How parents can help their kids succeed at online learning

We are living in an unexpected and unprecedented time. The Covid-19 pandemic has drastically brought a change as to how the world used to function. This transition has had a significant impact on the global education system.

Here are four things parents and caregivers can do to help their children be successful when learning online:

Build a Schedule

Students have a lot of structure during traditional school days, something that is hard to replicate online. For some students, online flexible learning is a natural fit. Other students, especially young learners, have a difficult time managing this increased autonomy. To stay on track, students must develop their own routines. Parents can help you develop a well-planned daily schedule, but also ensure that it is followed.

Students and parents can start by sitting down and talking about what they need to do in their online courses on a daily or weekly basis, how long those tasks will realistically take, and what other commitments (sports, arts, work, family engagements, etc.) they have to consider. Your child’s teacher(s) can also provide valuable insight into the curriculum, their own expectations, and how time should be allocated. Your child should build a weekly schedule with designated online courses after you have gone over all of his or her’s requirements. Keep the schedule visible, such as on the refrigerator or close to any other family calendar, in order to keep your child accountable.

Model Hard Work and Persistence

Since online learning eliminates many of the accountability systems that students are used to in the traditional classroom, achieving the same level of success will almost certainly necessitate a higher level of intrinsic motivation. This motivation comes more naturally to some students than to others, just as time management skills do. Learning online and learning on your own time is hard, and learning as an individual is hard.

Parents and other caregivers can make a significant difference by demonstrating the importance and prevalence of these skills in the “real world” outside of school. Talking with your child about your work and goals is a great place to start. Tell him or her about difficult projects you’re working on, new skills you’re learning, and challenges you’ve faced. Do you have a big presentation coming up at work? Tell your child how much extra time you’re spending on preparation. Do you have a new hobby? Tell your child what it has been like trying and failing.

Sit down with him or her to work on some of your own projects while he or she is working on online coursework. You don’t have to give big speeches or perfect examples (and you shouldn’t expect your child to listen intently), but demonstrating your hard work and motivated attitude will help your child approach online learning in the same way.

Set Up a Designated Workspace

It makes a huge difference to students’ mindset and ability to focus if they have the right workspace. Students can complete their work wherever they want with e-learning, so they should think about what kind of environment is truly most effective for them and make sure they have a designated work area at home.

Consider your child’s personality and needs when designing a workspace for him or her, and be sure to talk with him or her about where and how he or she will be most comfortable completing online coursework. If your child thrives on silence, make sure he or she has a comfortable chair and desk in the room. If he or she requires more interaction and hands-on accountability, a desk or table in the living room or kitchen may be preferable. Your child should have easy access to the materials and supplies he or she will need to be productive while working, such as good headphones, a wireless mouse if using a laptop, and plenty of notepaper, pens, and other office essentials.

Get to Know the Online Learning Platform

E-learning means that students are immersed in an online program (or several online programs). Some of the best ways to support your child are to understand how he or she uses these platforms, how he or she uses them, and what resources are available. With your student, explore any orientation resources provided by your school or district, as well as the online learning platform. Make sure he or she can navigate content and activities and complete basic tasks like submitting assignments and checking grades. You should also look into the communication tools that your children have access to, such as built-in messaging features, video-conferencing tools, and interactive classroom tools.

GrannyMaster Learning platform

There are many online learning platforms that also offer parent portals — don’t forget to check out the GrannyMaster learning portal that allows you to create a course for your children and monitor your child’s progress. Take the time to read any materials or guides specifically created for parents and caregivers.