Direction: Read the passage carefully and answer the question that follows.

The lockdown has forced institutions to go online without notice or training, and as a result, to learn quickly. There is a lot of experimenting going on as there is a scarce experience in this area. The faculty have had to learn the medium and then understand how to use it effectively in class. There is really no choice but to learn. Many faculty have stepped up to the task, for this is the medium of tomorrow.

On the other hand, students are in a familiar and comfortable home environment, but perhaps face challenges that anyone running a home office would face — that of balancing home responsibilities with the rigours of being in a classroom. However, the online world has the advantage of flexibility, along with reduced commuting time. Additionally, societies and business are moving largely to an online presence. The basic objection that there is less interaction in an online space, is redundant if one considers the constant attention to WhatsApp chats. Online interactions have now been augmented by Zoom, Google or Skype calls for socialising. Once this becomes the accepted norm, online education will become more acceptable.

Institutions will realize that this method allows them to retain their best faculty, offering them better control over their schedules. Faculty will soon get over the learning curve and begin to appreciate the enhanced capabilities of the digital medium. They will be able to reach out to a wider range of students who need not come to campus all the time, and students who were earlier sitting in classes will prefer operating from homes or internet cafes.