Navigating Online Learning: Tips for Parents to Support Education at Home

Navigating online learning can be a challenge for students used to the structured classroom environment. This resource includes tips and activities for parents to support their children’s learning at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Encourage your child to stay engaged by setting up a dedicated workspace. Be sure it is quiet, free of distractions and a place that can work for extended periods of time.

1. Set a Schedule

As adults, we are accustomed to juggling multiple tasks and priorities on a daily basis. Whether we’re working to earn our paychecks, manage household chores, or pursue higher education, it’s important to practice time management and stay on top of our responsibilities.

For students taking online classes, it’s also essential to create a schedule that allows them to meet course requirements and deadlines on a weekly basis. This includes reading assignments, completing online quizzes and tests, and submitting assignment and discussion post responses. A good way to keep track of these course responsibilities is by creating a calendar, using a weekly planner, or other similar tool. Ideally, this should be updated on a regular basis with new due dates, webcasts, discussions, or other relevant information as they become available.

It’s also a good idea to designate a space in the home that will be used for schoolwork every day. This will give the student a place to focus on their work and help reduce distractions. This space can even be decorated in a way that makes it feel special and inviting, such as with posters or other personal touches.

The age of your child or teen should also be taken into consideration when building an online learning schedule. Younger children may require more support with academic activities and have shorter attention spans. It’s also helpful to set a study schedule that includes breaks (e.g., snack or lunch) so that they can keep their energy levels up. Finally, it’s important to use a system that helps your child or teen stay on track, such as breadcrumb navigation, which is similar to turn-by-turn car navigation and shows them where they are in the course or lessons and how to get back to the homepage.

2. Make Learning a Priority

Online learning is a different animal than classroom-based education. Students in an online program often communicate and complete coursework through a virtual platform called a learning management system, or LMS. These systems can be complicated to navigate for students who are new to online learning, but they are also essential tools to help students stay engaged in their studies.

These platforms make it easy for students to access course materials, connect with student services and track their progress in class. Many schools offer a free trial period or other opportunities for potential students to try out their LMS before enrolling, to give learners the chance to see how it works and determine if it is right for them.

It is important for parents to take time out of their busy schedules to encourage students and show them that they are invested in their academic pursuits. If your child is struggling with a course, don’t be afraid to reach out to their teacher and see what can be done to get them back on track. It is also helpful for parents to model the learning process for their children, encouraging them to try again after a failed attempt and not berate themselves.

The nation’s headlong dive into online learning during the pandemic may seem like a radical departure from traditional campus-based education, but it is actually more in line with what higher education has been doing for decades. It has been moving slowly, but steadily, in the direction of online learning, catching on like an airplane taking off at a runway and gradually growing to occupy a larger share of higher education. That trend will continue into the future.

3. Create a Study Area

Make sure that your children have a dedicated study area in the house, free from distractions and with everything they need to do their schoolwork. It’s important that they have a comfortable study chair with a backrest, a large table, an internet connection and a desktop computer (though we’d advise against tablets). A lamp is also useful to create a warm ambience for studying.

Having a dedicated space to work in is one of the best things you can do to help your kids succeed with their online learning. Many parents choose to use a child’s bedroom as their study space, but this can be problematic for some kids who associate the room with rest and cannot focus in there. Instead, a quiet corner in the living room or even a home office may work better for your children.

You can add to the decor of your children’s study nook by using colors that stimulate their brain and improve concentration. It’s also a good idea to include a bookshelf in their study area. This will encourage them to learn more about topics they are interested in. You can also include a variety of books, including comics, storybooks, educational books and encyclopedias.

It’s also a good idea to discourage your children from spending too much time in their study room. This can lead to a lack of social interaction and a feeling of isolation that isn’t healthy for any child, especially online students. They should also have plenty of other activities and pursuits in their lives, such as sports, hanging out with friends, exploring non-academic interests and hobbies, going on vacations, and so on. This will help them maintain a balanced lifestyle and prevent academic stress, anxiety, burnout, and other negative effects that can occur over time.

4. Limit Distractions

Distractions are a major obstacle to remote learning. Constant pings and notifications from text messages, games, and social media apps can pull students away from classwork. Keeping all personal devices in silent or “do not disturb” mode while studying and limiting time spent on these apps can help students stay focused. Additionally, blocking or hiding distracting websites and apps can also help. Apps like StayFree and Offtime can limit app usage, while browser extensions like Webtime Tracker can block certain websites for a set amount of time.

Parents can also try to create a quiet study space at home and ensure the student has everything they need before beginning work. They can also try to minimize distractions by creating a more structured environment, such as setting a specific schedule and establishing a do not disturb system for family members or roommates who may be interrupting the student while working. Additionally, limiting food and technology distractions can be helpful for students with ADHD or autism spectrum disorders who may be overstimulated by sensory input.

Finally, when a student is distracted, re-focus the individual in a way that does not cause embarrassment. Instead of scolding the student, you can try to redirect them by asking them a question they know they can answer or giving them non-verbal cues that encourage them to return to their task at hand.

While not all of these tips may work for every student, it is important to experiment and find the ones that do. Students can also talk to their academic coach at the Learning Center for help with identifying what distracts them from learning and developing strategies that will keep them productive and focused during online classes and homework.

5. Encourage Communication

Having a clear line of communication with parents empowers them to step in and support students at home. For example, a parent may be able to offer extra practice on a difficult concept for their child, or a student can work with a tutor online to strengthen their reading skills.

But this type of collaboration needs to be ongoing for it to be effective. When teachers and parents know that they can reach each other in person or by phone, a more trusting relationship is established that allows for an open dialogue about student achievement and problems.

To facilitate this, educators should ensure that parents have easy access to their student’s academic progress by providing frequent feedback mechanisms such as email updates, school-based parent portals and meetings. They should also encourage parents to keep emergency contact information updated, especially during the pandemic, as some families are more likely to have limited internet or mobile access (see How to Make a Parent Portal Accessible for All Families).

Many ELL teachers have been able to reconnect with their families by providing translated emergency contacts forms and using text messaging services designed specifically for school purposes. These strategies can help a teacher reach all families, but one size does not fit all, so teachers should find out what communications tools and approaches are most effective for their communities, including whether they prefer group or individual communication.

A key aspect of this is modeling for children how to communicate in a healthy way, so they can learn to discuss both their successes and failures without belittling themselves or being defensive. Another important piece is helping them to develop a habit of taking breaks from screen time and getting exercise, eating healthy foods and drinking water. These habits will help them stay focused and motivated when they are working independently at home.