"Education is the foundation of a strong, compassionate, and innovative society. As educators, our mission is to inspire curiosity, nurture values, and empower students to lead with integrity. Let’s shape not just minds, but also hearts — building a brighter tomorrow, one student at a time."

Mrs. Naina Dhillon, Principal of Vidya Devi Jindal School, Hisar, is a distinguished educationist with over two decades of impactful leadership across some of India's premier residential schools. An alumna of The Lawrence School, Sanawar, and a postgraduate in English Literature, she has held key academic and administrative positions at institutions like Yadavindra Public School, Scindia Kanya Vidyalaya, and Ecole Globale International Girls’ School. A trailblazer in many ways, she was the first female Housemaster for senior boys at YPS, Patiala, and was named among the top 10 women in International Schools in 2022.

Her commitment to holistic education is reflected in her love for sports, her contributions to national dailies like The Tribune, and her dedication to personal growth through trekking and mountaineering. 

In this blog, she shares her reflections on a subject close to every modern educator’s heart—student engagement in a hybrid setting.

Student Engagement in a Hybrid Setting

In the evolving world of education, one word continues to gain significance—engagement. At Vidya Devi Jindal School, a premier all-girls residential school, student engagement is not simply a metric—it is a philosophy. As the world transitioned to hybrid education, blending traditional classroom learning with online experiences, the need to rethink how to connect with students meaningfully became imperative.

Mrs. Dhillon emphasizes that engagement today is no longer confined to attendance or participation. “In a hybrid environment, true engagement is rooted in emotional connection, active involvement, and a learning experience that feels purposeful and personal,” she explains.

Bringing the Classroom to the Cloud

The transition to hybrid learning came with its challenges, but also with immense opportunities. At Vidya Devi Jindal School, educators leveraged a range of digital tools—virtual labs, collaborative platforms like Google Workspace and Microsoft Teams, and interactive learning apps—to transform traditional lesson plans into dynamic online experiences.

The objective was clear: to make online sessions just as interactive, lively, and intellectually stimulating as those held on campus. Group discussions, debates, and student-led presentations continued unabated, ensuring that academic rigor and curiosity were preserved, regardless of the format.

Sustaining the Boarding School Ethos

What truly sets Vidya Devi Jindal School apart is its strong residential culture—a sisterhood built on shared experiences and mutual growth. Mrs. Dhillon recognized that maintaining this connection during hybrid learning was essential for students’ emotional well-being.

The school adapted by introducing virtual dormitory check-ins, wellness circles, and peer mentorship sessions. These initiatives ensured that students still felt supported, valued, and heard. “Even when separated by distance, our girls remained connected to the school's spirit. The sense of community stayed intact,” Mrs. Dhillon reflects.

The Role of the Teacher in a Hybrid World

Hybrid learning reshaped the role of educators. No longer merely instructors, teachers at VDJS became facilitators, mentors, and guides—personalizing instruction to suit individual learning styles and emotional needs.

Professional development for faculty became a cornerstone of this transformation. Teachers were trained not just in using technology but also in building rapport and maintaining engagement in virtual settings. By encouraging student voice, nurturing inquiry-based learning, and linking content with real-world applications, they kept curiosity alive in every corner of the hybrid classroom.

Empowering Learners Through Ownership

One of the greatest advantages of the hybrid model was that it encouraged students to take ownership of their learning. Time management, digital responsibility, goal-setting, and self-motivation—once taught in passing—became essential competencies.

“We found that our girls became more independent and reflective,” notes Mrs. Dhillon. “They began setting their own goals, collaborating across time zones, and thinking critically about what they were learning and why it mattered.”

This autonomy was reinforced through student-led initiatives, research projects, debates, online exhibitions, and virtual community outreach. These platforms allowed girls to lead, innovate, and express themselves fully, whether online or on campus.

Innovation Rooted in Values

At Vidya Devi Jindal School, innovation is not limited to the adoption of digital tools. It is embedded in teaching philosophies and curriculum design. Traditional Indian values—respect, resilience, compassion—are seamlessly blended with 21st-century skills like digital fluency, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary exploration.

Students regularly engage in cross-subject projects, applying literature to understand social justice, or using science to drive sustainability campaigns. “Learning should never be isolated,” Mrs. Dhillon insists. “When students see the connections between disciplines, the world becomes their classroom.”

The school’s unique academic culture fosters holistic development—blending moral grounding with intellectual ambition.

Leadership Through Engagement

Leadership training is another key outcome of effective student engagement. Girls at VDJS are constantly encouraged to lead through organizing webinars, heading clubs, mentoring peers, or initiating community action projects.

By involving students in co-creating their learning experiences, the school ensures that they develop a strong sense of agency and accountability. As Mrs. Dhillon puts it, “We are preparing them not just to succeed in exams but to lead with integrity in a complex, evolving world.”

A Vision for the Future

Looking ahead, Mrs. Dhillon believes that hybrid learning is not a temporary fix—it’s a glimpse into the future of education. The key to success lies not in replicating traditional classroom experiences online, but in creating purposeful, student-centered ecosystems where learning is engaging, flexible, and deeply human.

“Hybrid learning is more than a logistical shift,” she concludes. “It is an opportunity to blend the best of both worlds—personal touch and global connectivity, structured curriculum and independent inquiry, tradition and technology.”

Through this thoughtful blend, Vidya Devi Jindal School continues to shape academically competent learners, empathetic, innovative, and resilient young women ready to lead, serve, and shape the future.