How To Help Students Learn During Coronavirus Closures

Delayed Timelines

COVID-19 has been largely disruptive to normal life across the globe. A growing concern amongst many educators and parents is the impact of indefinite school closures on the typical academic goals of students. Students are currently given less instruction and structure than they are typically given as teachers and institutions struggle to move their classes online, creating massive disruptions to the educational process, frustrating students and parents. 

Developing Executive Functioning & Study Skills

Because of these disruptions it is vital that students learn how to become independent learners while schools remain closed indefinitely. In terms of executive functioning, this challenge is fairly similar to the challenges of a typical college freshman as the structure and support of High School evaporates and the student is forced to navigate the independent learning environment of higher education. It is important to keep as regular a schedule as possible: wake up at the same time, schedule time to study a particular subject as if you were in school, build in breaks, and schedule time to study every day. Habits are extremely important, now more than ever. 

As life, even outside of the recent pandemic, moves online, students should develop their ability to learn from online resources like videos and eBooks. However, one fundamental downside to learning online from a young age is the number of distractions online and the lack of quality feedback given on most learning platforms. So keeping track of students' activity and progress is even more vital during extended school closures.  For video and online lectures, parents need to ensure their student is paying attention. We recommend checking students notes after watching a video or an online lecture; students tend to 'space out' or get easily distracted when they are on their computers, so make sure they are critically engaged during class time. 

Learning Opportunities

This is an opportunity to students how to manage time, how to create schedules, and how to develop the discipline needed to meet self imposed deadlines. Students need to learn to self advocate by reaching out to professors when confused with the content or the expectation of assignment. It is important to maintain communication with students to see if they need additional support from a tutor to help provide some feedback and structure while schools are shuttered. 

Parents, teachers, and tutors need to highlight quality study skills, time management, and organizational skills to students in these uncertain times. Students can not afford to lose 6 months or more of education. These developmental periods are crucial and impact far more that simply test results and grades. These skills are necessary to any academic or business goal a student may eventually have.

Conclusion

During these difficult times it is important to teach students the value of time management, discipline, self accountability, and organization. It is normal to see a decrease in productivity, it is only natural given the state of the global pandemic, but this setback to the typical academic process can be a great learning opportunity for students and institutions adapting to the digital age. We as educators, parents, and students must rise to the challenge to effectively navigate our changing world.