Is distance learning too much of a burden for your child?

Adopt and follow these tips to help cope with remote learning

Covid-19 seems to have put everyone on edge – parents, teachers as well as students. With complaints about workloads and struggles with technical glitches, online learning can take its toll on your child’s education as well as their relationships at home.

However, there are some simple ways in which you can make the entire experience a bit more manageable.

Poonam Heryani, a Dubaibased academic leader who is currently training teachers to upskill in the age of e-learning, said that a large part of the problem can be solved through the right syllabus management.

Psychometric analysis

Find out how you can learn better and what motivates you. “If I was a student, watching videos may not have been the best way to learn as I would have gotten distracted with everything on the screen. I learn better through infographics, for example,” Heryani said.

She recommended doing a free VARK test, which is an Australian psychometric test available for all age groups.

When it comes to distance learning, communication is key, according to Rema Menon Vellat, an educational counsellor and director of Counselling Point, a training and development institute in Dubai.

“Do not be embarrassed about asking for help. Teachers, peers and parents will not know your challenges unless you reach out and seek help,” Vellat said.

“If a child is unable to understand certain concepts, they should note down the points and seek help from their teacher or parent later,” she added.

Parents also need to adopt a supporting role and ensure they are emotionally available for children, who may be stressed because of the change in the mode of education.