The first virtual pre-school in Sri Lanka going cosmopolitan

Last year, a ‘virus ’resulted in sweeping changes to educational settings. Frustrations arose from ambiguity about what and how to deal with the circumstances that educationalists had not experienced previously.

Nevertheless, whether it is online or in person, Footsteps Preschool as an institution was required to seek appropriate and efficient methods to help develop the skills of students.

“We believe that the most significant human learning occurs from birth to five years old and taking advantage during these challenging period, we swung to action immediately. Our first thought was focused on our students, secondly our teachers, by giving them the tools to enhance their teaching method and thirdly with our parents in sharing the bond of trust. While everyone was working from home, we came together but stayed apart physically”, says Farveez Maharoof, former national cricketer and director at Footsteps Preschool.

“Unforeseen scenarios often lead to obstruction and problem-solving aptitudes that are required to weigh alternative courses for action. Creating alternatives are the resources to modify the original plan in the best ways possible, and these methods may also develop better ways of doing things”, he remarked.

The curriculum was re-looked and tweaked to support online schooling. Online teaching requires numerous tasks to be accomplished in various phases of planning, implementation, and reflection. Creativity, Critical thinking, collaboration, and communication are continuously a prerequisite no matter whether the lesson is taught in a classroom or online. Online methodology and learning at Footsteps preschool have been a success from day one to date. Many months of regular teaching through a play based, hands on and interactive approach has been highly effective making sure our students haven’t missed out on their developmental milestones, he said.

Online education became the ‘NEW NORM ‘as a result of the pandemic. Following these circumstances, online teaching and learning had an indispensable role in early childhood education programs, although debates remain on whether or not it is beneficial for young children to be exposed extensively to Computers, Mobiles and Tabs. With utmost priority to heath concerns and circumstances, all our online sessions are scheduled between forty to sixty minutes depending on the activities, he added.

The preschool has a studentship of 100 with 70% from Sri Lanka and the rest from Maldives, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Vietnam and Japan.

“We have also had international registrations in the past from Australia, Qatar and Oman who have now transcended to Primary Education in their respective countries. Our global reach via online education is reaching recognition and acceptance”, Maharoof stressed.

Therefore, it is an additional task for teachers to reflect on children’s individual differences, besides their developmental levels. Once children are logged in, our teachers manage each child’s diverse needs, cogitate their learning styles, character, and interests, he further said.

Though, online teaching does limit the number of interactions that are possible with children, our teachers capitalize on the value of their communications and language with each child and create a happy social environment to encourage children’s participation, he added.

Directresses Mrs. Razana Muzni & Mrs. Fazra Irfan commented, “Although the pandemic was unexpected, swelled fast, affected all and created disorder, we were able to face the challenge and moved ahead with confidence, to create a success story for years to remember. The preschool stands tall and proud. Many valuable lessons have been learnt during these trying times. Children learn best through play and concentrate when they can be active through hands-on activities. We may not be able revert to teaching and learning in the same ways as we did prior to the pandemic or to provide the same types of environments and activities as we can implement in a classroom.

“Hence, it is imperative to think ahead so that we can design and consider limitations that we may face in the future. It is essential to provide teachers with opportunities and skills for online teaching, including interacting with children through this medium, and also have kids reflect about how best they stimulate progress and learning using online tools”.