The Role of Parents in Modular Distance Learning

The author is Teacher Distric 1 Johna T. Buan

For distance learning to be effective, teachers need to partner with parents who are physically present as students study at home.

Under the new normal style of learning, teachers have become content curators, while parents have become facilitators and learning coaches.

As parents become coaches, they will need to model a positive attitude because their children take cues from them.

First, parents should show how their children should appreciate the efforts of teachers in teaching lessons despite the distance. They shouldn’t criticize the online classes or self-learning modules distributed by the school. Instead, parents should point out the positives.

Second, parents should encourage their children to pay attention to their online lessons or in completing the tasks required in their modules. This will help students understand that distance learning may not be a temporary arrangement. With the uncertainty of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the new normal system of learning might be here to stay. Thus, parents should not allow their children to skip the online classes suggesting everything would be repeated once school reopens.

Lastly, parents should be emphatic and understanding towards classes and school’s efforts. Sure, there might be flaws and delays here and there, but parents have to see the greater effort exerted by teachers to continue providing knowledge to students amid the pandemic.

--oOo-The author is Teacher II at San Pablo Elementary School