Curious parents trying to get a peek at their son or daughter’s class, students lounging in a couch or sipping a cold drink while listening to a lecture — teachers have been encountering diverse scenes during virtual classes.

Online classes have become the new normal for several schools but teachers fear students might get too comfortable in the new set-up.

Teachers are missing the human touch but they have noticed that the students are “comfortable” with technology and hence most tend to open up more.

“Children are asking questions more openly. There’s greater interaction than there would be in the classroom. While that is a plus, online classes can only supplement a real classroom and students need to have contact with other children, listen to a class lecture, learn discipline and decorum. And all this can happen only when they are in school,” said Rupkatha Sarkar, the principal of La Martiniere for Girls.

Delhi Public School Ruby Park has asked students not to log in to online classes using nicknames. “We want to maintain discipline and structure in the new set-up. Students cannot enter an online classroom using a nickname. The teacher should know who has logged in and he or she should be identified by their proper names,” said principal Joyoti Chaudhuri.

Teachers of several schools have had parents popping in to check out the e-class, some have found students stretched out on a couch. With the rush to go to school missing, many students are waking up late and the mornings are mostly relaxed.

“Attendance is better across classes and assignments are also coming on time,” said Seema Sapru, the principal of The Heritage School.

But some schools have also noticed children not turning up online. “Some students might not have a personal space from where they can connect and might want to stay out,” said Apala Dutta, the principal of Birla Bharati.

Principals and coordinators of schools are logging in to check on the classes.

“Teachers are choosing segments that can be taught online. For instance, English teachers are taking literature, rather than grammar, lessons. For subjects like maths that need repetitive explanation, it is not easy,” said Sharmila Bose, the principal of Sushila Birla Girls’ High School.

Mahadevi Birla Shishu Vihar, Sri Sri Academy, Garden High International School, Birla Bharati, Sri Sri Academy, Mahadevi Birla World Academy, Sushila Birla Girls' School, Newtown School and Indus Valley World School are some of the schools that are conducting online classes.