This essay deals with the struggles of distance learning during a global pandemic. The coronavirus disease (COVID) 2019 crisis has impacted not only the economic, psychological, and social aspects of the world but also particularly, the educational sector to a great extent. The virus, which first emerged in December 2019, became a pandemic leading to school closures and eventually, migration to remote learning by all levels of educational institutions in the new normal education. Thus, the traditional delivery of instruction in education has transformed and in turn, learning spaces were reorganized.
Table of Contents
Balancing Parent Employment Demands and Learner Needs
Balancing Multiple Levels of Learners in Home
Lack of Learner Motivation Specifically Related to Remote Learning
Lack of Learner Motivation Not Specifically Related to Remote Learning
Lack of Parent Content Knowledge or Pedagogy
Objectives and Core Themes
This work examines the multifaceted challenges faced by families during the shift to remote learning necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the parental role in facilitating education at home. It explores the intersection of economic survival, pedagogical struggle, and the psychological impact on both parents and learners, aiming to highlight the urgent need for better support systems and learner-centered educational reform.
- The struggle to balance employment demands with children's learning needs.
- Difficulties in managing multiple learners with varying requirements within the home.
- Factors influencing learner motivation, both specific to remote learning and general.
- The lack of pedagogical knowledge and content expertise among parents acting as educators.
- The necessity for open communication and collaborative support between schools and families.
Excerpt from the Book
Balancing Parent Employment Demands and Learner Needs
The struggle to balance parent employment demands and learner needs was the single-most commonly reported struggle. Forty-four respondents noted difficulty with completing job-related tasks and supporting their child(ren) in completing schoolwork during the COVID school closures. Some comments elaborated on the emotions that were felt as a result of the struggle to balance employment and learning. One respondent wrote, “having to make the decision between work and helping/spending time with my children. . . lots of guilt.” Two respondents mentioned essential worker status and its impact on the struggle to assist their child(ren) with learning. One participant stated, “My husband and I are both essential workers and struggle to provide the attention/interaction my children need along with our own work.” Another participant noted her biggest educational struggle as, “working in the hospital setting and maintaining a household while trying to maintain normalcy.” (Garbe et. al, 2020)
Most parents are working outside their homes prior to pandemic, their works are their bread and butter and having distance learning means balancing time for work, time for children (doing school tasks) and other responsibilities. While it is true that parents as they are they need to devote time for their children, dedicating time to them on school related works solely is another story. Way back then, bonding time for parents and children means doing recreational activities and some catching-ups, in this new normal, it means facing books, modules, computer, cellphones and other means together, accomplishing the tasks given by the teachers. Other parents, find this enjoyable but for those who just got home from working outside, this means another work of which they are not use to do. While others can rely to other people inside the house to guide their children in school works, others have no one to run to and so they are left with no choice. As a result, works become mediocre resulting to poor academic performance and low grades.
Summary of Chapters
Balancing Parent Employment Demands and Learner Needs: This chapter details the conflict parents face when managing work responsibilities alongside the sudden requirement to facilitate their children's remote schooling.
Balancing Multiple Levels of Learners in Home: This section addresses the specific challenges parents encounter when they must assist several children simultaneously who have different age-appropriate needs and skill levels.
Lack of Learner Motivation Specifically Related to Remote Learning: This chapter explores how the absence of social interaction and the nature of remote instruction contribute to a decline in student motivation and engagement.
Lack of Learner Motivation Not Specifically Related to Remote Learning: This part distinguishes general behavioral and motivational issues, such as boredom or distraction, that persist regardless of the learning environment.
Lack of Parent Content Knowledge or Pedagogy: This final chapter discusses the barriers parents face due to a lack of formal training in teaching or subject-specific expertise when supporting their children's academic tasks.
Keywords
Remote Learning, COVID-19, Distance Education, Parental Support, Learner Motivation, Pedagogy, Employment Demands, Educational Challenges, Home Learning, Curriculum, Student Engagement, Modular Learning, Teaching Methods, Academic Performance, Learning Crisis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The work focuses on the various challenges and struggles parents and learners encountered during the rapid transition to remote education caused by the global pandemic.
What are the central thematic areas discussed?
The core themes include work-life balance, the difficulty of managing multiple students, motivation issues, and the parental lack of pedagogical preparation.
What is the main objective of the analysis?
The goal is to shed light on the realities of emergency remote learning and advocate for better support mechanisms and more learner-centered approaches in education.
Which methodology is utilized?
The work synthesizes qualitative findings from survey data and academic research to categorize the common struggles reported by parents during school closures.
What is covered in the main body of the document?
The main body examines specific categories of struggle: balancing employment, managing multiple children, motivational factors, and parental content knowledge.
How would you characterize this text with keywords?
The text is characterized by keywords such as Remote Learning, Parental Support, Educational Challenges, Pedagogy, and Student Motivation.
How does the pandemic specifically affect parents who are essential workers?
Essential workers face intense pressure as they struggle to provide the necessary attention and interaction for their children’s learning while maintaining their employment and household stability.
Why is there a perceived need for a more learner-centered curriculum?
According to experts cited, the current curriculum is often too focused on topics and rote tasks, which provides a shallow learning experience and is difficult for parents to navigate without formal training.
- Quote paper
- Karla Guia Tudio (Author), 2021, Struggles of Distance Learning during a Global Pandemic. A Short Overview, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1038197
