Benefits and challenges of online education in times of Pandemic

Challenges of online education – More than 12 million students in 186 countries are taking classes from home, having their parents as assistant teachers, and fully using technological tools to maintain an excellent pace of learning. 

This contingency has tested us all in all aspects of our lives. And coupled with the changes in the way we work, in how the supermarket is carried out and the payment of basic household services, parents have also become the right arm of teachers; achieving that the existing bridge between each one to guide the education of the students becomes more solid and narrow. 

We know that this process of transition to the new normal has not been easy for parents, students, and teachers but in our experience, we have seen that the results of daily activities and projects have had excellent results in our school community. 

This time we want to share with you precisely, what we have noticed about adaptation and motivation in these months of confinement and virtual work.

Benefits and challenges of online education

1. Learning at a personalized pace

At the beginning of this journey, many parents were wondering how effective the online learning process would be. And over the months, our community of parents and students has found excellent results. 

And is that various studies have shown that online learning is very effective, on average students retain between 25 and 60% more information compared to face-to-face classes. This is due to the fact that by having the classes recorded they can re-consult the topics seen, pause or go back as many times as they need until they are clear on the subject.

In addition, they can consult a myriad of books and blogs in which the information is presented in various ways. That is, they learn at their own pace! 

Of course, this does not work on all age group students. For preschool children matters how old they are, Preschool and early elementary school children require a more structured environment because they are much more easily distracted. The latter has made parents become assistant teachers, not only to ensure that the children do not get up during the hours of video calls with teachers but to learn, together with their children, to use technological tools in which tasks and projects are carried out. 

1. Organization and family effort

As parents, it has been a challenge balancing homework and work with supervising the children’s homework. While they used to support their children with homework, now they have found that they are technical support, production assistants holding cards in front of the computer camera, essay editors when fledgling writers have doubts. high school and of course, pupils of Picasso when preschool kids make a new masterpiece. 

The satisfaction of celebrating good grades as a family, thanks to joint efforts, and constant communication with teachers who resolve doubts via email, WhatsApp, call, video call, and other platforms have been crucial to keeping us all on the ship of hope. 

The boat that makes it possible for us to continue striving together, decorating the workspaces so that the little ones at home feel motivated to sit at their desks and as an institution to encourage our teachers to continue giving the best of themselves.

1. Connectivity

Parents who have the opportunity to develop professionally from home, have found themselves with the challenge of the slowness that the internet sometimes presents; especially when there are more than 4 people using the network. 

In addition to the above, they are given the task of building isolated work areas in different parts of the house so that everyone can carry out their activities without harming others.

Undoubtedly, it has not been easy, but we have all known how to define working hours from rest times. As well as maintaining order between school books and household chores.

1. The new normal

Academic institutions strive to sustain, and reinforce, the link for learning so that it is not a school year in which students see their training interrupted. 

Like many situations that arise in our daily lives, this contingency has challenged us to get out of what we already knew. And just as it has given us many headaches, it has also brought benefits for distance education, motivating us to continue spreading knowledge and hope for a better future.