How to make the most out of remote learning...

As schools and students prepare to 'return' after the Easter Holidays, children and parents must make the most out of remote learning whether it's via Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Google Hangouts. Here's our guide to using these platforms effectively...

1. Follow basic remote learning etiquette regarding cameras and microphones. Students should mute their microphones when they're not speaking to prevent background noise. Nobody wants to hear the lawnmower in the background when they're trying to learn about quadratic equations. However, cameras should be switched on as this helps the teacher when addressing specific students and prevents them from 'multi-tasking' (AKA checking their phones/playing Xbox etc. when they should be paying attention to the lesson).

2. Students should situate themselves somewhere quiet. They should try to make sure that they are sitting in front of a plain background (preferably a wall) or at least somewhere where other family members aren't constantly walking behind them. This also helps to eliminate distractions.

3. Although teachers will take various approaches, ideally students should try to 'engage' with the lesson and contribute, just like they would in the physical classroom. Lots of these remote learning platforms have tools which allow students to catch their teacher's attention without interrupting the rest of the class. Zoom, for example, has a 'Raised Hand' feature. This ensures that students aren't just staying passive but are engaging with the learning.

4. Lastly, if all else fails, note-taking is key. Even if the teacher publishes note online or makes their Powerpoint slides available to download, students should take notes (whether typed or hand-written) during these lessons. Notes can then be referred to at a later date and is especially important for exam classes (Year 10 and Year 12) who will need these notes for exam revision.