Online Classes for Kids During Lockdown

Nowadays, Online Classes for Kids During Lockdown is the most crucial topic to discuss. When the kids join the school, they become students. So in some places, I use the term students instead of kids. Whatever the number of days calculated by the government to count the attack of this pandemic for education, it just ruined two academic sessions.

No doubt, like any other pandemic, this will also pass away, leaving lots of imprints. Everything can wait, but time flies, so it is challenging for us to waste two years of the academic life of our kids just by waiting to pass it away. The only way to continue the studies is by using modern technology, i.e., by conducting online classes.

Online classes are not new to us. These types of classes are generally used for distance learning courses for adults. A few years back, some apps like Byju’s, Vedantu, etc., provide online courses for school children, but as these classes are not affordable by most parents, it’s use is restricted. I can say these classy things became massy due to this pandemic. However, it also can’t be ignored that many students remain untouched due to several problems.

Pros and Cons of Online Classes for Kids During Lockdown

Advantages

Online classes provide the continuity of learning for kids.
Students and teachers can safely do their classes sitting at home/in their comfort zone.
It helps to reduce the transport costs and reduce the traffic on the road.
Teachers can take the help of attractive videos to teach, and that also makes the kids happy.
It enhances the adaptability towards the modern world.
As online classes take less time than offline school, time management became easy for kids.
As the classes are conducted through audio and video sent to them, students can watch them repeatedly to clear their doubts.
Anyone can attend the class from anywhere, with no restriction of places.
Online exams help the students to prepare them for several entrances they have to appear in the future.
Some of the students have classroom fear or fear from teachers. These online classes make them more comfortable.

Disadvantages

As every coin has two sides, online classes also possess some disadvantages like:

Students became less attentive towards their studies.
As there is no copy checking physically, students ignore their homework or do not doing correctly.
Some of the students enter the class to get the attendance and are busy with their personal works.
It is not easy for all parents to provide separate mobile phones or computers to their kids for attending the classes.
Everyone should have the basic knowledge to operate computers or smartphones. Otherwise, it is not possible to do the classes.
There are additional expenses to recharge the mobile phones or to buy net packs.
As the kids have their phones with internet facilities, the chance of misuse is higher.
Due to poor network connection in some places or bad weather, it is impossible to conduct the classes sometimes.
Time management for the parents became tough as they have to adjust and share their phones with their kids and guide them.
Students get a chance to cheat during exams.

Challenges of Online Learning

It’s pretty challenging for both teachers and students to handle Online classes for Kids During Lockdown successfully. The teachers should work efficiently, as in online classes, they work in an open platform where anyone from the student’s family can watch them. Students also have to face the challenge as they have to understand everything within a minimal period. They can’t clear their doubts one to one as they did in school. There’s always a question on their honesty as they appear the exam at home.

How to Overcome the Challenges of Learning Online?

We can overcome the challenges by following specific rules like:

Understand the value of classes and be honest about your task.
Be ready with the necessary books, copies, and other accessories before class time.
Try to do the class in a lonely place so that nothing can disturb you.
Listen and watch mindfully what the teacher is saying and be there till the end of the class.
If any technical issues arise, then don’t panic. Stay calm and keep trying.
Both teachers and students have to act more patiently.

My Personal Experience as a Teacher

Being a teacher, I also have to go through the challenges of Online Classes for Kids During Lockdown. So, here I am sharing some of my personal experiences.

My subject is maths and science. I feel that teaching math online is a little bit tough than other subjects. We, teachers, can read the face of the students, which gives us satisfaction when we can be sure that they are clearly understood everything. That’s not possible in online classes.

Once the class is going on, one of the students sends a video that is inappropriate for the class. Later he gives an excuse that it was sent by mistake and says sorry in the group. But it raises a question mark that is he watching such things?

Sometimes to write the answer first, they typed some weird things having no meaning. As kids were not that conscious and left the mic, unmute sometimes we can hear their parents’ personal talking even argument.

Guidance for parents During Lockdown

After all, kids are kids. So it is our responsibility as parents to be with them while doing the class.
If parents have to share their phone with the kids should have control over what they watched.
Be clear or sure that you can leave the phone with the kids safely.
Be conscious and speak slowly when the child is attending the class.

Conclusion

I could not find any alternative to Online Classes for Kids During Lockdown. Therefore, we all have to be careful and helpful towards the kids. Let’s pray that the situation became normal very soon. Click here for more related topics on kids and kids’ products.

Author: Mrs. Sarada Mishra, Senior Teacher

Prabhushree English Medium School, Puri