A survey by Azoomee has revealed that 75% of parents feel remote learning has the potential teach children of all ages, despite huge concerns about the impact of self-isolation on families.
Analysing responses from over 2,000 parents, the study aimed to pin down the biggest parental worries, as well as opportunities, as the lockdown forces parents and carers to deliver home-schooling – even if they have no prior teaching experience.
Almost two-thirds (63%) of adults surveyed cited fears that the disruption caused by COVID-19 could set their child back at school, with a further 40% expressing concerns that their children won’t be able to adapt to a routine once restrictions are eased.
Perceptions of e-learning
Schools and edtech companies have pulled out all the stops, offering digital resources and educational apps to support the delivery of online education. Thirty-nine percent of parents see screens as a great way to teach and engage students, while 33% admit that remote learning is a brand-new concept they’ve had to tackle. On top of this, one third (31%) of UK parents confess they are struggling to get their child to learn. Despite this, 60% view online learning as a strong short-term replacement for classroom instruction, while 22% believe this new remote learning model is the future of education.
The pressures of home-schooling
Given the complex nature of the situation, 66% of respondents are currently trying to balance work with educating their children, with 33% claiming that one parent has taken responsibility for the majority of teaching, while almost a fifth (18%) admit to squeezing work in around school hours, highlighting the pressure the pandemic is placing on parents’ work-life balance.
All work and no play?
With 25% of parents ensuring their children’s home education is as curriculum-aligned as possible, just under half are keen to strike a balance between learning and play. This, however, is no easy feat, with just 24% ensuring their kids get the chance to play outside everyday – within the rules of lockdown – and just over one in 10 (12%) claiming it’s hard to find high-quality, engaging and curriculum-approved content, so instead, their children are spending their time playing games, chatting with friends online or watching TV.
“The potential for e-learning is absolutely huge if the right content is created and used in a way that positively engages children,” said Douglas Lloyd, CEO of Azoomee.
In related news: Government-backed virtual school opens to students during coronavirus lockdown
2 Comments
Jessica Morrin
Please can you provide a link to this research?
Genna Ash-Brown
Hi Jessica,
Sure – here is a link to Azoomee’s research: http://azoomee.com/index.php/e-learning-the-future-of-the-education-system-or-a-temporary-and-ineffective-replacement/
Have a great day!