Now that the pandemic has upended our daily routines, children’s learning is among the drastically affected. Up to this day, the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) still do not espouse face-to-face learning due to the risk of COVID-19. That is why learning mostly takes place online. While some parents might find this new mode beneficial, there are still hindrances to a child’s successful learning online.
Below are some of them:
The Temptation to Frequently Check Social Media Accounts
This is one of the most common realities happening nowadays. Since learners are often not required to have their cameras and microphones on during online class, they know that the teacher cannot see what they’re doing. Hence, there is a tendency for them to switch tabs – to their social media accounts (if they are using laptops or desktop computers). Likewise, there are their smartphones where they can easily log in to their Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram accounts, without interrupting the ongoing class.
This type of distraction is a hindrance to successful learning in the sense that the attention of the student is not on the lessons being discussed but on scrolling and socializing online, via some apps.
Too Much Chatting
And just like scrolling on Facebook, students can also easily chat with their friends and classmates during class. While this is not necessarily bad, too much chatting most especially about irrelevant topics can disrupt a learner’s journey into appreciating what’s being discussed.
Addedly, some students even use chat groups as a mode of cheating. They ask for their classmates’ answers via chat if they don’t know the answers. That is why instead of rethinking what to do or politely asking the teacher for clarifications, there are instances where some students won’t bother because they have classmates to whom they can copy. Of course, this is detrimental not only to a child’s learning but also to his values.
Attraction to Play Online Games
Another major distraction is the wide availability of online games that can be played even on smartphones. Like browsing social media accounts, some students may tend to play online games during class discussions, since their teachers cannot see them, most especially when the session is not that dynamic.
This is harmful to a child’s learning because he is not actually paying attention to class. He might also be exposed to the usage of foul language, as this is a common scenario on online gaming platforms.
Consequently, this new mode of learning remotely offers both benefits and drawbacks. But ultimately, for this whole new system to work, parents should do their part in ensuring that their children are getting the most out of their learning experience. This is by providing the basic needs in online learning, such as the right gadgets and fast internet connection, and guiding them on what is the right thing to do during classes.