How to prepare students for the transition from online to offline in special needs school?
The Covid-19 pandemic had brought the world to a standstill. To contain the spread of coronavirus, schools across the world were closed and distance learning using various technologies and the internet became the norm. This rapid transition to online learning posed a significant challenge to teachers and special educators. In addition to the stress on special needs students to restrict themselves to focus on a computer monitor without getting distracted, the collaboration between teachers and parents to ensure the continued development of their children was important.
However, students promptly adjusted to the new-normal scheme of education. Class duration became shorter; students were able to study practically from anywhere either from home or any other convenient location in comfortable clothes. Dining at their home with their parents probably was liked by the students. They could even attend class while traveling. There was no travelling time and hence they were able to be at home with their parents more time and this, indeed, was a positive element of the online classes. Since the children were always with their parents, though it was boring for many, younger students could receive individual attention while attending the classes. As the parents were always with their children, they were able to accurately gauge how much their children had learned and could guide them to be more enthusiastic about the learning process.
Now that the educators are vaccinated and COVID-19 protocols are relaxed, schools are preparing to physically reopen. The transition from online teaching to physical teaching could be equally challenging.
Here, we provide a few strategies for students to ease the transition from online to physical schooling:
1. Early to bed and early to rise - This is a universal mantra for everyone. Since the students had a lot of free time available while at home and no travel, the children will have little difficulty in travelling to the school and adjusting to the timetable of the off-line classes. The children shall be taught to sleep early and get up early enough in the morning so that they can complete all their daily chores before they leave for school at a predetermined time to reach the school on time. If this is taught now considering the travel time from home to the school involved, students can smoothen the transition.
2. Fixing the snack and lunch time – As the parents know, in school, snacks and lunch are served at a fixed time. At home, it is a different story as the children have access to food all the time. If the parents serve the food at almost the same time at home also, students will not have any problem adapting to the fixed time for having the food in the school. This, hopefully, will facilitate a smooth transition.
3. Wearing uniforms and shoes – Studying from home, students have got used to wearing comfortable clothes. It would be ideal if students are prompted to wear their uniform, socks, and shoes while taking classes online. This will ensure that there is no discomfort when they are travelling to school or sitting in class for long hours wearing their uniform.
4. Providing a visual schedule of how his/ her day is going to be prior to coming to school- As an example, tomorrow Amar has school at 8.30am, EVS at 9am, and snack time at 9.50am. The snack box is yellow and has fruits in it. After that, you will have language class, music class, and then home time. Daddy/Mummy will come to pick you up. It is important to give him a comprehensive picture of his/her day so that he/she is well prepared. In the absence of new incidents, the child will be less anxious and the transition will be less difficult.
5. Studying at a fixed location in the home - Ensure that the child has a table and chair, and that he or she attends online classes only from that spot. Ensure the child is not sleeping or slouching. They must sit up straight in class. By this, he will be able to understand that there is a place for studies, and that school will also be set up in a similar manner.
6. Keeping books, pen/pencil box in their school bag - This will help the child to be independent and know that school books and other school materials go only in the school bag. This will help the child to keep things inside the bag and be independent when they are in school.
Parents should not implement all the above points at once. By giving a visual schedule, make sure to introduce one thing at a time. Let them get used to new things gradually. When the child is comfortable with one thing, introduce another one so that he is not stressed by too many changes happening around him.
Author: Nimita Jeevan
Teaching Faculty – DLP
The Aditya Birla Integrated School
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