Everyone experiences stress because of online learning. Online education gives parents much more direct responsibility for ensuring that their children are trying to do their homework. They are also the adults present to assist students in understanding material and assignments.
Previously, they might look, possibly try, and, if required, give their child ideas for things to ask for in class. That is no longer an option. Furthermore, the requirement to help your child with learning an online curriculum does not relieve parents of their other responsibilities (Tate & Warschauer, 2022).
Many college students hire someone to take my online class services, to attend the online classes, and then they can focus on their other tasks such as assignments, thesis, etc. Because managing their time in between taking online classes and writing assignments simultaneously is very difficult for college students (helpwithdissertation, 2021)
Students may not ask for help.
Many students are afraid to ask for help or do not know what to ask for. In that case, there will be gaps in the student’s learning, resulting in a shaky foundation and long-term repercussions for their education.
This is where the involvement of the parents is important. Giving the student a platform to practice questions based on their teachings will benefit parents in this regard. This serves two functions:
- The answers to the practice questions will help to determine where the student requires help.
- The practice of answering questions will help students gain the confidence they will need during exam time.
Students have the option to take my class for me services, which combines work with their studies to fulfil their basic requirements. They can assist any online resource in overcoming the difficulties they encountered while learning online.
The Top Challenges Faced by Parents in Online Classes
1. Keeping children interested in their studies
In COVID-19, schoolwork was no longer schoolwork but family work. Parents initially struggled to keep their children focused on online class sessions.
The situation is not likely to improve anytime soon. With WhatsApp/Google Hangouts as the primary means of communication with the teacher and peers, the desire to participate in chatting with friends in between classes was a natural phenomenon.
On the other hand, parents had to ensure that their children were not doing the same and were concentrating on their schoolwork. To reduce attention difficulties and focus on learning, parents were required to attend some lessons with their children.
This required juggling between critical office calls and their children’s schooling, which was especially difficult for working professionals.
2. Sharing electronic devices with children
The financial conditions of students are not the same. Because not every student in the same class has an iPad or laptop, they must rely on their parents’ mobile devices or laptops to attend class. Again, this results in parents putting their work on hold for a set period while their children finish their online classes/homeschooling. The delayed working hours during the day led parents to stay at work late at night.
3. Managing household duties and teaching
In many households, parents saw an upside-down in their routine, with the home becoming an office, school, and personal space all in one. Add to it the pressure to do household tasks, and professional jobs, and keep an eye on the kids and their education.
The stress is not only on the children to attend online classes attentively from home. What about helping kids finish their tasks or prepare for tests after classes?
4. Irregularities in the class schedule
During the lockdown, practically all schools, were simply doing online classes with no schedule or structure. The government had chosen a coin toss. The lack of preparation for a worse situation was visible at every stage.
Irregularities in class scheduling caused a significant distraction among the students. The sudden change in time, as well as the shifting educational style, served as a distraction rather than keeping them focused on the session.
5. Lack of knowledge about classroom management tools
Some schools do not provide online classes through Zoom or WhatsApp video calls. They completed their work using CRM tools that did not cause attendance tracking issues or irregular live classes. Instead, it posed a lack of expertise with classroom management tools.
There had been almost no previous training on how to use the tool’s numerous functions for various tasks. So, how do they use the same tool to pass on their knowledge to students or parents?
As a result, schools cannot promise parents that the online class setup will provide all of the benefits of a physical classroom environment. For example, both parents and teachers face space issues when conducting classes.
6. Motivation must be monitored.
Classrooms are specifically constructed to encourage learning, but bedrooms and kitchen tables are not. Those are comfort zones, and it might be difficult to switch into “school mode.”
Sustained motivation must be monitored. Because a teacher on the other end of a Zoom call is unable to do so, it is frequently left to the parent. It’s a lot for them to handle their job while also running the house (making sure everyone eats on time, and so on).
One of the most important things parents can do for their children is to create clear, measurable goals for them, and to do it regularly so that students have something to focus on. Check-in with them regularly to check if they are on track to meet their goals.
Final Thoughts
For students, teachers, and parents, online learning is different, unfamiliar, and new. It is especially tough for students in lower grades. Parents of these young learners frequently spend the majority of their time helping their children navigate platforms, helping them with assignments, and explaining the curriculum.
This is true for working-from-home parents, but what about children whose parents go to work? What can these parents do to assist their children? They will need to find additional time, concentration, and focus to help their children learn and master the subjects through online learning. Those parents who lack IT skills face additional challenges and must seek support from family, friends, colleagues, etc.
Parents and students from vulnerable communities confront additional challenges because many do not have the financial resources to give their children a computer or smartphone to attend online classes.
Reference
Tate, T., & Warschauer, M. (2022). Equity in online learning. Educational Psychologist, 1-15.
HWD, 2021. Time Management Tips. Online available at < https://www.helpwithdissertation.co.uk/blog/time-management-tips/>
