A Guide for Parents to Help Children with Remote Learning

Vinod Kakumanu
May 21, 2020, 11:24 a.m.

The closure of schools worldwide due to coronavirus has drawn scholars and pupils to get involved in the virtual education. Times are difficult and we need to adjust with the new mechanism. As the students are reckless, parents need to increase their level of patience while students are at home. The remote learning is the new normal after the outbreak of novel coronavirus making human beings seek solace at their respective homes.

A child’s evolvement and involvement in studies is mainly dependent on how parents invest their time and energy to grab their attention and increase their interest. Support from scholars and parents is equally important to make children figure out the methods to study especially during the closure period.

There are some tips for the parents to guide their wards in excelling in the remote learning study method which is adopted by many schools all over the world. The classrooms have temporarily turned into online learning platforms to continue with their studies without any obstacles.

The idea is to provide bare minimum guidance for parents who are trying to solve the puzzle behind the new mode of learning by K-12 institutions. The tips and tricks are basically to aid parents who are helping their children with online assignments or exercises

A well-planned schedule: The work will get easier if we keep a schedule so that it won’t get piled up. Children might forget about it so it is the parent’s responsibility to guide them with a proper time table. This would also give clarity on how much time is being spent on what subject.

Ensure they have necessary materials: make sure if they have a pencil, paper, a Wi-Fi connection, a PDF reader, or note making apps and reading strategies to complete their assignments.

Learning ambiance: Provide an environment conducive for learning at home. Unlike classrooms, it is difficult to conduct the study at home because there will definitely be some kind of disturbance coming from somewhere outside, or from the house itself. Ask members in the family to speak in a lower voice at learning hours. This would increase the concentration and focus of the child on the subject.

Design a daily plan: Ask children to write down the “to-do list’’ for the specific day. Look at the schedule and identify the things which need to be completed on that particular day.

Act as a guide: don’t teach them but just be available for help when they get stuck in the middle. For instance, if a second-grade student finds it difficult to write an essay, do not help by writing on behalf. Instead ask them to write the whole essay and point out mistakes and correct them. In this way only they will learn.

Make sure the work is completed on time: It is a parent’s responsibility to monitor the child is not wasting precious time to study. If a work is incomplete, ask the child directly or email the teacher to seek clarification.

Check messages: Due to remote learning, communication happens through text messages. So, help them check messages daily from teachers and other students and reply if required.

Identify barriers: If a child is struggling on a topic or subject, figure out the cause for that.When students say “I don’t understand”, try to know why they are finding it difficult and work until they get clear with the concept. This applies to teachers as well which is called diagnostic teaching. It is an approach to help students and detect the reason for their inability to comprehend a subject or concept and guide them properly.

Use school resources: if a child needs additional support contact school authorities and get assistance from them. For instance, if a child does not have a computer or laptop at home, they can use the school’s system without causing any damage. Teachers should also ensure if all children are getting access to needful resources for remote learning

Customize learning: parents can always personalize a child’s learning space and adjust their schedule. They can also have control over the curriculum and use the child’s strengths to build a learning mindset in them

Using the right kind of resource: There are a wide variety of apps available so it is important to use the right kind of learning apps to get easy access to learning.

Organize their learning atmosphere: The remote learning happens depending on the circumstance. Check whether they are using the Learning Management System (LMS), live classes are happening every day or weekly, is there a fixed curriculum that they follow and are assignments graded or not. Help them accordingly to set up a good learning atmosphere.

Promote self-direction: The more they have voice and choice on their work the better it will benefit them and will be easier and fulfilling.

The coronavirus has caused a severe outrage unexpectedly that has caused educators perplexed about the future of one-on-one learning. The remote learning in the long run probably can cause major damage to the people and create an obstacle for the holistic growth. But for now, all we can do is create a spark among students by being a strong support and confidante.