Learning and the pandemic – 5 ways to help students cope with online education
The global pandemic has been hard on everyone. From eating out to workspace restraints, social distancing to societal norms, e-commerce to education – this has disrupted more things than we can imagine. While we talk of lives, livelihoods and living spaces a large sector grossly ignored is education. EdTech has been a savior in this space, with interactive sessions, zoom lectures and google classrooms coming to the rescue, but is this the perfect substitute for a holistic classroom learning experience? Technology’s application to education, like everywhere else has its pros and cons in the field of education as well. It makes children stay connected to learning, encourages them to explore, and fires up their imagination. At the same time, parents and caretakers are facing issues like digital fatigue, unmanageable screen schedules, and being spoilt for choice amongst the flood of Learning Resources for School students.
So, how can we essentially adapt to the pandemic, without allowing an over exposure to the content we have access to? We can put many things on hold, but not learning. The brain works in wonderful ways, picks up new learnings as strands and weaves them into a rope for any problem that it has to solve. It therefore becomes crucial that primary caregivers, teachers, parents and students work out a plausible framework to fit in the pandemic system of education.
Set a special space:
Getting into the groove of learning, and setting the mood is very important. It is easy to get distracted at home, especially when the whole family is working in a shared space, all at a time on different things – attending office meetings on zoom, cooking, cleaning, Netflix and Prime videos, everything is happening at the same time.
In such a scene, a special space for learning, reading or attending online classes is a good idea. Even a corner that is exclusive for study will do. Studies show that environment plays a significant role in the way a child absorbs information, which is why schools have classrooms, and homeschooling experts recommend dedicated spaces for learning. Try and create a close to classroom experience by minimizing background noise, and ambiance that sets the tone for studies. It could be challenging, but is not too difficult!
Advantage technology:
Among increasing concern of children spending too much time online, and screen time destroying imaginations, creativity and giving rise to a host of other problems, parents face a new challenge in the form of education being shifted online. While children were being discouraged from spending time with devices, in a matter of days they were asked to shift to a 100% online mode. This can be overwhelming for students, and stressful for teachers and parents.
How do you strike a right balance? The answer to this, like many other things lies in planning. Technology is a tool, and must be used like one. Sign up for a credible Personalized Learning Online Platform for Students, that provides optimized content for the student, filtering out the unnecessary scrolling and search time. Quality time is vital, screen time should consciously involve some form of cognitive activity. Of course entertainment times can be set, but content control should not be ignored.
Stick to a schedule:
A set schedule, or a timetable not only helps the student ease stress from the sudden change, but also provide a sense of comfort from understanding the routine. This will also help transition the student back to on campus school time when time comes. Making time for additional learning after school sessions help the student stay occupied. Most studies show that this aspect of home education is a challenge, especially when it comes to younger children. This interferes and becomes difficult for the parents who have work to do at home or have office schedules of their own. Choosing from the many Comprehensive learning programs for school students available online comes in handy here. Incorporating it into the schedule means the student is not just occupied, but is meaningfully occupied.
Take breaks
Digital fatigue is real. We are physiologically not equipped to deal with too much of formal digital exposure in the form of meetings, classes and tests. The way ahead is digital – sure, but it needs transitional time. Spending copious amounts of time huddled in front of a device, trying to make sense of what the instructor is saying, and absorbing all that can be tedious. Science tells us that resting a while, relaxing and restarting improves academic performance. Encourage students to take breaks, proactively meditate, or partake in a high impact indoor workouts so it keeps them alert and increases concentration.
Spending time together
The pandemic is easing, and spaces are now accessible. Schools and colleges have been opening up in parts of the world with controlled measures, while in other places they have been postponed even further. The fact that this has been quite traumatic for students, young children who are clueless about grappling with changed realities and uncertainties is undisputed by all communities alike. Reassuring them by spending time together is key. Quality time over dinner, partnering for fun activities, doing household chores together, solving math puzzles or even a casual chat about their day will be of immense help. Children are coping up with changed realities, and it is our responsibility to make it as painless as possible.
We are in this together, so just remember that this is not a setback but a pause for a grand comeback!
