Distance learning tips: How parents can keep up with technology

Distance learning has proved to be a great challenge for children, educators, and also parents--especially those who are non-tech-savvy. Nevertheless, the difficulties that remote learning bring are certainly surmountable.

How can parents keep up with technology? / Source: Pexels

The greatest challenge that parents had to face in the "new normal" in education is definitely keeping up with technology. Sure, mom and dad are familiar with Facebook and Messenger, but not with Zoom, Google Meet, Canvas, or Google Classroom.

And just like with anything else that is new, these apps or websites can be intimidating and the amount of new information that one needs to take in may seem overwhelming at first.

So, if you're one of those parents who are still trying to figure out the apps and websites that your children have to use for distance learning, below are some practical tips that will help you to become a knowledgeable "E-nanay" or "E-Tatay."

1. Find helpful remote learning resources online.

Now is the best time for you to make the most out of the vast amount of information available on the internet. There are a lot of websites that offer loads of information and the best part is you can access most of them for free.

For your tech woes, you can simply search YouTube and Google for demos or tutorials on how to use apps that you are unfamiliar with.

And to learn about several topics that are related to your kid's lesson in school, you can go to National Geographic Education, Khan Academy, Smithsonian Learning Lab, and Wide Open School, to name a few.

2. Don't be afraid to explore new apps and websites.

To overcome something, you need to make the first step no matter how daunting it may seem at first. So, the best way to learn how to use an app or website is to actually try to use it.

In an exclusive interview with Zoho Corporation's vice president and general manager in Asia Pacific, Gibu Mathew, he gave important insights about keeping up with technology.

“The best way actually to overcome technology is actually not to give up. There's a small interface in front of you (and) what you need to do is actually there right in front of you. So, just click and look around carefully. You'll find the key to the door.”

3. Learn from the young ones.

It's no secret that the younger generation are more knowledgeable and updated when it comes to technology. So, Mr. Gibu Mathew said that parents can also learn a thing or two from younger individuals, including their own children.

“Children in themselves are quite savvy. So, children can too be a supporting factor.

“I believe it's a coordinated effort or I believe it's also a bit of family time for picking up these technologies.

“So, parents have multiple ways to engage with children and also learn various technologies that are actually evolving, given the new normal.”

4. Get tips from teachers and fellow parents.

The best people from whom you can seek support from are teachers and fellow parents, who like you are also going through a learning process amid the whole distance learning experience.

They may already know the troubleshooting hacks you are looking for, since they may have encountered the same problem before. Plus, they can also offer you practical advice based on their own experience.

5. Join support groups or participate in seminars in your community.

Since remote learning has been adapted by many educational instructions worldwide, there are plenty of support groups and seminars that have popped up.

You can search for support groups for parents online on social media, especially Facebook. Or, establish one with fellow parents that you personally know. This way you can all easily impart helpful info and experiences with one another.

You may also check for seminars in your local community that you can participate in. For example, in Malabon City, their local government unit has initiated the "E-Nanay Tutorial" project, where 50 mothers of public school students were taught how to operate a PC or laptop and how to use Microsoft programs.

Each mother was guided by a senior college student from the City of Malabon University, while being supervised by their professors.

The nice part is that the students were able to fulfill the time requirements for their internship through the said tutorial. So, both parents and their tutor-students benefited from the seminar.

In a statement, Malabon Mayor Lenlen Oreta emphasized the important role of working together as a community during the time of pandemic.

“This E-Nanay Tutorial doesn't only benefit the moms and their children, this would also benefit the entire family as they would be able to adapt to the new normal way of life, where digital transactions will be the norm, and where they can be involved in the online economy.

“We want them to utilize the opportunities and available resources to develop new skills. As long as we work together - the LGU and the academe, and with the support of the community - we can find ways to help each other surpass the challenges that this pandemic has brought us.”

Hope you found those tips helpful. Just remember to not be too hard on yourself and never give up in learning new technologies. If others can, you can too.

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