Since students have returned to school, parents and educators are using this time to reflect on the many months of online and hybrid learning in order to improve the environment in the classroom for everyone. While the vast majority of parents are overjoyed that their kids are back in school, some are still choosing to keep their kids home out of fear of the epidemic. Even some parents have temporarily pulled their kids out of school.
Online Education Provides Hidden Potential for Development
But there’s no denying that the advent of internet education has revealed some fascinating information about how kids learn. How has the pandemic actually affected students’ lives? That was unquestionably the million-dollar query on everyone’s mind. Without some family hand-holding, several younger children found it challenging to understand certain concepts. The teachers at The British International School Kuala Lumpur (BSKL) tried incredibly hard to maintain a sense of normalcy. They made an effort to limit younger children’s screen usage where they could, relying on parents and guardians to mentor students and supervise at-home activities. In order to ensure that physical activity was not neglected during the MCO, BSKL teachers even looked for ways to allow kids to continue doing PE at home.
Everything was reviewed and changed to improve the experience, right down to the smallest aspects of how to track attendance and what to do if students don’t log on to virtual school. “The frustration of not knowing how long the lockdown would last was the biggest difficulty. It was not really feasible for us to decide on significant adjustments. Minor modifications were all we could manage, which was disappointing. How do we keep up the impression that we are still providing high-quality service and a thriving sense of community? How can we engage people on this long trip and in a virtual environment? remarked Secondary Head Nicola Jane Brown.
Nicola also shared her concern for standing by those whose performance may have declined.
However, Nicola and her instructors discovered that people can change their views. There has never been a time when children’s resilience has been more apparent than during a pandemic.
When it comes to online learning, some people really excelled.
“Some of the kids who had embraced the online learning environment were among the most successful students I saw. They have really grown more self-assured and are starting to express their ideas in ways they never did before. They have begun to speak up more openly. They now have a sense of courage because of this environment, boasted Nicola. She continued by saying that these same pupils had thrived throughout the pandemic and had probably felt at ease being in their element and surrounded by their belongings. Some of them even picked up new interests, like learning to bake or play the guitar. She continued, “It’s something the parents didn’t expect either!”
Young people taking control of their time
There are a number of reasons why some kids did well in a virtual classroom. Not only shy or reserved children reported greater success with online learning. Some children who were previously considered to be a distraction in class have flourished when removed from their physical surroundings. They were able to concentrate better without having to struggle to block out the social interactions that are a regular component of the classroom. Online learning has proven successful for children who are known to be hyperactive or highly creative. The pandemic has made clear why some children succeed and others don’t. Another thing researchers and instructors found is that certain kids may struggle to stay up because of how quickly school moves. However, these same kids have more flexibility and can learn at their own pace thanks to online learning.
Children began to feel more in control of their time and get a sense of independence with a more flexible schedule as opposed to having to adhere to the rigid timetable that is the standard for school. Children who are learning online can take breaks and spend their downtime with new hobbies or even physical activity.
The fact that youngsters were excused from participating in extracurricular activities during the pandemic contributed to finding new pockets of time as well. These activities were now being carried out online by those who were taking after-school classes. They now have the chance to explore their interests in non-academic activities during the time they would ordinarily spend driving and eating a hurried lunch or snack in the automobile. Or really, it was just additional downtime. Children with an overly busy schedule do exhibit higher levels of anxiety, according to research. Today’s youth are under additional pressure to achieve well in school and develop their non-academic abilities. Their minds have been drilled with the idea that in order to succeed later in life, they must achieve more than just academic excellence. It’s not a bad idea to get them ready, but the strain can be too much.
Another aspect of some children’s capacity to thrive throughout the epidemic may have been the absence of social and emotional problems, which may frequently be a feature of school life. Children that are outgoing or shy may experience teasing and bullying from their peers. They may have been able to shine because of the absence of these problems. It is the responsibility of both parents and teachers to apply these lessons. We can learn from the pandemic and improve the learning environment for all students.
