Throughout the past few years, there have been many significant technological innovations. Many industries and businesses have been switching towards a digital platform as a means of streamlining their operations. The same can be said when it comes to the education system: many schools, universities, and academic institutes have been utilizing online platforms to help streamline the learning process.
In the past year, online learning has become increasingly popular, especially when the traditional learning process is currently obsolete due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This has caused a sharp rise in online learning classes.
However, the majority of students and even teachers are not quite ready for online classes. Some students express concerns about mental health and wellness. The good news here is that even though many students and teachers are struggling in online classes, there are still strategies that can help in promoting health and well-being. Here’s what you’ll need to know.
Promoting Proper Training for Educators
First and foremost, one of the most effective ways of promoting health and wellness among students is by properly training teachers facing students. Even for teachers, the process of migrating towards a digital platform when it comes to teaching is easier said than done. However, teachers will need to do their part and are constantly at the front line. Assuming responsibility for each child can be exhausting, and there will be times that this can result in teachers becoming stressed from the workload they have. On top of that, some teachers are not sure how to conduct classes online without proper guidance.
The best way of ensuring that online students are learning efficiently is by investing in proper and a more thorough training process across the administration. These don’t have to be in person since these training sessions can be done through online platforms. Most would suggest through zooms, recorded webinars, and videos specifically created for training.
Still, it’s important to consider that these teachers should promote health and well-being among students. If you’re looking to cut down on the time and energy needed to train your staff in this regard, you won’t have to worry since CPD accredited online care courses are known for their health and social care courses. Not only will this help keep students interested, but this is also known for having a structured and methodical manner of training teachers.
Promoting Mindfulness
Many educational institutions have reported that the schedule for online classes is a bit more hectic than usual compared to traditional classes. However, having a hectic schedule can be taxing for students, which can significantly affect their productivity and learning.
Most experts would suggest giving students some time to pause and reflect on their feelings regarding certain situations. Some individuals will usually ground themselves through meditation and doing a series of breathing techniques. Many government agencies are currently promoting a more positive mental health attitude in many academic institutes.
Not only do these exercises work on students, but they are also known for helping teachers and faculty members switch towards online classes. Classes on mindfulness can help both students and teachers a lot about mental health and nurturing self-care.
Promoting Rest and Time Off
Last but not least, it’s important to consider promoting rest and breaks for students. However, teachers are under the impression that many children are well-rested just because they stay at home. However, this isn’t necessarily the case. In fact, a study shows that a good majority of online students have been exhausted since many educational institutions have been migrating towards online education. Compared to peers that were learning in a traditional educational set-up, remote learners were more stressed.
If this is the case, one of the most effective ways of promoting the health and well-being of online students for online learning is by breaking the mental “load” of having to log in for school and going straight towards lessons.
Most educators would suggest promoting awareness and having a more positive dialogue with the students. Building a supportive network accessible to struggling students makes it easier for them to concentrate and have the energy for online learning classes.
Another good way of ensuring that some students aren’t burnt out is by hosting some time for “cooler talk” or just a way of chatting with colleagues and friends without needing to discuss lessons. In some situations, giving them time to speak towards a qualified professional can also help those with some issues with their learning experience.
Although online classes have been known for helping people with anxiety disorders, there are some situations compared to meeting most people in face-to-face meetings.
As you can see, there are various ways to promote the health of students doing online classes. Whether it’s promoting break time, helping them become more mindful, or training teachers in helping those that are struggling, encouraging students to take it easy can help with productivity and the learning process. Still, it’s also important to consider that teaching can also be mentally and emotionally taxing for educators. If this is the case, helping teachers is also a priority.
