A Parent’s role in the Virtual Classrooms

Traditional Classrooms vs Virtual Classrooms:
With virtual classrooms, when compared to traditional classrooms, parents didn’t have to accompany their children during class hours. But yes, after classes, monitoring was always there, to keep an eye to check on their lessons, performance, assignments, exam preparation, PTM, behavior and so on.

• Virtual classrooms, being digital and younger primary kids might pose a threat to operate with quite a bit of smart devices like mobile phones, laptops, tablets, etc as Children may not know its appropriate use. Parent’s role comes into picture at this stage to guide them constantly as they explore digital devices. The Internet is open to a vast area of topics. Parental advice is required to let them know how much to use? What sites to use? When to use?
• Then again, technically speaking, a proper Internet facility is required for accessing Virtual classrooms. So elders have a better knowledge in network aspects than children. It’s advisable to keep children safe and at the same time any issues with the internet can be rectified in less time. There is a curiosity in children sometimes to find things themselves without getting their parents involved. Parents need to have some control over their kids to keep them on the right track.
• Thirdly, the home atmosphere is more friendly and less like a classroom. It is more like a leisure space. It might be challenging to concentrate during classes. Children may deviate from lessons and tend to get distracted easily. They might meddle with their toys or thoughts might travel far away from the actual lesson. The traditional classroom used to be motivating students to learn and concentrate as there are less distractions. With virtual, there is a bigger LCD screen, projector to see things clearly and the presence of a teacher to inspire them. At home, parents need to take the teacher’s role of setting the room like a classroom to motivate children and keep things away that deviate their attention.
• Parents are mostly required to regularly supervise their child’s homework, assignments, projects, assessments, tests and likewise as per the instructions given by the educator. They essentially need to keep track whether deadlines are met and instructions are properly followed. For students to participate in any online events, parents must encourage their child, to be neatly dressed and actively partake in the program or any competition to participate. This will build their confidence and self-esteem. When such attention is given by the parent to their children, automatically they get inspired to learn more and interested in studies. Hence, excel in their academic as well as extra-curricular activities.