5 reasons why students do not engage in distance learning

This article originally appeared on Including.org

Whether you call it from distance learning, online learning or distance learning, the school is different during the COVVI-19 pandemic. While some students are prosper with this way of learningMany students do not seem to be committed. Some students may not be present at all. Others can be present, but they do not run in work or do not do more than the bare minimum. So what prevents your students from getting involved?

Research shows That students who are truly committed persevered despite the challenges. The students committed are attentive and curious. They find a meaning in what they learn, whether their class is brick and mortar or virtual. Here are five possible obstacles to students' commitment during distance learning – and ways to help you.

1. The circumstances of the life of the students have changed

In the midst of a pandemic, economic recession and social troubles, the life of your students may have changed radically since the day your school has closed. Many families are struggling with financial concerns, illness, loss, homelessness and / or food insecurity. Or they can be vulnerable in other respects.

Students may no longer have an internet connection, a device to use or a space to learn. Some students may not be available to meet at specific times. Others may have a lot in the background that they are trying to block or even hide from the rest of the class.

In class, when you work with your students in person every day, you can have an idea of ​​who can go through something difficult at home. You can check in private to see how things are going. During distance learning, it is more difficult to have these individual conversations, in particular with students who are not engaged.

One thing to try: If you have a student whose behavior has changed considerably, check with them or his family with a telephone call. You can also help families understand How social workers can help with their child's challenges.

2. Students are dealing with stress and trauma

Stress and trauma may interrupt cognitive treatment, reduce students Executive operating skillsand disturb emotional regulation. All of this makes it difficult to learn, think and engage significantly.

Between anxiety around the coronavirus pandemic And Standard at the national level on racial injusticeMany students face unprecedented emotional challenges. And they may not have the support system or adaptation skills to manage them.

One thing to try: Integrate Socio-emotional learning (salt) in your distance learning plans. It can help your students – and you – manage emotions without disengaging. You can also help families understand this Types of emotional help are available for their child.

3. The content is not accessible

Make sure that the equipment is accessible can be a major challenge, students go online or paper packages. If students are not comfortable with the system you use, they could avoid it. It takes time to establish standards and practices with a new system, especially when it involves technology. It is difficult to measure commitment when you learn all of the new system.

In some cases, the content presented in a new way prevents children from accessing them. For example, students who find it difficult to process hearing information can have problems with video lessons. Students who need more visual support can find it difficult for text -in -text instructions and equipment. Learners in English May have trouble accessing the content without the support they generally have in your physical class.

In addition, many students can have trouble because the content does not feel relevant to them at the moment. It may seem that it has nothing to do with what is happening in the world around them.

One thing to try: Explore Best practices for online learning And assignments To make sure that your lessons are accessible and relevant for as many students as possible.

4. Students need more structure and support

Many students rely on the structure and support of the school in person to help them stay on the right track with homework. Distance learning means that students must be more independent and responsible for their own learning. Families may try to help, but Many also try to juggle work While their children learn at home.

Once the students have turned off and lacked some missions, it can be intimidating to try to catch up. They can simply disengage instead.

One thing to try: Be in advance on missed rating and work policies. But look for ways to relieve stress on deadlines and the amount of work to be done. Show students strategies to make work more manageable, such as dividing the missions into pieces. Read how a teacher used Video messages to reach out to students who have “disappeared” And how she helped them re -engage after having missed weeks of school work.

5. Your expectations of engagement have not changed

It is always important to Define and strengthen explicit expectations around behavior and participation. But with distance learning, commitment may be different – and not only because your class is different. He is probably different from the student to the student as well.

For example, Live video lessons can pose unique challenges For students who learn and think differently. Students who have difficulty with concentration And distractibility, the difficulty of managing sensory contributions or increased anxiety about the “demonstration” can behave in a way that questions your definition of commitment. Behaviors such as agitation, disabling the camera or travel during class meetings may look like a lack of commitment. But for some students, this is what they have to do to participate in learning.

It is important to recognize that students engage in various ways. Do not expect the commitment to be the same as before – or the same for each student.

Students' commitment during distance learning can be difficult, but it is not impossible. Ready to dive more deeply? Get first -hand teacher accounts like you on how they sailed remotely:

Reprinted with the kind authorization of Incomed.org © 2020 Understanding, LLC. All rights reserved.

Frequently asked questions

Why are online courses not effective?

Some children have problems with online courses because they do not have the structure that school in person traditionally provides. In addition, students who have problems of anxiety, attention or learning challenges can find it difficult to adapt to different expectations and online courses format.