The Hidden Cost of On-Line learning

Concerns over the forced on-line development in the education of our school students has focused on many of the obvious issues such as the availability of efficient connectivity, the disparity across the socio-economic divide regarding the suitability of devices and data access in some areas.  Of course, there is the issue regarding the discrepancies that will result from the inequality regarding university entry.  These are real issues however, there is a more urgent and pressing dilemma that I have yet to see identified.  That is the delivery of on-line lessons for the youngest of our student population such as kindergarten.

I concede that today’s generation will continue to develop in an on-line world and will progress behaviours that allow their applicable needs to be satiated in that environment but, this can only occur after they have developed a robust sense of self.  Your sense of self matures in the early years of one’s life and is the child’s emerging repertoire of behaviours to satisfy physical and more significantly social needs.  These occur at the interface between the child and their significant other, in the first instance their primary care giver.

In a perfect world the child tries different actions to get what they want.  Things such as crying when they are hungry work and in attentive families and those care-givers will, over time provide them with alternate behaviours like ‘asking’ for what they want.  We enjoy watching children learning to walk and most kids get positive reinforcement during the clumsy period prior to mastery.  This reinforcement is conveyed through the emotional content of the encouragement as the infant is in the very early stages of cognitive development.

Socially, the first of these needs, to belong is tied-up in the attachment of the child first to the primary care-giver and later to the extended family.  As they age the numbers of human interactions that become part of the child’s behaviour extends.  From about age three the drive extends from attachment, the more intimate sense of belonging on to that of affiliation, the ability to behave in such a way as to get their needs met from their peers.  The maturation of these behaviours continues throughout life but the decisive repertoire will be locked-in by about age seven.  To achieve full relational development, children need to be in a physical environment where they continue to refine behaviours through trial and error.  How effective their behavioural attempts are is assessed through the emotional acceptance from the target of their behaviour.

Even in a ‘perfect world’ infants need continued and expanded social interaction in a physically intimate environment, such as the classroom and playground.  This is not available on-line.

Seemingly, this is a minor problem for many children however the isolation is devastating for children with social disabilities and those who live in abusive or neglectful homes!  Our focus has been on helping teachers support these children who have developed behaviours that are functional in their own defective environment but clash with the character of their school.  For these kids, going to school not only provides protection from the abuse it also exposes them to an alternate social setting, one that more closely reflects that of the general community.

These children who have suffered early childhood abuse and/or neglect are already disadvantaged and, unlike those who are raised in functional families who will only suffer the loss of personal interaction during the early years at school, require many more years in a predictable, consistent and caring school environment.  They not only need to learn new behaviours they have to, in a sense unlearn those entrenched behaviours they acquired to survive during their early years.

If on-line learning continues for a significant length of time, the five-year-old missing out on Kindergarten will have a much more significant impact on their long-term learning than the current senior students who have already acquired their fundamental social skills. 

Avoiding Cabin Fever

During this stage of the COVIT-19 pandemic we have been forced out of the natural pattern of our normal life.  The need to socially isolate is important and we all have to play our part if we are to get back to the things we love especially teaching the kids at your school. We are at the relative beginning of the lockdown and during the ‘holidays’ you may be feeling just a bit inconvenienced however, the experts are telling us this will go on for at least two weeks and may continue for months. 

In anticipation of the worst scenario and given that, at this time we are still reasonably resilient it is time to get prepared so we get out at the other end intact.

If you don’t already you may start to experience restlessness and irritability.  Little things become major issues especially in relationships.  Things your spouse or the kids have always done that just annoy you can become appalling.  The increase in your stress levels and the probability of considerable conflict are serious concerns for your mental health.  Research has shown that having negative emotions increases the likelihood of getting a respiratory illness by 2.9 times.  The evidence from China shows a three-times increase in domestic violence.  This is not likely to happen but lessons from other times of crisis and the current over-seas experience should make us be prepared for the dangers.  Don’t forget the video of the people fighting over toilet paper!

You may experience some of the common effects of isolation which are:

• Restlessness
• Lethargy
• Sadness or depression
• Trouble concentrating
• Lack of patience
• Food cravings
• Decreased motivation
• Social Isolation
• Difficulty waking
• Frequent napping
• Hopelessness
• Changes in weight
• Inability to cope with stress

There are some actions we can take to get through this very difficult time.  These are:

1.Have a Routine

Plan your day, what time you get up, meal times, work times and some time for fun.  Structure gives us predictability and a sense of safety that makes us calm.

2. Don’t surf Television, social media or the net

Don’t just grab the remote and channel surf – it’s a sure way to compound your feeling of isolation and hopelessness. Use your Television and social media in a positive and constructive way. For example, plan an event such as watching a movie or a series, tell the other people in your house and invite them to join you. Maybe an introduction to the movie, like - why you chose it, who directed it what else have they done etc. A little research and some background to your shows will add value to the activity and enhance the viewing experience for yourself and others. 

Plan your entertainment (reading, listening, viewing, streaming, etc.). Investing more in the process gives us more back by adding meaning to the things we do. Sometimes we need more than cotton wool for the brain.

Remember - the Television doesn’t have to be on. When the show is over, turn the Television off, turn it back on when there is something you know you want to watch.

3. Set Goals

Set out to achieve something each day.  If you just lie about binging on TV shows the feeling of powerlessness is reinforced but when you achieve your goal, and it doesn’t have to be too challenging you get a feeling of achievement, you feel worthwhile.

4. Create ‘Zones’ in the House

Some will be working from home so have a designated place for work to be done.  It could be the place the whole family uses, the kids for their school work if appropriate.  Have other places for hobbies, socialising.  The thing is when you move from one place to the other the change of location gives a small sense of being able to ‘move about’ something that has been taken from us.

5. Exercise

The least you should do is get outside and if possible, go for a walk maintaining social distancing - if you have stairs even walking up and down those for a few minutes will help.  If you have a sport or hobby take this time to work on your ‘skills’.  Make this part of your routine.  There are plenty of sites on the internet for appropriate exercises I found 522,000,000 results in 0.69 seconds when I typed in ‘exercise for golfers’ – the same numbers are there for most activities! 

6.Use your Brain

It is easy to become passive consumers and pass the time on mindless past times.  I am not suggesting that you don’t watch TV or participate in some video games but you do need to use your brain.  Paradoxically you will become more mentally tired from not using your brain and invigorated when you do.  Finish a cross word, read a book, write to friends, organise your photos, start-up a new hobby - there are plenty of things that will keep you occupied.

7. Look After Your Diet

With so much time on your hands and with the temptation of a quick snack it is easy to over indulge.  Increased food consumption is a danger but with the extra time it is an opportunity to think about planning a better diet.  Good health is linked to good eating habits and now might be a time to make that change.

Take control of your alcohol consumption, most of us enjoy a beer, a good wine or the occasional spirit but like food, with the increase in anxiety caused by the current situation and the amount of time you could have a drink it is too easy to take refuge in the bottle.

8. Maintain Your Relationships

Just as loved ones can annoy you the can make you feel special.  Part of your daily plan should be to talk with the others in the house, your spouse and your kids.  Talk about things you did in the past, holidays, any moments that were special to you (turn the TV off and put the phones away). 

Have a ‘Formal Friday’ when you get dressed up and have a good meal, a favourite beverage with music in the back ground, it’s your night out for the week.

Don’t forget to stay in touch with friends and family while isolated. Make this part of your daily structure and plan to ring at least two people a day.  It’s not a bad idea to ring someone you have not called for a while.  It will give you a chance to catch-up and them a nice surprise.

9. Limit your exposure to news

Limit your daily news to two reliable, accurate sources only, access them twice a day and don’t google your day away going down various rabbit holes that will take you nowhere that you will gain personal growth understanding satisfaction or inner peace.

For some this period of time with the uncertainty and financial hardship may require special help.  Never be afraid to reach out to professionals, your GP or go to any of the on-line services like Beyond Blue, Mental Health Australia Mental health Support Services, Lifeline or the many others available on line.

Stay healthy and safe.