The covid-19 pandemic brought the widespread implementation, practically worldwide, of the online education, virtual education or distance education. It has been seen that it became a very complicated and relevant topic. Margarita Yovellyn Núñez Rodríguez, psychologist, who is part of the Regular Education Support Services Unit (Usaer) program of the Ministry of Public Education and Culture (Sepyc) Sinaloa at the primary level, comments an overview of how this educational model has been living. Without a doubt, the health crisis gave us all an unexpected turn, in all areas of our lives, and the school environment is one of the most marked. It was necessary to seek, as in other areas, an emergent and unprepared solution, taking by surprise all the people involved in the teaching-learning process, changing the perspective of what education is to an unconventional one.
“Homes became classrooms, parents became teachers, and teachers the guide of the process. The teachers sought to innovate, train, learn about what are the issues of digital resources that already exist in order to provide in the best possible way a quality education despite the distance. And, somehow, the students had to become self-taught ”, the expert analyzes.
–
Trouble
And the reality is that distance or online or virtual education is being somewhat complicated. “We see how connectivity problems are accentuated, not having the appropriate electronic devices, from a computer, a laptop, a tablet, even a smartphone. The limitation of spaces and materials at home. Families that have two or three or sometimes even four children and there is only one computer or there is only one or two cell phones ”, says the psychologist. And that in itself affects the vision of the design of the virtual education program.
Yovellyn Núñez comments that it has become noticeable in many families that there is inequality in resources, much more so in rural communities. The lack of preparation of some parents in the use of technology is also noticeable. As well as the attachment to traditional education that teachers have, who often refuse this change, to break paradigms, resistance to using new technologies. There are cases in which they have a refusal to make use of the programs, they only close by saying: ‘I can’t’, ‘I don’t know’, ‘this device doesn’t take with me’.
The loss of some family members, economic losses, unemployment, situations where parents, in order to support their home, are placed in whatever job they were provided, limiting quality time or often not even, has also had a great impact. They have time to provide their children for their educational activities.
“The socio-emotional situation of the students has also been greatly affected. They have gone through stressful situations, they have gone through situations of depression due to the loss of a family member, difficulty in channeling their energy, getting out of the routine, ”says Núñez Rodríguez. And now the children do not get out of the routine of being at home all day. The main objective of a child is that he wants to go to school to have fun, play and be with his classmates, even though he is taking classes and learning. Play at recess hours, coexistence, playmates at recess. “It should be clarified that we are talking about those who did take well all the extraordinary measures that were taken due to this situation of the pandemic, those who are respecting adequate confinement and going exclusively to what is relevant,” he adds.
It must also be taken into account that there are mothers and fathers who are working and who help their children whenever possible, but that does not mean that the child will be allowed to lose their habits and routines.
Regarding the boys from high school, from university, who did not take the corresponding responsibility with online or distance education, already at that age they already have to have control over the responsibility of their actions, that is, the teacher says “to such hours connect ”, but it will depend solely and exclusively on him if he connects or not. And there we have seen a lot that there are plenty of pretexts for not connecting, for not participating.
The specialist emphasizes that, without a doubt, the main factor that has come to influence so that this modality of distance education cannot be given 100 percent are connectivity problems. Either because of the community where people live, where many times an internet service does not reach, they do not have that service. In many cases, an even more serious situation is that the family does not have the economic solvency to provide their children with the necessary technological devices, such as tablets, a computer, laptop or smartphones.
As well as the lack of availability of the parents, a situation that has come to light a lot, and the lack of responsibility of the students in the upper grades.
Another big problem for some students is the stress to which they have been subjected by overwork. Some have commented that they have very little information from their teachers.
Advantage
Among the benefits or advantages that can be rescued in this online or distance education program, is the objective for which it was designed in this emergency situation, which is to prevent the spread of the covid-19 virus and mitigate infections.
Other positive things are also rescued, such as family time, family collaboration, family life. Communication between the family increased, dialogue processes increased, there was a development of acquisition of responsibility by some students, because certainly they are the ones who carry a greater weight in this modality of distance or online education.
“Likewise, with this design it was intended that parents spend more time with their children, that it be more that union, that communication, that dialogue, that tolerance in the explanation towards the child, the understanding of the responsibilities that are at home , the creation of habits, routines ”, emphasizes Margarita Yovellyn, although she adds that, unfortunately, in some cases these habits and routines were lost, the child or boy gets up at the time he wants, has breakfast at the time he wants to. wants or can.
Good! You have subscribed to notifications
Configure and choose your preferences
–
–
Changes
What changes would need to be made and how could they be achieved?
“Well, it may sound like something totally utopian, but it would be excellent if there were a type of connectivity that reached much more places and with greater accessibility in monetary matters, if not for free. I know it sounds utopian, something that is almost impossible to achieve, but for me it would be the main thing that should change, because it could be done, ”says Yovellyn Núñez.
The disposition of the parent in which he leaves or avoids the pretexts for not delivering the evidence. “It should also be mentioned that there are parents who complain that work is too much. We have that the child is from 8:00 in the morning until 2: 00-2: 30 in the afternoon where they are seeing up to three subjects a day, where each one corresponds to its activity and its task. But it is that when the parent is not aware of what really happens in the classroom when the teacher sends him the work or activity, they think it is a lot. They are not really realizing what a teacher really does. ” Some teachers are making home visits to deliver the activities directly to the students, and even then there is no response. Teachers should be aware that they are still doing their job.
Measuring the level of learning is being somewhat complicated right now due to the fact that it is measured by providing evidence, that is, the child answers, mom takes a picture and sends the teacher. It has been the case where there are parents who are not 100 percent sincere, where the student is not the one who does the activity, but the parent, where they are only sent to comply.
recommendations
“Mainly, continue to remain calm, see and make sure that it is for the good of our children. That the people who correspond and are involved in the child’s learning and teaching process are responsible. That the parents have the disposition, that the students are responsible, that they fulfill their assigned tasks ”, asks the specialist. That the teachers do not lower their guard, that they continue to innovate, train, that they do not give up in communication, because even if they do not have a response from the parent, the teacher when picking up the phone, when sending the message, when making the call, he he is doing his job. That is something that teachers must be very clear about, they are doing their part.
Regarding the spaces that are being managed within the house: find a pleasant space, free of distractions, where a suitable environment is felt to be able to carry out activities, which can be managed and adapted in the best possible way within the reach of each family, but that they accommodate him so that the child can feel like a classroom, that he sees that they are school activities.
Start by creating habits and routines. Not because we are at home let the child get up, go to bed or do homework at any time he wants. “I speak of habits, I do not mention schedules. The habit is that he is going to do work, that he is going to bathe, that he is going to brush his teeth, that he is going to eat and he has time for all of it; that he is going to eat at the table, that he is going to play in the living room and that he is going to do his little work in the place where he was assigned ”, clarifies Margarita Yovellyn.
That the child identify, internalize and be aware that it is time to do their jobs or any other activity part of their routine.
Regarding the school program, the curriculum of subjects, it is to prioritize, make the curricular adjustments, make the necessary contextualization for the situation that we are going through; right now the pertinent thing is that the content is information, knowledge that will help us in the situation that we are living. Give importance to values, without neglecting the content, of course, but prioritize the values of solidarity, autonomous learning, tell the child that he is responsible and that he can do it, personal care, socio-emotional skills, resilience , empathy, health care, we even see that the subject of Healthy Living was added.
“And that we do not lower our guard, that we continue to take care of ourselves. Even if the father finds excuses or even disagrees about this situation, let us take into account that it is mainly to take care of our children. Health comes first ”, concludes the expert.
– .
