The age of online learning is upon us, or at least that’s what Forbes magazine has to say. According to the report, the e-learning industry is expected to exceed $350 billion by 2025.
However, as learning progresses rapidly, it can be for your child to keep up. With schools opting for newer tech and software each time, it is up to the parents to keep up with the rat race.
Fortunately, the following tips can help you not only stay on pace but also be at the head of the pack.
1. Record Lessons for Later Review
Currently, video conferencing platforms are the most popular for online learning. These apps increase accessibility, allowing your child to learn from the comfort of home. Teachers can interact and send lessons to their pupils via these apps.
However, despite these amenities, there are bound to be some limitations on these apps. During the 40 to 50-minute classes, no teacher can effectively address every query and question for every student. Additionally, weak connections, static, and more may interfere with the lessons. Children may also lose concentration watching a teacher on-screen for extended periods.
To counter these issues, you can use any free video recorder to record your child’s class. With this backup, they can go back and review any lesson. To clear up any confusion, they can simply rewatch the specific parts of the recorded lesson.
In addition, you can also apply other remote tools more effectively. For example, you can attach Google Drive to the Google Meet account to offer 15 GB of free storage. Parents can use this to store recorded lessons, important learning videos, and more. Using the login IDs these can be accessed from any part of the world.
Zoom also has several features aimed at improving student participation. Parents can read up on features like direct chats, multiple group connections, and even premium plans to enhance their child’s learning. Using these tools can aid their online learning experience as they improve teacher-student accessibility.
2. Use Practical Demonstrations Where Possible
For better learning, parents can re-enact the online lessons with at-home demonstrations. For example, for a chemistry lesson, you can get your child a child-friendly, at-home lab set to try out some of the experiments. These tricks will surely make the lessons more interesting.
Additionally, a Carnegie Mellon University study even states that children learn faster through practical lessons. So, an at-home chemistry or physics set may help them remember their lessons better and for longer. With these kits, they can put their theories to the test and ink their own conclusions.
For younger learners, you can opt for illustrations, or educational toys to get them to engage with their lessons. Building blocks, alphabet toys, and more can improve focus and build better memorization over time. It is up to the parents to help the child remember once the online lesson is over. These tips can help teach the child to remember their notes and subjects.
Using interactive games and flashcards can also keep the lessons fun. You can use these in a less formal setting to prepare your child for tests and reviews. For more advanced grades, other media, like films or audio books can back up their online lessons.
3. Apply Various Media to Teach
Learning doesn’t have to be just book-based. Research shows that visual-based teaching can help children develop higher-order thinking skills quicker. These strategies are more impactful and make the lessons “stick” faster in their memory.
So, instead of sticking to the tried and tired methods, you can revamp your child’s learning style. Video tutorials are a smart way to begin – they have enormous potential, combining visual and auditory aspects.
The auditory and the visual sense are a considerable part of human perception, combining makes them more effective in relaying messages to the brain. An average person will remember more than 95% of a video but only 10% of their last read written text.
To improve your child’s learning, you can thus turn to visual media. Platforms like YouTube Player for Education offer a smart, and easy way for parents to get their children to learn. This program is created together with top ed-tech companies like Purdue University and EdTech.
Created to promote literacy worldwide, programs like these take learning to the next level. On these sites, your child has access to interactive lessons along with video content.
Interactive Online Sessions
In a typical classroom setting, a single teacher cannot focus on all students. However, because of these algorithms, every user on the platform will have access to free interactive sessions. From quizzes to puzzles, the options on these are huge.
Children can use these opportunities to test their learning. Since these interactive sessions are usually based on the recent video lesson, it also helps students understand the topics more thoroughly. The combination of visual media and interactive programs offers a one-on-one learning experience that conventional teaching methods cannot match.
However, when choosing your teaching media, you should find a platform with no distracting ads, promotions, or links. These can interfere with the child’s concentration and make them lose focus.
Conclusion: Offer Breaks to Recharge
As important as learning is, letting children between lessons is just as necessary. From snack breaks to short naps, some spare time between back-to-back lessons can rejuvenate them. In addition, children can be given a creative outlet during this period – drawing or painting is a great way to get them to refocus.
These breaks are scientifically proven to improve learning. According to a 2016 study, time off between lessons was linked to decreased stress and increased brain function/productivity in children.
Disclosure: This is a featured post.