can even chat privately in the online class without being known by the teacher. So, respective teacher must pay attention to that.
• The next big issue of online learning is procrastination. Students are free to procrastinate in the online classes easily as they are in contact with their friends online. 
• The academic performance of students may not be that much reliable which they used to have in school as cheating prevention is totally impossible during online assessments.
• E-learning tends to create different eyes related problems and other diseases as during this pandemic all people spend their most of the time using e-gadgets.
• Some mischievous students are likely to disturb the class and try to outsmart the teacher by entering class with a false name, posting inappropriate messages and scribbling in the shared screen. 
• E-learning can cause social isolation as well. Some students cannot workout properly with e-gadgets only. They require special attention from teachers and real interaction with their friends otherwise they can feel isolated.
• Online teaching is difficult for teachers as they are more likely to teach students with real interaction. In some cases, teachers too don't have enough skills and knowledge to use technology/ e-gadgets for teaching which creates a big issue.
• E-learning can decrease the creativity level of students. As students are habituated for being dependent in the technology for minor difficulties, it slowly decreases their creativity level.

The government and associates in the education field must take major steps to solve out the online issues especially for the easy access to the e-gadgets in the remote areas. If not so we are likely to witness digital divide soon in our country. Digital literacy is very essential and it is the right of every citizen to get access to the digital technology and get quality education. Moreover, it's in our hand to make this new method or effort of continuing regular classes successful. We must follow the right path and be the good digital citizen of our country. 

                                                         Thank You!!!

Teej : Festival of Women

 

Teej; one of the festivals of Nepali culture celebrated on Bhadra Shuklapaksha Tritiya, is considered as the important festival for women among the Hindu religion. Teej is a female-oriented popular Hindu festival that rejoices in the union of the Hindu power-duo Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Mostly, married and pious women celebrate this festival with lots of enthusiasm for the long life and prosperity of their husbands. Likewise, unmarried girls are also fond of taking fast and praying to Lord Shiva for getting a good life partner like him. 

History and Mythology:

Long time ago, the king of Himalaya had a beautiful daughter named Parvati, who was very intelligent and deeply admired the Hindu God of Destruction and Creation, Shiva. But the king decided to marry Parvati to the wealthy Vishnu. With the assistance of her friends, Parvati successfully escaped from the house and hid in the thick forest. From then on, she led an ascetic life. Upon hearing this, Shiva was so surprised and decided to test her sincerity. He disguised as the rich Vishnu and rode a gorgeous carriage to see Parvati, trying to lure her to marry him. However, Parvati still remained unmoved. Shiva was so impressed by her determination and revealed his identity. At last, Parvati realized her dream and married Shiva. Owing to her friends' help, Parvati could get rid of the arranged marriage. She was very grateful to them and held a party to celebrate this happy ending. This is the origin of Teej Festival.

Celebration:

Teej; is especially celebrated for three days that includes Dar Khane Din (Grand feast), Haritalika Teej (Rigid Fasting Day) and Rishi Panchami (Holy Bath). All the days have its own significance.

1. Dar Khane Din:

On this day all the family members especially the women, both married and unmarried gather at one place, in their finest outfits of red called "Saubhagya". When the night falls, they'll make a hearty meal and prepare tasty sweets. They all will gather together with foods and drinks, perform traditional dances and sing devotional songs. Those celebrations continue till the midnight.

2. Haritalika Teej:

This day holds the great importance out of all other days. After having a warm bath, women will wear gold and silver jewellery and dress in their red wedding sarees. Then they head in groups to Shiva temples nearby and offer flowers and fruits to Lord Shiva. One of the most important things here is to make a wish for the healthy life of their husbands and families. The unmarried girls also follow Teej rituals to pray for a good husband like Lord Shiva. Some women take it very rigid, they even live without a piece of food and drops of water while some others take liquid and fruit. The next most important part of the pooja is mostly done in the evening by burning the oil lamp (108 sute batti in a diyo) which should be burning throughout the night. Women get up early in the dawn and get cleaned and do the pooja once again to the diyo and goddess Parvati. Only after this pooja, women take solid food.

3. Rishi Panchami:

After paying homage to seven saints, Nepali women would bath with red mud found on the roots of the sacred datiwan bush, along with its leaves. This symbolic bath will absolve them of all sins. After three hours of rigorous cleansing, they come out purified and absolved from all sins. After this they sit in a semicircle position while a priest sitting in the middle chants devotional prayers. Then they go to worship the god Ganesh, so that their wishes made in the previous day can be achieved. On this day, women can enjoy a sumptuous meal. Many dishes are unique to this festival, such as a special bean soup or Karkalo with puree.

 

Teej Festival is the first grand festival coming at the end of the rainy season. It is believed that womens observe this festival to have long and firm relationship with her husband throghtout this life till death and all the lives to come. 

Although Teej is a festival of mythological significance, it also has its own cultural and social importance. Moreover, Teej is a cultural festival in which women dance and sing songs at home, temples and nearby public places. Although modernity seeks to introduce some distortions, this festival helps to present the pains and sufferings of women in a contemporary way.

 

 

 

                                     THANK YOU!!!