There has often been talk of helping teachers and students adapt to the accelerated shift to blended learning that the pandemic forced on them. However, it is essential to remember that education is a three-way interaction that involves not only students and educators, but also families.
In traditional education, students flourish when parents support their educational path and collaborate closely with teachers. It should be no different for blended learning, education experts warn.
Despite this, families often feel reticent or confused about this type of learning outside of their usual experience. This reaction is natural, since change can be disconcerting for anyone, even parents. Therefore, if they want to support their children, families also require support. Acer experts tell us some ways in which parents can accompany their children in blended learning.
If the main concern lies in not understanding how the educational software used by your children works, if there are questions about online privacy and security, or if you feel that you cannot provide support in the same way as you did offline, this is a great opportunity. to learn.
Information about the most common educational technology resources used by schools is widely available online. If they are not comfortable with technology, they can simply consult their children’s teachers to better understand or discuss these aspects with their own children.
Engaging in an open conversation about blended learning with younger family members serves two key goals: children sense parents’ active interest in their lives, and parents, in turn, learn with and possibly from their children.
This can be an ideal occasion to close the generation gap. With a willingness to learn, parents can enhance their children’s educational experience by becoming learners themselves. Teaching a concept is sometimes the best way to master it. Asking relevant and thoughtful questions about blended learning will strengthen family bonds, promoting love, communication and trust.
It is crucial to approach this process without prejudice and avoid ideas like: “all screen time is a distraction” or “the Internet is worse than books as a reliable source of information.” In any learning process, keeping an open mind and educating yourself about blended learning is essential.
Representing yourself as the student and your child as the teacher does not absolve parents from their traditional roles as guides and sometimes rule-setters.
In blended learning, the key is diversity. Not all time spent on online tasks should be understood as a distraction; Likewise, not all learning has to come from online sources. Encouraging children to take breaks from their devices and supplementing online learning with traditional methods, such as textbooks and encyclopedias, remains crucial.
Additionally, parents can play a vital role in helping their children set schedules and take responsibility for their own education. Although a blended learning day may differ significantly from a day in a traditional school, structure and routine are still essential. The greater flexibility of blended learning can lead to procrastination, and this is where parents step in by reminding themselves of assignments and emphasizing the importance of keeping up with schoolwork without giving in to distracting temptations.
In conclusion, the active participation of parents in blended learning not only benefits their children, but also strengthens the foundations of a solid education adapted to current challenges.
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