Among the many things the global pandemic has affected, it has shaken up the education sector in ways that could not have been predicted. Many schools, colleges, and universities have temporarily halted in-person teaching and instead adopted online teaching. None of us are certain when the standard method of teaching will return on a universal level, but one thing is certain: Distance learning and online teaching is here to stay.

One of the many advantages of online learning is that it’s easily accessible, and it's a relatively less expensive method of education when you consider the overall cost of in-person based learning. Flexibility is another key aspect of online learning; a student can schedule or plan their time for completion of courses available online. Not only does this allow students to learn anytime and anywhere, it also helps enable the learning of new skills that will serve them throughout their lives and careers.

The rapid developments and advancements in technology have made online learning much easier. One just needs to have the ability to use a computer connected to the Internet and voila! You can learn from anywhere, anytime, and at a pace that matches your needs. Online learning has emerged as a powerful tool that can make the entire educational experience more student-centered, more innovative, and even more flexible.

While there are many advantages to online learning, it’s important to also consider the challenges it presents to schools and families. Schools around the world were pushed into distance learning with little to no time for a learning curve. For teachers who aren’t tech-savvy, challenges became tough to overcome. Without students coming to class on a daily basis, online classes have the tendency to become redundant and exhausting for both teachers and students. Some students have a difficult time maintaining their attention during live lectures and their engagement starts to decrease as well. The results of that decrease in engagement can be seen in their performance on assignments and tests.

Although the challenges of online learning are numerous and real, many of them can be solved when schools use an effective online School Management System. Here’s how school management system software can help you overcome the challenges posed by online learning/distance learning:

Increase student engagement by having the right mix of pre-recorded and live lessons. A student’s attention span varies throughout the day, and even throughout the week. It’s no longer logical for students to sit through a two-hour lecture with little to no engagement. The best way to overcome this situation is by making sure to have the right mix of recorded and live lectures, combined with active discussion periods.

One option is to have pre-record lessons for a particular subject or topic, and use the live online session to answer questions and encourage discussion and conversation. An efficient and effective school management system platform offers the tools that make it possible for teachers to manage classroom content.
An all-in-one school management system comes equipped with several valuable features such as distance learning options, Curriculum Manager, and seamless Google integration, making school management system software one of the most effective distance learning solutions.

Encourage interaction and engagements with activities and conversations. A lack of interaction and engagement is a major disadvantage to online learning, but it can be overcome by including more activities for students to take part in during live lectures. This will not only streamline a student’s focus, it will also provide an immersive learning experience. These objectives are achievable through the use of school management system software. Look for options that are compatible with web conferencing software platforms such as Google Meet and Zoom.

Make online assessments more challenging for students. When it comes to online tests or quizzes, there’s always the risk that students could be taking the exam with the help of a friend or family member. As a result, the tests lose their credibility in assessment of a student’s mastery and knowledge of a given subject. An online school management system software will give schools and universities multiple ways of conducting assessments in the form of online assignments and live online tests and quizzes.

To learn more about how Sycamore School can help keep your students engaged in the learning process Check out: https://sycamoreschool.com/ now.