Everything is different in my life because of the COVID-19 p

I am a faculty at the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, in Dehradun in India. It is a nice city, close to the hill station of Mussoorie.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed my daily life to some extent as I am stuck in my house, like many others, during the lockdown. This global pandemic has affected various aspects of life in different countries. 

The Prime Minister of our country has requested that people isolate themselves and stay at home. Schools, colleges, and offices are closed. The same is true of theatres, bars, and cinemas. Travel for both leisure and business is presently banned. Here in Mussoorie, people are facing no problems in purchasing essentials.

Our university has a devoted online portal from where we can take online sessions. It is safe and secure. Students can hear and view us and we can hear them and so it is an interactive session. We can share files and our screens with our students. Their assignments, projects and quizzes are taken online. It’s such a useful tool!

.There are rarely internet connectivity issues in urban areas but students living in hilly and rural areas face difficulties with this mode of teaching. 

In a matter of weeks, COVID-19 has changed how students are educated around the world. These changes give us a glimpse into how education can change in the long term. New solutions for education could bring about much-needed innovation. Given the digital divide, new shifts in education approaches could widen equality gaps.

I am spending my time during lockdown by continuing to teach (online) so that education is not disrupted for my students. I have also been attending webinars, completing certificate courses through Coursera and Asian Development Bank Institute, working on some research papers, and helping those less fortunate around me by donating money and food packets.

Even though there is so much uncertainty and change to deal with, I try to keep myself motivated and engaged. I watch the news only occasionally to keep my mind off the current situation. Instead I listen to music and do yoga to take care of my body and mind.