Being a tech fan, I always depend on technology to do most of my work. A few months ago, my parents got disturbed whenever they found me spending hours leaning on the screen of a mobile or laptop. However, my recent experience of attending online classes has changed their so called negative thoughts about the tech enthusiastic young generation. Now they do not raise their eyebrows when I remain busy with technology. You may be surprised why I am making all these personal information public.

Actually, I am going to tell you how I attended classes in an invisible classroom using technology and felt the essence of digital Bangladesh.

I started a new journey of my life with “Amar Internet Amar Aye”, a freelancing training project on November 6.

This project is being provided free of cost in 64 districts of Bangladesh to enable educated unemployed women to earn money through outsourcing. The first class was an introductory online live class held in Narayanganj under the auspices of Jatiyo Mohila Sangstha, an organisation which always works for women through different kinds of well timed projects.  As online class was a new experience for us, we were all very excited. Some of the students were confused whether they were attending a class or not. Our trainer, Farhan Tanvir Dip introduced us to the curriculum of the project.

We came to know that we would learn freelancing basic, data entry, digital marketing, SEO, Graphics Designing, E-commerce business through this project. Although we were not able to see him, his way of teaching and vocal presence created wow moments in the invisible classroom. We all strained to be more attentive.

We were 38 students in this group. Submitting homework, sharing problems through screenshot and comments, giving attendance, having fun- everything was going on in a unique way as if an invisible software was making all these things happen. The most enjoyable part of virtual classroom is that it is non- restricting. As online classes allow for the ability to record the class in progress, the class is always accessible to the students even after being delivered.

Really it is an extra benefit for those who miss a session or perhaps do not fully understand the class for the first time. Usually traditional classroom enables us to be connected with synchronous learning, a learning environment where everyone takes part in the learning at the same time. Online classroom gives us this same type of experience but with more conveniences and tools. For example, we have got a very beneficial website from “Jatiyo Mahila Sangstha” where everything is arranged for the benefit of the students. We can visit that website anytime for self- learning. There are also some important videos related to our syllabus which is really very helpful.

Submitting homework in the online classroom is the most exciting part of online education. In traditional classroom, we always expect to have some positive comments in our homework copy. As our classes were held in a secret facebook group, our trainer used to write his comments on our homework in comment box and also expressed his reactions through some interesting facebook emojis- like (thumbs up), love (beating heart) or wow (surprised face). As soon as we submitted homework, we waited for the notifications. In virtual classroom, not only teachers but also students get chance to pass comments on homework which motivates every single student including those who are unwilling to submit the due homework. Instant comments on others’ homework have made us more engaging as if the notifications of comments were urging us to complete our pending work as soon as possible.

We have also been familiar with online exam through this project. It was really an exciting experience to attend online exam and get the result whenever the exam was finished.  

Making friends online is still a controversial topic. Some people think that virtual friends are not real at all because they always search for emotional touch in virtual friendship and they firmly believe that this emotional touch can’t happen without face to face interaction. Moreover, most of the people think that technology gives us motion but snatches away emotion.

Actually, having emotion does not depend on technology rather it depends on our attitude. After attending these online classes, I can easily say that sometimes virtual relationships are better than real ones.

Though there was no chance to have face to face interaction, we grew an amazing bond within a very short time through this project. It is needless to say that technology sometimes really plays a very important role in creating strong bonds. Undoubtedly, the whole environment of the class was better than that of a traditional classroom. It’s because all of the members of this group were very dedicated to help each other if needed. Time was running very fast. Suddenly we came to know that our exciting classes were coming to an end. However, our attraction towards this ‘AIAA’ (Amar Internet Amar Aye) Narayanganj group is increasing day by day. Really, we are very grateful to “Jatiyo Mohila Sangstha” for this kind of effective opportunity for women who have been waiting for a ray of hope for a long time.  It is needless to say that “Amar Internet Amar Aye” will play a very important role to realise “Digital Bangladesh Vision 2021”. Thanks to our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for giving us Digital Bangladesh.

The writer is a lecturer in English, Bangladesh Institute of Business and Technology (BIBT)