Good morning people. For this Sunday's edition of Pamilya Muna, your Good Morning Couple discussed about home readiness for e-learning. Since schools prefer online learning, we must prepare well enough for the challenges of the new normal of school.
Connectivity: the internet universe is getting crowded with so much connections; when businesses were the ones dominating the scene, schools are now taking over. Data, modem and fiber optic connections have become popular preferences and all comes with a price and various packages. Better consider the number of gadgets that will connect to your provider, the internet speed, and the time of use. Reality check: some locations have better Internet signal than others (lagging, hanging).
Device: certain specifications are required for this, better check with your school. Desktop, laptop, tablets and cellphones are the most sought after gadgets. But before you rush to buy a device, first try the ones you have at home, it might work for your kids. Be wary of the age-appropriate skills that your child can perform: tablets and cellphones are better for children less than 7 years of age, for older ones keyboards are okay. Please give some time for your kids to be familiar with the device.
Dedicated Space: online schooling requires a lot of discipline and effort to focus. Even if your house is small, please involve your child in creating an exclusive venue for them to call their own and designated for school activities, the area should be conducive for learning. The bedroom, kitchen, and living room might not be effective since most of these areas are always busy and prone to distractions.
Dedicated time: scheduling is critical in establishing routine and monitoring activities for online learning. Make a simple calendar that your children can see and read clearly. There should also be time to stretch and relax, too much time onscreen might cause pain and discomfort to your eyes, neck, shoulder, back and hands. And there should be no playing or social media during breaks!
Student ready: make your child sleep earlier than usual since they will have to wake up early as well. Online schooling simulates actual school schedule, especially with synchronous learning schedules: your child is neat and dressed appropriately, ready to listen and participate in school related learning. This is one of the greatest challenges for parents because the kids have been having a free lance routine since the quarantine! Tip: conduct this adjustment lovingly.
Learning styles: synchronous requires live, real time participation; its greatest advantage is for student interaction, participation and discussion. Your kid can ask the teacher directly and get answers right away. Internet connection is critical. For asynchronous learning, all videos are recorded and the child can play it repeatedly until a sense of comfort and familiarity is achieved. In some areas, handouts are emailed and/or printed for parents to pick up in school.
Family Meetings: this is the last but MOST IMPORTANT aspect of readiness. Schedule regular get togethers with your kids to monitor and check on their progress, their accomplishments, and areas of difficulty. Write down expectations in simple terms on areas where the student can see it. At home, during dinner, we post this question to our 3 kids aged 15, 10 and 6......what's the best thing that happened to you today? And listen to their stories.
For the full video presentation, please click the link https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=719553105510216
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