Are online classes taking a toll on your child’s attention span?
The educational system has undergone some of the most significant changes in the past, the most recent one being the shift to virtual learning. With new social rules and pandemic restrictions, students and teachers have had to adjust to learning and teaching online while staying indoors. Along with some of the benefits of online classes like flexibility in timelines and getting personalized modules, retaining the learner’s attention has been one of the biggest challenges so far.
How remote learning is affecting kids’ ability to focus
The pressure of watching video lessons, reading online material, following through instructions, and the capacity to sit for long hours without any physical activity becomes overtiring for students. Here are some reasons why you may notice a deficit in your child’s attention span:
Impersonal communication: A smooth network of communication between students and teachers is the key to a worthwhile learning experience. This network weakens in an online environment when teachers are unable to interact with students face-to-face. Students may start to feel detached or unable to build bonds through screens which reduces their effectiveness and performance.
Lack of motivation: For the overall development of students, it is of great importance to generate a sense of motivation in them. Pre-recorded video lessons and self-paced worksheets make the entire learning process somewhat disengaging. With the flexibility of completing tasks at home according to their preferred time, students tend to become lethargic and it becomes difficult to spark a sense of motivation in them.
Distractions at home: A student would retain maximum information when the attention is undivided. In the case of digital learning, some students may find it difficult to follow instructions and execute tasks while others may interpret a disparate understanding of the given topic. Frequent distractions at home and on online platforms may discourage them to carry out tasks to their end.
Focus on theory not practice: The digital learning curriculum is entirely focused on the theory aspect of education leaving no room for practical knowledge. Students at home do not have access to otherwise available school labs, parks, and field knowledge which makes the learning process interesting. Theoretical sessions are easier for teachers to implement but students tend to drift away into boredom quickly.
How can teachers and parents help?
The modern learning style expects students to grasp information very fast in an advanced setting. Parents and teachers must show more involvement and assist them in this constantly evolving scenario. Help kids focus more in a disturbance-free environment at home. Assigning a designated study space in the quiet corner of the home will help. During live classes, teachers need to find interesting ways to impart education.