Distinguish trusted online learning sources from non-trusted sources.
Parents often complain their children spend endless hours in front of PCs, mobile screens, tablets on the internet. With schools jumping on to blended learning classrooms and BYOD teaching culture, problems for many parents seem to have multiplied. A concerned parent of a child whose school recent jumped on to the cyber-wagon told me “It has become hard for us to judge if our daughter is doing her studies online or browsing the web just for fun.” Another parent told me the story of their teenage son who was using the pretext of BYOD to spend frivolously on new smartphones and tablets to flaunt. And when such stories get coupled with research news that taking mobile phones away could improve kids’ grades, it becomes even more bothersome. Most parents are confused on how to react towards technology in teaching concept! Is it a good thing for studies? Is it just a passing fad? Is this a serious approach to study in schools? What makes it so difficult is the fact that this learning model and schooling process bears no resemblance to their own experience of school years.
So if you are a parent of a kids who is studying in a “blended classroom” through ‘education technology tools”, sit back and read our guide on becoming a successful parent of a “digitally-immersed” student.
Technology in classroom is to support learning (and every cool tech toy does not support learning).
Distinguish trusted online learning sources from non-trusted sources.
Knowing it yourself
Most parents are cautious about the cyber security threats and supervise their child’s web activities. But when it comes to e-learning platforms parents may in fact be baffled with the incorporations of technology resources in education. The easiest way for this is to connect with your child’s teacher/school. Ask the school and/or teacher to handover a resource guide that will direct you about the essentials of e-learning and education technology resources. Also, know beforehand about any kind of gadgets, software or other ed-tech tools that your child will need to bring to the classroom themselves. Without the teacher’s saying, do not invest any money in any cool gadgets.
Digital literacy among parents is another important skill to be able to judge the credibility of academic resources and the effectiveness of edtech tools and e-learning platforms that your child’s school is using. Always maintain a direct contact with the teacher about your child’s learning progress in the online learning environment. Keep yourself aware of the curriculum, assessment instruction strategies that the school is employing. Also, understand the measures that the school is taking to ensure your child’s safety online. If you initially find it hard to learn and understand about the technology incorporations do not hesitate to approach the teachers or to learn about them through various online ed-tech educators and blogs.
Blended is not equal to online
Beware of Self-paced and Flexible learning schedules
We would love to hear more in comments about your experiences as parents of students studying in blended classrooms. And if you are a teacher, what initiatives have you taken to help parents of your students navigate through your ed-tech based teaching techniques?
