Learning loss is one of the most frustrating aspects of teaching. Unfortunately, learning loss can start a "snowball effect." Once the student starts to have difficulties in one learning area, it can affect their entire classroom experience. With COVID-19 creating many challenges for educators, you want to stop learning loss before it becomes a learning block for your students. Find out the simple solutions you can take to migrate these snowball effects in your classroom.
Since February 2020, educators have been struggling to keep their students on the right path. COVID-19 has closed schools and created barriers in the classroom in the form of masks, distanced desks, and other limited social interactions. Unfortunately, while both the educators and students have protected themselves from the deadly virus, these same actions create headaches in the form of learning loss.
This common issue results from students losing valuable skills and knowledge when there are gaps in the student's education. Typically, learning loss occurs during the summer, but with the rise of COVID-19, these issues are starting to show up at an alarming rate.
The snowball effect can strike one or two students. Those students might be experiencing difficulties in the classroom understanding materials or failing to participate, leading to learning loss. If you don't handle the situation, you might notice more students suffering from the same issues. As the name suggests, the student's learning loss will "snowball" until they have lost interest in all educational activities.
Related: FrontRow launches LessonCam to enhance online learning
For those students with learning difficulties, struggling to learn the English language, or relying on the help of assistive learning devices, COVID-19 adds another level of stress. Before COVID, these students already experienced high levels of school-related anxiety. While in a physical setting, these students could take in-person classes to help fine-tune their skills. However, with distance learning, they must try to be more computer literate, express their thoughts in a written format, and follow directions from a computer screen.
These students had relied on a teacher to guide them through the day. Now they don't have that routine or structure to assist them. While parents can help their children, they might not have the skills required for those students with learning disabilities. These students are expected to act independently, and the learning loss snowballing effect disrupts their educational opportunities.
Unfortunately, COVID-19 has made everyone adjust how they work, play, and learn. Remote learning does present some challenges, but there are ways to overcome these difficulties. If you are an educator, you can try to keep your students on a set schedule. Their lives may already be in a state of upheaval with missed social opportunities, stress from the family environment, fear of catching COVID, or other issues.
When you are mindful of your students' difficulties, you can create an environment that could stave off any learning loss. With better sound quality and cameras, you have an environment that mimics those real-life classrooms. For example, the LessonCam creates a more immersive atmosphere for both students and educators, mitigating those remote learning challenges.
You need to understand the signs of a struggling student. Under the best circumstances, it might have been a challenge for students with learning difficulties to reach them. Now it is more important than ever to reach out to these students.
Schedule weekly meetings to make sure that they are comprehending the material. When a child starts to snowball, they might become quiet and not participate in a remote classroom. If these students' difficulties are not met, it can be harder for you to reach them throughout the year. Take some time to keep your patience and always acknowledge the student's feelings. Remote work can be overwhelming even for adults.
Instead of complicated instructions that can frustrate the students, lead with simple tasks. Use cameras and microphones that mimic a real-life classroom. You can avoid that dreaded educational snowball effect when you take the extra steps to help those struggling students.
Related: How Technology Helps Create Flexible Classrooms
As an educator, you want to migrate any of those problems associated with the learning loss snowball effect. One simple solution is an effective audio distribution system. These systems take the struggles out of remote learning by enhancing the learning environment for your students. You already know that these times are difficult, but you can boost your students' learning skills with help from an effective audio system.
Standard cameras and microphones might not pick up the nuances of the spoken word. That can lead to misinterpreted speeches and a lack of understanding from your students. Our classroom audio distribution systems have a proven track record of helping students improve vocabulary and reading comprehension. Along with that, it increases the effectiveness of all teachers in a variety of disciplines.
Instead of struggling to learn, students will be thrilled to be in an environment similar to their regular physical classrooms. These systems improve reading comprehension, reading, and phonemic awareness, which are the building blocks in other subjects, such as math, English, and Physical Ed. These systems are an effective way to mitigate the difficulties of remote learning. You can boost your students' confidence and learning skills with the help of an audio distribution system.
Related: How Classroom Audio Helps Overcome Pandemic-Related Learning Loss
Now that you know about the difficulties in your student's lives, you can stop the effects of learning loss. While some teachers struggle to reach their students, solutions are available to help keep your learners on track. With audio distribution systems, you can recreate the real-life classroom experience with only a few pieces of equipment.
Looking to close the learning loss gap? FrontRow has proven solutions that can help. Connect with us today to learn more.
