Autism Elements
  • Home
  • About AE
    • About
  • Our Services
    • Online Courses AE Academy
    • Professional Development
    • Visual Supports
  • Resources
    • Digital Resources Stores >
      • Teachers Pay Teachers
      • Etsy Store
    • Freebies
    • Blogs
    • Podcast
    • Videos
  • Contact Us

E-Learning Tips & Strategies for Home Success

9/10/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Dear Parents,
2020 has been a trying year. The pandemic has forced many of us to have to keep children at home to do distance e-learning. It is extremely challenging and it is affecting families on multiple levels. As we embark in this journey, parents, I want you to know that we understand this is difficult. We don't expect you to know all the answers and we understand how frustrating it can be.
As we transitioned into the 2020-2021 school year, you were probably asked to get your normal supply list which meant notebooks, pencils, binders, pencil boxes, markers, crayons and the normal items.
However, no one share the other supply list you will be needing which is:
However, no one share the other supply list you will be needing which is:
Picture

There are so many factors to consider as you help your child be successful at home. I want you to know that you are not alone. Sometimes you feel defeated or like you are not doing enough or things are not going as you planned. Here are some mantras that you should keep in mind as shared by @thechildoodcollective:

Picture

Below you will find a few tips to help you make the most successful experience for yourself and your child.  Familiarize yourself with the learning platforms your child will use during distance learning. 

Picture
First, familiarize yourself with all the different learning platforms that your school or district is utilizing. Most of the struggles are going to come from troubleshooting or understanding how to navigate whether it’s a webpage where the teacher will post assignments and provide instructions or the video conferencing tool that they will be using. If you are struggling, aside from any specific trainings or presentations the district may have given you, reach out to tech support or your teacher to assist you.  Also, if you need immediate assistance, search YOU TUBE.  They have many "how to" videos on topics such as Canvas, Microsoft teams, Zoom,...and many other platforms/websites. 
Explore the platform your child's teacher is using to post assignments, meeting links, schedules, and/or lessons. You should also practice locating and submitting assignments. Review the home page the teacher created. Is there a specific area for meeting links? Is there a schedule that maybe you want to print and have accessible? Print out any written directions your teacher or district may have provided to have accessible when you get stuck on certain steps. If you are still struggling understanding how to access or navigate the online class setup, reach out to the teacher. 
Your child may also be required to attend video conferencing sessions in this 2020-2021. Teachers are being asked to use applications like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet and many others video conferencing tools to provide live instruction. You and your child must also learn to navigate and utilize these platforms. Think of it like when you get a new phone or a new computer, you have to learn to use all the new features to make the most of it. It will be challenging  at times but once you learn it, you will be able to do amazing things. 

Picture
When video conferencing, start by learning the camera and microphone buttons. Those icons will allow you to turn on and off the camera. Remember, the slash will mean OFF and the camera/microphone icon WITHOUT the slash means ON. This is important for many reasons, you want to keep the microphone OFF while the teacher is instructing their lesson. Muting the microphone will allow all the students to be able to hear the teacher with minimal distractions and background noise. Remember to be mindful when the camera is on. The scariest thought is that when the camera in on, it is an open eye into your household. Therefore, remember if you pass behind your child, that the whole class may be able to see you. 
There are many other features that may be useful for your child while video conferencing:

  • Pinning: Some applications allow you to select a specific participant or teacher to me maximized in the screen. This is great to help your child attend to the teacher and focus on what the teacher says or presents. You can also pin multiple people such as the teacher and the assistant. 
  • Captions: Some tools may have the feature to display captions as the presenters speak. Captions can help students for whom the audio may be too much or if they do better reading the word than listening. 
The other buttons to keep in mind are: the hang up call button, and chat box to communicate with participants & teacher while on the video conference. Also, take a look at the menu options to fix settings (audio/camera/sound), video gallery/grid views and explore other items the application may have.  

Build Endurance

I want to note some things that may become challenging through distance learning: it is a huge change from brick & mortar to fully or half online. The expectations of 2020-2021 is for students to receive as many hours with live instruction through video conferencing as possible. This may be extremely difficult for your child. It's OK! We don't know how long this may last since this pandemic has taken over. Our hope is that we can go back as soon as possible to a face-to-face situation, but until then we have to do the best we can in these circumstances. 
So... as your child participates in video conferencing don't feel embarrassed if they can't handle a long time sitting through the meeting. Don't feel bad if suddenly your child needs a break to receive sensory input or regroup themselves. Don't feel bad if they need to step out and come back at another time and don't feel bad if they have a meltdown. Instead, let's come up with a plan to help your child build endurance. 
What does that mean exactly? First talk to your child's teacher and let them know that your child is having a hard time and what your plan will be to help your child. Or ask for assistance to help your child build endurance if you don't know what to do. Don't give up, don't stop pushing for your child to participate through e-learning. We don't know how long we will be in this situation, therefore challenge yourself to keep helping your child build endurance. 
Here are some suggestions to help your child begin to adapt to distance e-learning and build endurance:​

  • Turn on the video conference every day, even it is for just for 5 seconds. If that is all your child can handle, then it's a start! Tomorrow push for 10 seconds, and the day after 30 seconds and so on.. until we can extend participation for more time. 
  • Reinforce and celebrate EVERY TIME  your child successfully stays attending.  Focus on the positive.  This is important to increase behaviors of participation. 
  • If your child needs a moment to take a break, turn OFF the camera/microphone and provide the break, but DO NOT hang up or leave the meeting. Leave it on as background. This way the child starts learning that this is the "new normal" for school. Use visuals such as First: Break, Then: Meeting, to remind your child that they need to return to their virtual class. 
  • If your child still struggles staying in front of the screen, attending the virtual class or even accepting to come near the computer, join the meeting, turn off camera/microphone and let the meeting run in the background until it's finished. Maybe throughout the virtual class, your child hears or sees something that they want to participate in and go to the computer. Don't forget to celebrate, praise and reinforce if they do. 
These tips are to help your child build endurance through this distance learning since we are unsure of when we will return to brick and mortar. Don't shut down distance virtual learning. We want to help your child hear the teacher and students to build familiarity. They can hear expectations and hopefully build rapport with their school family. Which in return, will support your child with the transition whenever we return to brick and mortar. 
Tips for a Successful Home E-learning Environment
Picture
1. Designate a learning space:
Picture
2. Develop a routine:
Picture
3. Set expectations:
Picture
4. Use your resources:
Picture
5. Celebrate:
Picture
6. Be flexible:
Picture
Just remember to ...
Picture
Picture
Picture
If you would like more information, watch our webinar on this topic: 
YouTube Video Link
Picture
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    Airport
    All About Me
    Arrival
    Autism Awareness & Acceptance
    Autism In Flight
    Beginning Of The Year
    Books
    Calendar
    Centers
    Circle Time
    Class Set Up
    Computers
    Covid
    Data
    E Learning
    Fine Motor
    Getting Started
    Holidays
    Home Notes
    Independent Work
    Library
    Listening
    Math
    Morning Group
    Morning Work
    Open House
    Parent Engagement
    Parent Support
    Personal
    Products
    Schedules
    Social Skills
    Social Stories
    Task Baskets
    Thematic Unit
    Velcro
    Work Tasks
    Writing

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photo from shixart1985
  • Home
  • About AE
    • About
  • Our Services
    • Online Courses AE Academy
    • Professional Development
    • Visual Supports
  • Resources
    • Digital Resources Stores >
      • Teachers Pay Teachers
      • Etsy Store
    • Freebies
    • Blogs
    • Podcast
    • Videos
  • Contact Us