Six Ways COVID-19 Has Created A Learning Curve

Difficulty Adapting To E-Learning

Along with serious health issues, the pandemic may result in financial worry, loss of loved ones, food insecurity, domestic abuse, mental health issues, and the threat of homelessness. These types of stresses can harm children as they struggle to cope with adverse events and on-going uncertainty. According to the Child Mind Institute, anxiety and trauma can disrupt cognitive processing skills, reduce student’s executive functioning skills (attention, organization, etc.) and disturb emotional regulation. As such, the insecurities caused by COVID-19 may make it harder for students to learn, process, and engage meaningfully. On top of these issues—for the first time—students have to adjust to distance learning. After years of in-classroom instruction, the switch to online can make it feel like students are ‘going at it alone.’ Lindsay Guion recommends that teachers utilize discussion boards, video conferencing, and other collaborative platforms to ease communication with classmates and encourage teamwork. Moreover, he suggests that instructors schedule regular check-ins with students and their families, as studies indicate that a positive student-teacher relationship can foster better learning, especially during hard times.

IT Issues

A stable Internet connection is essential to participate in online learning. Without it, students are unable to log into their online classes and complete their coursework. As reported by TechRepublic, a study by Wilson Electronics reveals that 40% of respondents have noticed an increase in connectivity issues since the implementation of social-distancing measures. “Struggling students are facing a myriad of IT problems,” says Guion. Some of the most common issues are loss of Internet during school hours, difficulty loading materials, bad audio and video, too many simultaneous users in the house at once, and poor connectivity in particular rooms.

To make matters worse, 82% of people don’t have a resolution for their IT problems. “If students face the same issues time and time again, their level of engagement and learning will inevitably take a nose-dive,” says Guion. Similarly, many households require that children share an electronic device, forcing them to take turns to complete their workload. Lindsay Guion offers a short-term solution, which involves connecting to your phone or tablet’s cellular data instead of your home’s Ethernet connection.

Additionally, in dire situations, teachers can create hard copies of lessons and send them out to students with very limited or non-existent Internet access.

Computer Illiteracy

Rather abruptly, students and teachers were forced to transition to distance learning to curb the spread of COVID-19. “Unfortunately, not everyone is tech-savvy,” says Guion, “which is a learning curve in itself, as instructors and students learn how to use software programs that are completely foreign to them.” For most people, it is the fear of the unknown that is preventing them from embracing online learning, whether it is unfamiliarity with eLearning tools or confusion over expectations. Schools should provide students with an online demonstration, including a video tutorial and a text-based explanation so that students can steer their eLearning platform with confidence. If students feel comfortable navigating the online environment, they are more likely to stay on top of tasks and enjoy learning. Additionally, Lindsay Guion advises taking things slow. “You want to ease learners into the technology before you subject them to more complex and interactive exercises,” he says, “otherwise you risk overwhelming them with information overload.” Finally, it’s important to ask students for feedback to improve the learning process and ensure that everyone is progressing at a manageable pace.

Time Management & Independence

Remote learning necessitates that students be held responsible for their education. “Instead of relying on teachers to remind them when their report is due, students must keep track of their workload,” says Guion. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done. Once students have missed one assignment, it’s easy to miss another, creating a snowball effect. Guion advises that teachers be upfront about late

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Created on Dec 5th 2020 06:17. Viewed 340 times.

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