key: cord-0683895-obezl2wv
authors: Menon, P. R.; Sharma, S
title: How to Reopen Schools in a Flipped Manner Without a Flop
date: 2022-01-20
journal: Indian J Pediatr
DOI: 10.1007/s12098-021-04027-6
sha: c1b7eaa1fbd968876df1d4eaf811dcf9ba20f25a
doc_id: 683895
cord_uid: obezl2wv

nan

To the Editor: Apropos earlier letter [1] , we are sharing a unique blending of classrooms for school reopening.

This pandemic is forcing new life skills on all (COVID-19 lifestyle). Students are perforce "online only" learning and testing since March 2020. The Government is emphasizing online classes up to < 8th grade; a paradigm shift in curricula (syllabi) with mandatory COVID-19 protocol for all, be it masking, physical distancing, vaccination, etc. for the schools, adapting to new teaching and learning (TL) techniques for teachers and the taught through "screens" (alone, in a virtual population), or wholesome monitoring for the parents.

A simple integrated model of online mode with the physical mode of classroom teaching, based on the flipped elementary classroom [2] is proposed. Integrating the on-site real classes by teachers [e.g., a small group of 10 (from 4th grade onwards) in a physical class of 30] for asymptomatic students with virtual mode for 20 at home or hostel, per session. These physical classes' recordings may be relayed online in a staggered manner along with the interaction of the students on-site. The former may flip at the end of a week or session. Likewise, a digital repository unique to the grade, accessible and available for review/quality check will be created. It may be safely implemented by schools, after considering number of COVID cases (e.g., if < 500/1 million population, in the last 7 d, in a particular zone) [3] . This approach of amalgamating the physical and online teaching is the need of the hour: an implicit mechanism for regaining children's confidence and social bonding skills. Team building (with other children in real life) will also unmask creative energy as they actually interact with others; improving their emotional intelligence and well-being.

Further, a new and tangible technointegrated life skill may evolve without compromising safety of our young children and schools.

Should schools reopen early or late? -transmission dynamics of COVID-19 in children

Flipping the elementary classroom

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Weekly Report. World Health Organization. 2020. Available at

Conflict of Interest None.