Ways to Help Keep Children Learning During the Pandemic

Ways to help keep children learning during the pandemic he coronavirus pandemic has upended family life around Take your time the world. School closures, working remotely, physical Start with shorter learning sessions and make them distancing — it’s a lot to navigate for parents to navigate. T progressively longer. If the goal is to have a 30- or 45-minute Robert Jenkins, UNICEF’s Global Chief of Education, offers five session, start with 10 minutes and build up from there. Within tips to help keep children’s education on track while they’re a session, combine online or screen time with offline activities staying home. or exercises. Plan a routine together Protect children online Try to establish a routine that factors in age-appropriate Digital platforms provide an opportunity for children to education programmes that can be followed online, on keep learning, take part in play and keep in touch with their the television or through the radio. Also, factor in play time friends. But increased access online brings heightened risks for and time for reading. Use everyday activities as learning children’s safety, protection and privacy. Discuss the Internet opportunities for your children. And don’t forget to come up with your children so that they know how it works, what they with these plans together where possible. need to be aware of, and what appropriate behavior looks like Although establishing a routine and structure is critically on the platforms they use, such as video calls. important for children and young people, in these times you Establish rules together about how, when and where the may notice your children need some level of flexibility. Switch internet can be used. Set up parental controls on their devices up your activities. If your child looks restless and agitated to mitigate online risks, particularly for younger children. when you’re trying to follow an online learning programme Identify appropriate online tools for recreation together with them, flip to a more active option. Do not forget that ONLINE EDUCATION - organizations like Common Sense Media offer advice for age- planning and doing house chores together safely is great for appropriate apps, games and other online entertainment. In DURING THE PANDEMIC development of fine and gross motor functions. Try and stay case of cyberbullying or an incident of inappropriate content Supplements Team as attuned to their needs as possible. online, be familiar with school and other local reporting Advertising & Marketing Manager mechanisms, keeping numbers of support helplines and Hassan Ali Anwari Have open conversations hotlines handy. Supplement Editor Encourage your children to ask questions and express Don’t forget that there’s no need for children or young Pradeep their feelings with you. Remember that your child may have people to share pictures of themselves or other personal Sr. Business Development Manager different reactions to stress, so be patient and understanding. information to access digital learning. Sanjai Noah Start by inviting your child to talk about the issue. Find out Layout / Graphics how much they already know and follow their lead. Discuss Stay in touch with your children’s education A.K. Vinay Kumar good hygiene practices. You can use everyday moments to reinforce the importance of things like regular and thorough facility Advertising Office handwashing. Make sure you are in a safe environment and Find out how to stay in touch with your children’s teacher Gulf Times/Arrayah Building, C Ring Road, allow your child to talk freely. Drawing, stories and other or school to stay informed, ask questions and get more P.O. Box 533, Doha Qatar activities may help to open a discussion. Tel: (+974) 44466620 guidance. Parent groups or community groups can also be a Fax: (+974) 44310992 Try not to minimize or avoid their good way to support each other with your home schooling. email: [email protected] concerns. Be sure to acknowledge their feelings and assure them that it’s natural to feel scared about these things. Demonstrate that you’re listening by giving them your full attention, and make sure they understand that they can talk to you and their teachers whenever they like. Warn them about fake news and encourage them – and remind yourselves – to use trusted sources of information such as UNICEF guidance. ONLINE EDUCATION 3 DURING THE PANDEMIC One of the outdoor quad areas at the new Al Wajba Campus, opening September 2020 Doha College Educating, nurturing and inspiring oha College is one of the world’s leading British ambitiously steering in the same direction. One of the in the classroom. The success of this concerted effort International Schools, educating students between critical facets of the college’s remote learning success has been evidenced across the whole school with Dthe ages of 3 to 18. Its achievements in the has been the strong and much vaunted educational exceptionally high engagement levels, and the innovative fields of academia, sport and the arts are outstanding. triangle between students, parents and teachers, all future-orientated adaptation of student learning to these The college’s new state-of-the-art campus, and its working purposefully towards delivering an education new circumstances. exceptional teaching team reflect the unwavering pursuit that is as enjoyable and yielding as it would have been of excellence. The student leadership group (Head Boy/ Head Girl, their deputies and the team of prefects) are strong leaders of their teams and the entire student body. All students of the college are consulted on a regular basis and, as a result, influential in shaping the approach to learning. A Doha College education reaches far beyond the curriculum: Students are educated as global citizens, who listen, take responsibility, respect others and have the confidence to stand up and be heard. Established in 1980 and celebrating 40 years of excellence in education in Qatar, the college is about to embark on an exciting new chapter with the opening of its expansive new campus in Al Wajba in September 2020. With its existing sites in Al Waab and West Bay uniting under one roof in its state-of-the-art new home, Doha College is paving the way for the next 40 years of innovative education. Retaining teaching excellence during a pandemic As the world’s first High-Performance-Learning School, Doha College strives to exceed expectations at all times. The underlying growth mindset stands firm, even during the current remote learning phase in which it finds itself. A powerful and resonating vision and ethos ripples through its community that has everyone Teaching phonics online to Primary-aged Doha College students 4 ONLINE EDUCATION DURING THE PANDEMIC Secondary science teacher leading a Year 7 remote teaching class on acids and alkalis Principal, Dr Steffen “Our subject specialists and welfare teams collaborated Sommer, said: “With at all levels to support each other and the students the HPL philosophy, a during remote learning, a veritable credit to the strong future-oriented growth- relationships which have been fostered at Doha College mindset approach to for forty years. Although everyone misses the face-to- learning, tightly woven face interactions, we have been able to use technology to into the college’s DNA, teach lessons, arrange meetings, hold support sessions, we were well prepared, and enjoy some fun activities and initiatives. Next half both structurally and term, we are planning a virtual graduation for our Year 13 mentally, for coping students to mark this important milestone in their lives. Establishing effective ways of collaboration allowed with the unknown. As The whole community is learning and growing together, everyone to develop a good understanding of each a school where every and this is wonderful to see.” other’s roles at these restricted times and, just as student has been equipped with a one-to- importantly, it unleashed a level of flexibility which paved Key to success in remote learning the way for teachers and students to quickly adapt to one device for their daily learning in school and n Consistent, clear communications with all members of new approaches in teaching and learning. Once everyone Dr. Steffen Sommer, Principal had found their feet within the new on-line classroom at home, technology the DC community processes for recording attendance and ensuring the has been used in an n Regular surveys with parents, students and teachers highest levels of safeguarding, the students’ progress interdisciplinary manner at Doha College for years. Digital to identify areas that are working well, and to adapt curve continued along the same gradient as would have platforms have been integral to the students’ learning, those that need improvement at various stages, thus been expected in a live classroom situation. and digital teaching tools like class dojo and Firefly, our well-established virtual learning environment and all- allowing for the remote learning programme to be Like in any new situation which requires a process of embracing communication platform, had been tried and constantly up-dated and improved in order to ensure adaptation, the ground was fertile for innovative ideas tested well before the pandemic struck. The skills and the highest levels of effectiveness in a very short and new ways of thinking in order to further refine and aptitudes generated by the High-Performance-Learning timescale perfect the remote learning system which was designed, philosophy have been invaluable in this unprecedented

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