Download
1 / 25
250 likes | 256 Vues
Emergency online teaching. Remote learning. Or just plain online teaching. Call it what you want, students around the world are doing it in one form or another as schools are closed in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.
E N D
TIPS TO FACILITATE DISTANCE LEARNING FOR STUDENTS WITH LIMITED INTERNET CONNECTIVITY
However, in these difficult times of absenteeism and school closure, a major problem that has come to the forefront is that there are millions of American students who don’t have reliable access to the internet.
Emergency online teaching. Remote learning. Or just plain online teaching. Call it what you want, students around the world are doing it in one form or another as schools are closed in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.
And regardless of how many plenty of helpful guides are available online, strategies for bridging the digital gap are limited.
Through this blog, we will suggest a few ways schools can implement distance learning with students who either have no internet access or limited data.
SUGGEST FREE INTERNET OFFERS BUT BE MINDFUL OF LIMITATIONS As the novel coronavirus continues to spread across the U.S., Spectrum and Comcast are offering students free WiFi for the next couple of months. Be sure to make students and families aware of such free services that can benefit them.
Spectrum is offering free internet access for 60 days to students who don’t currently use the service and free installation of both broadband and wifi service in new student households. The internet service is also available for k-12 and college students.
Comcast, as mentioned, is also making it easier for lower-income families to use internet but to gain access to Comcast internet programs, families and students need to follow these criteria by the Comcast:
Should have no outstanding debt to Comcast that is less than a year old. • Should reside in an area where Comcast service is available. • Should be a new customer.
Besides, there are many other providers who have waived late fee for existing customers and increased data caps for mobile hotspots.
However, the availability of free internet doesn’t guarantee that families will be able to use them. People need to research and understand their options to choose the best.
Schools can also do their share by providing lower-income families with a facility of free internet service from school funds to help children continue their learning.
LAUNCH A VIRTUAL SCHOOL TV CHANNEL This requires government help. Some districts are partnering with local stations to open up remote learning opportunities through TV programs for students who don’t have access to the internet or smartphones.
This way more students will get a chance to attend online classes and schools too can kickstart their teaching with whole class participation.
USE PLAIN TEXT INSTEAD OF ATTACHMENTS WHEN EMAILING It goes without saying that using plain text in an email offers better understandability and requires less data. So, combining lesson content into an email body using easier-to-read text is recommended rather than attaching a pdf.
Whenever possible, email the content two to three days in advance to give students time to gain internet access before going through the lesson.
HOST ONLINE VIDEO SESSIONS Video conferencing has come up as an effective tool during this crisis, but they require a lot of data as well. So, encourage the kids with limited internet access to take the classes via audio call. During video sessions, be sure to describe what’s happening on the screen so no one feels left out and everyone is involved throughout.
Avoid making the attendance necessary, instead find alternatives to check in and email summaries or transcript after video sessions, if necessary.
TRANSCRIBE VIDEO SESSIONS There are many online services and platforms that can dictate your voice during video sessions using your computer’s microphone. Like Google Docs has a feature called Voice Typing.
To activate this feature, open a Google Document and click Tools> Voice Typing or press Ctrl +Shift +S in Windows or Command + Shift+ S in macOS
Whichever platform or service you use, be sure to review content for typos and grammatical errors before sharing the same with students.
Furthermore, during the time of distance learning, students may feel isolated or lonely. So once in a week, organise an audio call with the whole class and talk about things besides studies; ask how they are doing generally. Involve them in some fun interactive activities so they feel connected and not far from each other.
This can make a huge difference, and children will feel motivated and connected to each other in this difficult time also. Also note that just like regular classes going online, summer camps in Rockwall are also organising virtual activity sessions for children to feel active and lively in the summer without going out.
Though this was a time for students to go on fun expeditions, this pandemic has unfortunately put a halt on students’ most lovable experience and has forced them to stay indoors. Hopefully, the next year will bring better opportunities for everyone around. Till then, don’t let your kid despair and keep them happy in every possible way.
