DISTRACTIONS IN ONLINE LEARNING

AIRENE P. DAYRIT, RGC, RPM, LPT

There has been some difficulty adjusting to online classes, as expected. Not only do all students and teachers not have the same access to a stable internet connection or have a proper learning environment fit for the demands of online schooling, but there has also been some discussion on how difficult it is to concentrate whilst participating in online classes. We, especially adolescents, have seen gadgets or devices as means of distraction. Using it now as something to draw much of your attention is difficult for some of us to get used to. It has been a long time struggle to keep students’ attention in a traditional face-to-face setting, but how about now that everyone is behind a digital screen?

Teachers do not know what students may be doing when their mics and cameras are closed. There is difficulty in sitting down in front of a screen by yourself, mostly without having urges to do something more stimulating. With background noise that may affect one’s focus or other needs that must be taken care of in a household, we may agree that distance learning is not an easy task. In able to encourage the attention of students in class, getting to know more about their environment by analyzing the information that they are willing to disclose is an excellent way in order to know how to set the tone and what guidelines must be set to make online classes more engaging. But even with the school trying its best to cater to the needs of students, they also must be willing to exert effort and discipline to approach online classes in the most efficient way they know. This new academic setting will take a while for us to get used to, so let us do our best to help each other in this new journey of learning.

-oOo

The author is Education Program Specialist II at SDO City of San Fernando (P)