Challenges of remote learning and how to overcome them-Part 1

The global pandemic of Covid-19, which first emerged in the city of Wuhan in China, on the 31st of December 2019, is still marking its unstoppable course throughout the world. The lockdowns which globally took place during spring of 2020, seem to have only temporarily succeeded in flattening the curve of rapid infection. The partial removal of measures during summer 2020, has led us to an unpredicted fall with countries all over the world, deciding on local or national lockdowns. 

School bells never had the chance to ring loud, since the threat of Covid-19 is looming over students and educators. It seems that remote learning is once again, the only way to stay safe. However, this time both students and teachers should stand more prepared in this scenario. 

Of course, remote learning is an alternative to traditional, face-to-face learning, yet it comes with considerable challenges that can, however be dealt with, if we are to enter this phase again.

1. Distractions.

The news play on too loud in the next room. The scent of freshly baked cookies intrudes your room. Your dad is speaking too loudly on the phone. Your sister is practising her choreography in the hallway. All this. Plus a million other things, all happening simultaneously while you are trying to understand what your teacher is explaining on screen. It sounds like an impossible mission.

So, how can we scale all of these distractions down? It is really important that we have set a defined studying space dedicated to our remote learning. Whether it is a room on its own or a part of it, we should avoid clutter and irrelevant objects in it. It should be private and away from evasive noises the moments we have a lesson. 

Moreover, we should not have our mobile-phones near, or any other kind of gadget that will most probably distract our attention. Let’s keep only our computer, iPad or any means through which the lesson will be conducted. 

Most importantly, we, above all else, must decide that this kind of lessons, constitutes an actual kind of learning and we should have a mature and responsible approach to it. During the time of the digital lesson, all our focus must be devoted to that and nothing else. 

2. Loose studying schedule. 

It is natural that remote learning will always fall behind traditional face-to-face lessons, when it comes to scheduling your studying. This only happens because distance lessons are always far more flexible and susceptible to change. 

However, this is not a reason for us not to organise our studying. A paper or electronic calendar (there are so many applications to choose from),  in which we will have written the weekly schedule of online lessons will be a valuable assistant in organising our studying. We should prepare as much as possible for a lesson as early as we can and not let everything for the last minute. If we stay loyal to the rough studying program we have set for ourselves, we will not feel overwhelmed and stressed throughout the week.

The more organised we are, the more comfortable we will be to adapt to any potential changes that may appear regarding our lesson schedule throughout the week. After all, during Covid-19 times, everyone is awaiting sudden changes.