As the UK enters its third week of remote learning, schools and colleges across the country have had the mammoth task of, once again, shifting both curriculums and communications online. As a result, parents and guardians across the country are juggling working from home while ensuring their children are studying, which can be an incredibly demanding task.
To help with this, Impington Village College and its sixth form Impington International College, located on the outskirts of Cambridge, have been working hard to ensure that students are getting the most out of remote learning and that there is as little disruption as possible to their education.
Victoria Hearn, Principal, Impington Village Collage, said: “We all know that remote learning isn’t easy, and this can be especially true for younger students. I am immensely proud of how well our staff and students quickly responded to this challenge, it is through their consistent hard work and commitment that we were able to fully adjust to online learning within just 24 hours. As our students continue to learn virtually, we would like to share some useful tips for parents to them through this challenging time:
“Encourage your child to stick to a routine. Where possible, follow your child’s normal timetable. At Impington, we are running live lessons throughout the school day, just as they would experience in college. If your child’s school is following a different model, aim for them to stick to some of their normal lesson times and to build in often breaks, allowing time for fresh air and physical activity.
Build in regular screen breaks. It’s extremely important for your child to take regular breaks from learning and their screen, which is why we’ve been giving our students time for a little break at the end of each lesson. If possible, persuade your child to get some fresh air and plan in some rewards or positive reinforcement if they have done well and completed their work; this can help to motivate them and can be extremely beneficial to their self-esteem.
Accept that it is not always going to be perfect. We know you are not teachers but we do know that you are doing your best! Try not to worry about your child falling behind or not doing enough – remember that everyone is in the same position. Your child’s teachers and school will be working hard to make sure that no one falls behind.
Make sure their camera is on so they can engage. It might seem a simple trick, but ensuring that your child’s camera is on for live lessons means that they will be present with their learning and engaging as they would in a classroom environment. We all know how easy it is to switch off on a virtual meeting when the rest of the people on the call can’t see you!
Encourage them to reach out via chat functions. This can be to friends and classmates, teachers or tutors, even if it is just to say hello. Having a good chat and checking in with their learning community as they would in school can help maintain your child’s social interactions, allowing them to feel less isolated.
Stay connected and supported. Let your child know that they can seek help from you, friends, and school or college staff. Make use of their school’s support network, using online referral forms, for example, and remember that someone is always there for them if needed.”