6 Tips for Supporting Online Learners at Home
Update January 23, 2021: nearly a year into Canadian schools being disrupted by COVID-19, it is important to remember that this won’t last forever (even when it feels that way). Online remote learning is hard for everyone, but that doesn’t make it any easier to handle. In case you need to hear this today: you’re doing a great job. And if online learning is taking a toll on you and your child, remember that it is okay to call them in sick for a day or two - mental health is health and sometimes we all need a break to recharge.
With more and more parents and care-givers taking on teaching, tutoring, and mentoring roles at home, here are some tips for helping kids (and adults!) with computer-based tasks.
Get on their (physical) level
Grab a chair and sit beside them at the computer even if it is just a “quick question” (which we know it rarely is). Joining them at the table helps in two ways: it signals that you are focused on them and not just suggesting a quick fix before getting back to your work. Second, being at eye level equalizes your relationship as two people working on the problem together, instead of instructions coming down from you. A third bonus is that sitting down can help you relax and focus, often leading to solving the issue faster than if you were trying to multitask.
Keep them in the driver’s seat
Avoid the temptation to take over the keyboard and keep your child in control. Remember that it is their assignment - not yours! If the teacher has asked them to type 200 words about their favourite animal, doing the typing and forming full sentences is part of their learning so take on the role as coach rather than scribe. Encourage them to carry on if they get stuck on spelling one word; once they have a first draft, you can offer suggestions or corrections.
If it is a technical issue like reconnecting to WiFi or finding the document they just downloaded, guiding them through this process rather than quickly doing it yourself means they are more likely to be able to fix it on their own next time.
Make eye contact
When we are helping someone on a computer, we tend to spend the entire conversation both looking at the screen. Start each help session by making eye contact, asking them to explain their question or issue, and discussing what they have already tried. Then explain what you suggest doing next before returning your attention to the device. This will help you both focus on the solution, avoid the frustrated clicking frenzy, and as a bonus it gives your eyes a brief break.
Ask questions first
Have you experienced a manager that is quick to suggest a solution to a problem they have thought about for 5 seconds while you have been working on it all week? Asking more questions about what they are working on, what they have already tried, and the bigger picture will ensure your help is actually helpful. Establishing the end goal first also allows you to identify when they are completely off track. If the assignment is from school, look at the teacher’s instructions together to make sure they have interpreted them correctly.
Recruit a digital assistant
If it’s 8:03AM and you’ve already been asked “how do you spell Ontario?”, “what is the capital of British Columbia?”, and “is it going to rain this afternoon?”, consider letting your child use a voice-controlled assistant like Google, Alexa, or Siri. They are especially helpful for spelling when your guess is so far from correct that typing it into Google doesn’t help (I still have this issue as an adult). Make sure to set expectations about using it for school (not just for fun) so that occasional spelling help doesn’t turn into a 20-minute knock-knock joke session. Offloading the many smaller questions saves your energy for the problems that need a human touch - and the patience to deal with all the puddle hopping this afternoon.
Look for alternatives
We are all adapting to the new format of school and we need to be creative as we reimagine what learning looks like at home. Does your child struggle with reading? Try using a screen reader occasionally to let them listen rather than read. You can often find free versions of this software by looking at the accessibility settings of your device, and more and more websites have been designed to accommodate visually or tactically impaired users. While dedicated time to practise reading is important, slow readers can quickly get frustrated and have reduced comprehension if they need to read a long text before beginning an assignment. Using a screen reader can help them complete the task at hand and leave time for reading something they enjoy like a graphic novel or video game review.
If typing is a challenge, try using voice to text. They will need to add punctuation and correct some errors after recording but the bulk of their ideas will be captured. Again, typing is its own skill that will only improve with practice but it’s all about finding a balance to get through the day with enough time for enjoyable activities.
If the computer itself seems to be the roadblock, get them away from the screen and look for alternate ways to work. If typing is cramping their creative juices, have them write out what they want to say on paper first and then type it up. This can help break down the task into distinct parts and make it easier to complete each individual piece.
I hope some of these tips make learning at home more enjoyable for you and your family. Let me know what you think by commenting or emailing me at alex@kaspereducation.ca.