Page 16 - FunAsiA DesiPages Digital June 2020

PEOPLE SPEAK PAGE #1

THE REACTIONS OF PARENTS

PEOPLE AFTER TWO MONTHS OF HOMESCHOOLING
SPEAK This Lockdown forced a crash course for online learning and

technology for students and faculty.

While school closures may have been
necessary to slow down the spread of the heavily as are learning management systems like Instructure’s
Coronavirus, they have had effects both on Canvas, Blackboard, and Google Classroom. It suddenly
parents, who might have to take off work seemed like a crash course to technology. Initially, everyone
to care for their child, as well as students, took time to get familiar with the new setups and the new way
who missed out on crucial school hours and of learning. For the first-time students, faculty, and even the
interaction. Homeschooling took the place parents are learning together.
of the classroom. It was down to parents to
keep their child’s education going as best as CHILDREN’S DEPENDENCY ON PARENTS TO COMPLETE THE
they could. The use of digital technologies ASSIGNED WORK.
increased to deliver lessons to children at When both parents still need to work full time even during the
home. lockdown, it can be a real struggle. While Navjyot Sharma of
Dallas appreciates how quickly
the school district was able to
Around the world, schools
in over 100 countries are come up with an alternative after
closed to protect against schools announced they would
the spread of coronavirus, not open after spring break. She
After the spring break says “It is difficult to navigate
schools in DFW did the e-learning tools provided
not reopen. They are by the school district for my
now closed for summer 6-year-old. We can only focus
vacation without the actual on school assignments after I
Graduations happening. finish with my workday as there
A lot of speculations are are several different platforms
still going on about the and resources a child has to go
timeline and when to to, just to be able to complete
restart school in fall. an assignment which at times is
difficult for younger children.”. She also hopes that the school
district works on an integrated platform that reduces children’s
Meanwhile, FunAsia DesiPages got to speak
to some parents to find out, what their dependency on parents to complete the assigned work if this
experience has been during these changing needs to continue. She suggests that more teacher-led sessions
times. We got some very interesting first- possibly in smaller groups than the classroom size can help with
hand insight into how parents react to the ensuring children getting time with their teachers to focus on the
same situation differently, like two sides to a curriculum.
coin.
MISSING CRUCIAL SCHOOL HOURS AND STAAR TEST
Interaction with peers, school staff & faculty forms an integral
part of school experience and learning. So, does taking
competitive exams and tests which prepare a child for the
THIS LOCKDOWN FORCED A CRASH
COURSE FOR ONLINE LEARNING AND future. It offers them a snapshot of how the competitive world
TECHNOLOGY FOR STUDENTS AND would be ahead. Leena Naidu, a mother of two girls says, ‘My
FACULTY. older 11-year-old daughter has missed crucial school hours
In many respects, the education industry and STAAR test which would have been a good experience
moved to remote instructions which are before middle school. Swim team training hours, interaction
similar to the work-from-home concept of with friends, and celebrating special moments like birthdays
enterprises. Video conferencing platforms have been immensely missed”. On the other hand, she feels
such as Zoom and WebEx are being used there is more quality time for family bonding especially with her
younger sibling and her daughter has also picked up new skills

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