- At the time of the coronavirus, homes have also become schools. How do parents get their children to follow school from home? EHIGE is the Association of Fathers and Mothers of Students of the Basque Country and has started a consultation on March 15 between the parents of public schools. Her coordinator, Lurdes Imaz, has answered us by writing the questions.
What are the main concerns of parents in this form of learning that is now done through distance and computer?
On 15 March we launched a survey and it has to be said that that day we tested the server of our website. The families wanted to speak. We have already received 8,500 replies and we have a lot of useful information. The concerns are varied, but the most repeated are the need to reconcile the triple work at home, that is, the family, the work and the school; the emotional and psychological environment of the sons and daughters; the difficulties they have to help children in school tasks for lack of knowledge of the Basque Country or for lack of knowledge of the subjects (especially at higher levels), the concern for the evaluations (especially at the end of the ILL).
Are the houses well equipped with infrastructure? Internet, computers, appropriate light, a separate place to learn, other materials (books, notebooks, painting...).
"Despite having computers at home, they're not enough for all family members to use them at the same time."
The families at the lower stages miss the printers, as well as the closing of the paper shops. On the other hand, it should be borne in mind that even if computers are at home, they are probably not enough for all members of the house to use them at the same time. Schools and municipalities are identifying families who do not have Internet devices or services to be able to collaborate with them.
On the other hand, it is not the same to live in the farmhouse or in a house of 100 meters with a bright terrace or a house of a single space without light.
Have parents felt the need to adapt their role?
"Not all families have the same conditions. Some are at home and have the opportunity to help their children, others do not have to go to work, many have lost their jobs and have an economic concern…"
Parents are not teachers, at least for the most part. We have gathered some recommendations on our website with the help of Iñaki Eizmendi. Families can collaborate with learning habits, give a positive reinforcement, show interest. Communication with teachers is also fundamental, even more so in these types of situations. They will tell us what the goals are and how we can help.
However, it should be borne in mind that not all families have the same conditions. Some are at home and have the opportunity to help their children, others have to go to work and are not at home, many have lost their jobs and have financial concern…
According to the learning stages, the centers are very different when they are face-to-face. For example, in PN there is more pedagogy, the ESO is more progressive... Have different types of learning been passed to the computer and at a distance?
"There are families who say that in such special situations they want to work other capabilities of their children, because the primary responsibility is emotional well-being."
In the survey we have observed that upper levels (that, baccalaureate) use platforms, lower levels the supports are more varied. Those who work writing skills, for example, should write by hand. As for domestic routines, we also observed that adult routines are stricter and in the case of child education in general there is no activity. Some families tell us that they want to work other capabilities of their children in such a special situation, as their primary responsibility is their emotional well-being.
So many years going up and down with digital school programs and how did this change catch us?
Technology is a tool that won't solve all of our problems. The first thing we have to do is set objectives: What kind of students do we want to educate? And then decide what resources we will use to achieve these goals. Technology is not going to give us the opportunity to socialize the school. On the other hand, families really appreciate receiving the tutors' phone call, and that's an old technology.
It must be acknowledged, however, that technology is being very useful in the current situation and that I believe that the centres behind this area will be motivated.
What is the view of families about evaluation?
"The negative effects of repetition have been studied and its use should be well justified"
This issue worries many families and creates stress, because they now have a lot of responsibility for their backs. An exceptional situation requires unusual answers. From the moment the school has gone home, the children are in different conditions. All this must be taken into account before making a decision on the evaluation.
On the other hand, the negative effects of repetition have been extensively investigated, so the use of this option should be very justified.