Significant changes are currently taking place everywhere in the world. Knowing the most effective methods to link instructors with students and their parents/guardians is crucial if schools in your region are closing. Closures have already o
ccurred in numerous cities. Precautions are being taken in some places, and schools are getting ready to close in others.
All things considered, it is becoming more and more clear how important technology and communication are to the educational process. Students of all ages will have to adjust to a new method of learning remotely.
Although it doesn’t have to be, this causes a lot of anxiety for many people. Technology has already been included into the curriculum by educational institutions. All that needs to be done is shift to home learning from a classroom and maintain student interest in their studies.
Making use of technology
Nowadays, the majority of schools provide each student with a personal gadget to improve their technological learning experience.
Here are a few methods for communication that may be used from home:
Intranet of the school
Information and administration access at the school
Personal access and a safe login
Particular classroom exercises
Availability of educational resources
Gateway for mobile messaging
Texting in both directions
SMS notifications and alerts
Email to SMS OTT communications (like Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp)
Channels for distributing media
Group conversations and a private page for sharing, like, and commenting on material
Video live streaming, email, and phone calls
Home-based instruction
Creating lesson plans requires a lot of time and work. Teachers may find it difficult to turn all of that material into an online course, but it’s essential in unpredictable times like these.
Make sure there is as little interruption to pupils’ instruction as feasible. Early device and technology introduction would help with this, but if that is not possible, teachers should spend time teaching their pupils how to use the technology (such as laptops or tablets) that will be used in the classroom.
Involve parents and guardians whenever you can. This will help get the class going, keep students interested, and help them focus on their job. The instructor may choose to produce instructional videos, broadcast live lessons, or assign online digital tasks. They might also include reading and writing assignments that must be finished in a specific amount of time.
Being patient is crucial because it will take some time for parents, teachers, and kids to adjust to this setup and learning style. Teachers should receive the assistance they require throughout this transition from government agencies and educational institutions.
The key is communication. Parents and students can receive SMS alerts reminding them of assignments, assessments, and due dates. When a student needs to talk about anything, two-way texting can help. Information access, links to online resources, and other multimedia content can be sent with the use of MMS.
Studying at home
Since classrooms were designed to be learning environments, the shift to home learning will be significant for all parties—teachers, parents/guardians, and students.
Establishing a learning station keeps the learner from feeling too at home, or at the very least, it reduces household distractions. Additionally, it will enable the learner to customize their study space to meet their individual requirements. Even at home, it’s critical to offer intuitive learning methods because every learner learns differently.
Additional considerations for studying from home:
supervision (in the event that pupils are minors)
A secure and wholesome setting
Cleanliness
Distractions and noise
Access to the tools and resources needed for class, such as those needed to finish assignments
Check-in
With pupils
It might be challenging for teachers to determine whether a kid needs extra help in a particular area if they are unable to observe each student’s conduct in person. With a slight modification, it is still possible to check in with every student at the conclusion of class. To talk about what’s happening and how they might help, teachers can SMS or phone.
It’s also a good idea to inquire about the students’ health and wellness, how they feel about learning from home, and any suggestions they may have for the teacher.
With parents
It is imperative that parents and teachers communicate on a regular basis, particularly during the transitional phase. To start, developing dynamic and captivating lesson plans for the school curriculum requires getting input from parents. To account for the situation’s endurance (who knows how long this can endure in these uncertain times?), it is imperative that educators understand what works and what doesn’t.
Parents and guardians must be there to oversee and motivate their children to perform to the best of their abilities because the teachers are not physically present.
Every task is homework.
Homework is typically completed after school hours and nearly always has a deadline. However, homework could need to be redesigned during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It could be necessary to adjust instructional structures to the current environment given the closure of numerous schools and educational facilities. The way the curriculum is taught will undoubtedly change, even though the curriculum as a whole won’t.
Unsurprisingly, homework was first used as a form of discipline. Teachers now offer homework for a variety of reasons, such as:
preparation and practice
involvement in class
individual growth
Relationships between parents and children
Peer relationships and group projects, as well as school policies, foster good study habits.
Bringing schoolwork home is not the same as learning from home full-time, despite the fact that the aforementioned arguments are all legitimate. These new arrangements bring with them a fresh perspective on homework, education, and study. Will ‘homework’ still be required under these circumstances?
Participate online
Written assignments, online tests, live streaming, and video lectures are not the only forms of online learning. Teachers can create engaging online activities to maintain students’ attention and stimulate their minds.
Numerous internet tools are available to engage kids in academic pursuits. One of the best ways to keep everyone engaged and foster teamwork is through shared assignments and activities.
It isn’t all work and no play, though. Numerous online educational games are available to fit any subject and keep students interested.
Some things to keep in mind when learning online
Breaks are crucial even when instructors, parents/guardians, and students are at home.
Every person learns in a unique way.
Everyone has a learning curve, so patience is key.
Students should have access to resources, tools, and equipment.
Not every student will have access to a computer at home, and not every location will have a safe Internet connection.
Above all, maintain your health, safety, and hygiene.