Home as a Learning Environment,
Parents as Learning Facilitators
By Suzette Morilla
At the onset of the transition to distance education, there were questions on how effective
it will be. Will the quality of education be not compromised given the fact that there will be
no face to face interaction between the teachers and the students? How will the limited
interaction and socialization opportunities among students affect their mental and social
wellbeing?
We found the answers along the way. We may have not liked what the reality presented
to us. We realized that nothing comes close to face to face classes in terms of the
efficiency of the delivery of lessons, meaningful learning experiences, increased social
interactions, and extra-curricular activities. But, we should continue embracing the
alternative forms of learning. Our support as parents should be fully extended at all times.
We should be able to make the home a conducive learning environment, and make
ourselves good learning facilitators.
How do we create a learning environment for our students given the fact that there is a
limited space especially that almost everyone in the family stays at home? Parents who
are given WFH arrangements by their companies attend to many functions at home. The
mothers who became food entrepreneurs have been using large spaces also, not just the
kitchen, but even the living rooms. As families face huge financial setbacks, parents
explore different income generating opportunities to address family’s needs.
How do we make ourselves as best learning facilitators when we are not equipped with
knowledge and teaching skills which this role requires? No concrete answers can be
offered, sadly. This is something that each family must work on. We in the educational
sector who are parents too can empathize with what they feel. We will motivate them to
make the education of their children one of the top priorities and extend all the support
needed through constant coordination with them. The rest is placed on the parents’
shoulders. When we enroll our students, we know what we sign up for. We know that with
the transition to the alternative forms for teaching and learning, this entails more
involvement of the parents.
The teachers and parents should closely work together in ensuring that learning in its real
sense really takes place at home. Parents should also know what the tasks of learning
facilitators are. They guide and assist their children in learning for themselves. They
emphasize time management, reading and comprehension strategies, maintaining focus,
making the children see the relevance of the lesson etc. These are all needed to make
the children learn independently. In remote learning, students must see the need of fully
immersing themselves in the learning process.
Truly, there is much to be done as we continue embracing distance education. This entails
tough adjustment for everyone- the teachers, parents, and the students. It starts with our
limitless willingness to do what is asked from us, and what is necessary for education to
be delivered effectively.