Plug the child’s learning gap during the pandemic

Swati Rai

Since the pandemic, our lives have been upended and how. As things stand now, digital interface for education, entrainment and existence has become more than a virtual reality. This has impacted the savvy teaching-learning process and along with that, parenting too. No longer can the teacher nor the parent; boomer or millennial, stay untouched by the digital tsunami wrought by the unprecedented turn of events over the past one year.

 The whole process of going online academically, has been a tough one for all, to say the least. Apart from the logistical requirements that are contributing to the learning gap with huge dropout rates in schools, there is then the problem of the efficacy of teaching and the use of technology for such learning. With teachers being new to the virtual teaching interface and its malleability for effective teaching, learning gap for the child becomes a cause of concern for all.

 This is the time when parents can make the most of the resources available online and in the real world, to try and plug the learning gap, if any. This of course will come to a nought, if not supported by the emotional scaffolding and stress reducing environment at home. Here a few of the many ways; we as parents, teachers and family can help our children, endeavour to learn to the maximum in this difficult hour.

 Understanding the Digital World

 Many parents are not digital natives unlike their children. The world has suddenly been hurtled towards this increasingly digital world. There is then a greater need to update ourselves to match pace with the changing modalities of learning and teaching that are here to stay. Understanding the medium of tech enabled teaching will help facilitate learning better at home, by following up and also troubleshooting. A lot, else, would be lost in translation.

A clear comprehension of the hardware and software is a must-have. Along with that a few dry runs on the chosen interface would be beneficial too. Tutoring oneself on Digital literacy, safety protocols and cyber bullying pitfalls, is an essential know-how. Surfing the digital resources oneself first, picking out the relevant links from a plethora of internet information, is another aspect of processing and acclimatizing to the digital learning process. This will ensure a smooth laying the ground for sound study and its continuity.

 Support and Scaffolding

There is ample research in the field of how this online mode of study coupled with limited or no interaction with people in the real world, can impact the mental well-being of the child and thus as a domino effect, academics as well. Therefore, parents’ role in smoothening out the creases in the path of learning, lending a patient ear, a shoulder to cry on and actively seeking answers to questions checking on the progress in academic tests, noting down any cues in mood changes or any other sign as suggested by mental health experts, is a must do at this time. This is so, as else, an overburdened and taxed mind can prove to be a hindrance to the altered learning process that the young pupils have been exposed to in the past one year.  The nature and intervention of this supervision and monitoring and support will depend on the age group of the child.

 Tapping resources online

 There are many parents worried about the development of the fine motor skills of young kids, in the time of the pandemic when schools aren’t running. Downloading tracing worksheets off the net or making them on your own and then letting the child practice forming letters, is one way of scaffolding the child’s learning. For age specific learning materials there are various options on joining free to paid classes that offer  kid-friendly, comprehensive short animated video-based curriculum covering all major subjects.

Additional to school resources, one may supplement the child’s learning of key concepts through the activities online, designed by educators and experts.

There are some platforms that offer digital lessons with on-screen teachers with remedial classes to boot. Apart from academic resources, it is wise to invest in the child’s co-curricular development, such as online book clubs, writing communities and theatre performances. Being there and giving a patient listen to the child of course never goes out of vogue for a smooth learning process.