Up & Coming Weekly

September 15, 2020

Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.

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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM SEPTEMBER 16-22, 2020 UCW 15 Learning at home is dif ferent f rom being in a traditional classroom environ- ment, but with some ef fective strategies, students can persevere without mis- sing a beat. Tips for effective remote learning a STAFF REPORT An increased reliance on virtual home instruction has many students rethinking their organizational strategies and daily school schedules. Learning at home is different from being in a traditional classroom environment, but with some effective strategies, students can persevere without missing a beat. Stick to a schedule. Many students are success- ful because they follow a schedule. The Center for Social and Emotional Foundations of Early Learning says that routines and schedules are important because they inf luence a child's emotional and cognitive development. Children feel secure with schedules, which may help them recognize what's expected of them. When learning at home, students should strive to maintain as consistent a schedule as possible, including bedtimes, wake times, hours devoted to learning and time to get outside or engage in downtime activities. Connect live if possible. There are many free tools and resources available that enable teachers to pro- vide live video lessons or to record them so students can watch them later. Similarly, social networking apps and virtual mee- ting programs enable students to connect digitally. This can be helpful for collaborative learning assi- gnments or just to see a familiar face. Stick to tools that work. Once students find apps or systems that work, they should stick with them, offers Khan Academy, an educational tutoring resource. There are many factors outside of one's control during virtual ins- truction, but maintaining consistency with tools and schedules is one way to feel more confident and secure. Check student accounts frequently. Just like stu- dents, teachers may be lear- ning as they go in regard to remote learning strategies. Students should be sure to check school email accounts or other places where teachers post assi- gnments a few times per day so that they stay on top of all assignments and are aware of due dates. Reach out to instruc- tors. Allegheny College suggests students contact their teachers if they are unsure of how to participa- te in remote learning environments. Ask questions about assignments, get clarification on key topics and be sure to tune into any remote chats or virtual "office hours." Stay in touch with guidance, if needed. Remote learning is a new experience for many students, and there may be certain struggles or road blocks. It can be easy to grow frustrated with equipment failures or lack of in-person interaction. Schools employ qualified therapists and guidance counselors who are just a click, call or email away if issues need to be talked through. Students should utilize all resources made availa- ble to them. Virtual home instruction can be made even easier with some extra assistance and guidance. EDUCATION Cyber safety is important for students a STAFF REPORT People rely on the internet every day. In recent months, reliance on digital technology was pushed even further as social distancing mea- sures had the world going online for school and work and to main- tain relationships with friends and family. A report from Pew Research Center indicated that nearly 25% of young adults in America reported being online almost constantly. Common Sense Media says teens spend an average of nine hours a day online, compared to roughly six hours for those between the ages eight and 12 and 50 minutes for kids younger than eight. Students must exercise caution when spending time online. Connectivit y can be empowe- ring, but it also puts students at risk from others and even their own, sometimes irresponsible behaviors. Staying safe online should remain a priorit y for students who must spend more time on the internet and using digital education tools. These are some tips for maintaining cyber safet y. Exercise caution when sharing information like your name, address, phone number, and other personal data online. Check with a trusted parent or teacher before sharing private data. Report any online activity that makes you feel uncomfortable, scared or confused, whether it is directed at you or a classmate. Think carefully before you post comments online. Data remains online indefinitely, and your words and actions today can greatly affect your future. Respect others online by refrai- ning from demeaning or bullying comments. Do not try to get around firewalls and blocked websites set up by school administrators. These limitations are there for your protection. Stick to school-sanctioned assi- gnments and internet browsing when using school-issued devices. Administrators may have the right to monitor student activity without students' knowledge and you can easily get yourself in trouble. It is easy to hide or fake one's identity on the internet, so never take someone you meet or speak with online at face value. Never meet up with someo- ne you do not know or only met online. Talk to your parents or educators about extortion and ransomware that tries to trick you into providing payment in some shape or form to prevent a perpetra- tor from releasing private information about you, advises the Readiness and Emergency for Schools Technical Assistance Center. Various steps can be taken to promote cyber safety among students, parents and admi- nistrators. Staying safe online should remain a priorit y for students who must spend more time on the internet and using digital education tools.

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