How to Make Online Learning Work for Your Child?

The COVID-19 pandemic forced many schools to shift to remote learning. And then, there’s online tutoring too. While studying online is an excellent idea to keep the education of children uninterrupted, many students, parents and teachers struggled with adapting to virtual learning modes.

CrunchGrade, an online tutoring platform in Australia that focuses on K-12 students, offers some excellent tips to make online learning work for your child:1

1.  Check your tech before the class starts

Before the class starts, check that your computer or laptop is working properly. The last thing you want is for your child’s lesson to be disrupted because of a technical glitch.

Some of the things you should check are:

• The internet connection
• The audio and video settings
• The webcam

If you’re not sure how to do this, ask a friend or family member for help.

2. Be on time for the class

It’s important to be on time for the online class, just like it would be for a regular classroom setting. This way, your child won’t miss any important information or instructions from the teacher.

Online tutoring sessions can be flexible, but it’s still a good idea to be punctual. No one likes to wait. If you keep your teacher waiting for too long or repeatedly, they may not be as available to help your child in the future.

3.  Come prepared

 

Before the class, you should read the chapter or lesson that will be covered. This way, you can be prepared to ask questions and participate in discussions. You can use the PQ4R technique to quickly skim through the lesson, in which you:

• Preview the chapter by looking at the headings and subheadings
• Question what you will be learning by looking at the questions at the end of the chapter
• Read through the chapter quickly
• Reflect on what you’ve read by summarizing it in your own words
• Recite the key points of the chapter out loud
• Review the chapter by taking a practice quiz

This technique will help you and your child get the most out of the online lesson.

You should also dress well for the class. This will help your child feel confident and give their best during the lesson. It does not mean that you have to wear formals every time you sit down to study. Just make sure you’re comfortable and presentable.

4. Sit nicely with the camera on

While attending the class, make sure that your child is sitting in a well-lit area. This will help the teacher see them clearly on camera. Also, encourage your child to keep their camera on throughout the class so that they can interact with the teacher and other students.

While using the webcam feature, make sure that the background is not too distracting. A tidy room or a simple wall will do.

5. Mute yourself until you need to speak

In an online class, there will be times when more than one person will want to speak at the same time. To avoid interrupting the teacher or fellow students, your child should mute their microphone until it’s their turn to speak.

If he or she needs to ask a question or has a doubt, the child can put his or her hand up and speak when the teacher grants the permission to do so. Some other etiquettes of an online study session include:

• No side conversations
• No eating during the lesson
• No offensive or disrespectful comments

6. Be an active listener

When the teacher is speaking, your child should pay attention and not do anything else. This way, they can listen carefully and understand the concepts better. If they need to take notes, they can do so. But, they should avoid getting distracted by other things.

Active listening tips students can use while studying online are:

• Make eye contact with the teacher
• Nod or give verbal cues to show that they’re paying attention
• Avoid interrupting the teacher
• Ask questions when they don’t understand something
• Give their full attention to the lesson

7. Use headphones if possible

 

It’s a good idea to use headphones while attending an online class. This way, your child can hear the teacher clearly and won’t be distracted by background noise.

8. Positive attitude

It’s important to have a positive attitude while learning online. This will help your child stay motivated and focused on the task at hand. To nurture a positive attitude in your child, you should:

• Encourage them to participate in discussions and ask questions
• Help them see the positive side of things
• Appreciate their efforts
• Reward them for their achievements

With these tips, you can help your child make the most of online learning. You should also keep an eye on your child’s progress and offer help when needed. Creating a positive and conducive learning environment at home will go a long way in ensuring your child’s success.

9. Participate actively

Your child should participate actively in the online class. This includes asking questions, answering doubts and contributing to discussions. This will help them learn better and also make the class more interesting.

10. Chat responsibly

If the online class has a chat feature, your child should use it responsibly. He or she should not use it to distract other students or make fun of them.

So, these were some tips on how to make online learning work for your child. If you have any other suggestions, please feel free to share them in the comments section below.