After several months have passed since most countries of the world experimented with the "distance education" system, as one of the arrangements imposed by the Corona outbreak, to what extent was the success or failure of the experiment for child students and their families, as well as for teachers, and what is the future of this system?

In Lebanon, distance education is a daily challenge faced by parents, students and teachers for many reasons, including the constant power outages, poor internet service, and the difficulty of living crisis.

Jana did not suffer with her young son in the kindergarten department because of the positive interaction between the teacher and the students (Al-Jazeera)

Great psychological pressure

The difficulties students face in the electronic platforms programs weigh on the parents as well, as they suffer many pressures as a result of keeping up with their children in this process.

Mrs. Jana Ayoub, mother of two children in kindergarten and elementary school, confirms that there is great psychological pressure on parents and children, as if the students are not sufficient for the pressures they suffer because of the home quarantine, so that the pressure of distance learning comes with the suffering it entails.

Jana points out that the suffering is a result of the weakness of the Internet and the power outages, and the difficulty in understanding some explanations, especially for the elementary stage, but she did not suffer with her young son in the kindergarten department, because of the positive interaction between the teacher and students, and her son was very responsive to distance education.

A child in the early stages of distance learning cannot focus for more than 15 minutes (pixels)

Negative and positive aspects

As for Ghina Itani, a mother of 3 children in the kindergarten department, she describes her experience as unique, and has negative and positive aspects in terms of diversification in providing information and the way students interact lovingly for their use of technology.

On the other hand, the child in the early stages cannot concentrate for more than 15 minutes, and therefore the frequent activities lead to distraction.

She also noted the development of her children in terms of personal skills related to independent and self-learning and information acquisition, but in her opinion, "no matter how smart the student is, he needs direct follow-up from his teachers."

Distance education in Lebanon difficult due to power cuts and slow internet service (Al-Jazeera)

Challenges

On the other hand, Umm Muhammad Shihab believes that the experience has many challenges, especially in Lebanon, as a result of power cuts and slow internet service, and distance education has made parents responsible for teaching at home.

She explains that she was forced to adapt to some of the "complicated" applications used by the school to help her children overcome technical difficulties, in addition to sending new lessons on a learning platform for her son in the kindergarten department, with all the required clarifications.

She is asked to photograph her son, for example, while he is reading the letters to ensure that the objectives of the lesson are achieved, but she argues that the burden has become doubled on her in terms of teaching, and this in the end is the task of the teachers.

Distance education develops children's skills for independent and self-directed learning and information acquisition (pixels)

Psychological factor

The Corona epidemic posed a great challenge to many teachers at the global level, so the task of communicating information to students became more difficult, especially for kindergarten teachers who rely heavily on direct contact with pupils.

Kindergarten teacher Rana Ammar describes her experience, saying, "For me as an early childhood teacher, I felt very confused when I first attempted a virtual encounter with my students, because the feeling of not being able to interact directly with them by providing them with the sensory means that are the basis for learning at this stage, constituted a source." I am very concerned about the delivery of information. "

However, this experience prompted her to think of other means to take advantage of the material capabilities available at home, and the power outages and slow internet have hindered her and the students' families.

And she continues, "I tried to use computer programs, electronic games, and video clips that provide a kind of mutual interaction between the teacher and the pupils, and to have discussion and dialogue with the children about their content. These methods have effectively attracted students to the lesson and their interaction."

The disparity in parents' cooperation has sometimes negatively affected the education and distance learning process (Al Jazeera)

Mixed cooperation

Another problem that Rana mentions is the disparity in the cooperation of parents to a large extent between one group and another.

This sometimes negatively affected the teaching and learning process, in addition to the fact that the number of students participating in the class formed an obstacle in terms of the possibility of involving everyone more than once in the process of discussion and sharing of ideas.

"We must mention the psychological factor that was also another challenge for me as a teacher, as the students during the stone period were passing through fluctuating feelings that negatively affected them, and therefore this should be taken into account, and help the students by communicating with them in a positive way to give them a ray of hope. In light of this crisis, which negatively affected their energies and capabilities.

Rana concludes, "This age group has less ability to concentrate than its peers in the upper grades, and thus this matter was a stress for some of them. This is inevitable, and they are not to blame. Rather, teachers had to find ways to alleviate this matter on them."

Rana Ammar: In distance education, the psychological factor was another challenge for me as a teacher (Al-Jazeera)

Positive experience

In view of the peculiarity of this age group, which needs different educational methods and strategies and direct follow-up from the teacher, a means must be found for effective and direct communication with them to ensure the highest level of benefit and learning, and to maintain their physical and psychological health in light of difficult circumstances, according to the head of the Kindergarten Department of the Makassed School Maggie Al-Khatib, who She considered that the experience has strengths and positive points, and a set of challenges that it tried to overcome to ensure the continuity of the education process and the maximum benefit for students.

Maggie says, "One of the most positive points is the acquisition of various skills, information and experiences by stimulating the minds of children. The distance education classes were the only way to ensure the continuation of this interaction supported by activities and application cards sent to parents and various electronic links, for distance education studies that included asking questions and reading stories and discussions. And the implementation of direct application activities with children, which ensures the required interaction.

This is in addition to the psychological support that children received during the difficult period through their communication with their friends and teachers and the implementation of entertaining educational activities, in addition to physical education, arts and other classes.

The distance learning classes were an incentive for many children, especially the shy ones, whose participation in these classes increased.

The remote graduation of kindergarten children had a positive impact on the hearts of parents and their children alike, according to Maggie.

Maggie Al-Khatib: Distance learning is an experience that has strengths and positive points, and also a set of challenges (Al-Jazeera)

Fear and anxiety

The stage of fear and anxiety could not be ignored in the beginning for teachers and parents, but all challenges were overcome with the passage of time, moral and technical support and continuous guidance, as distance learning lessons became easier.

As it is known, what a child will gain from attending the hours of distance education is less than what he would gain by attending school for more than 7 hours per day, organized in a way that meets the needs of children at this age.

Maggie regrets the difficult situation in Lebanon, which negatively affected the course of distance education courses, such as power cuts for long periods and the lack of Internet access for everyone due to its high cost, or the parents' preoccupation with their work, which caused some children to be unable to attend classes.

Maggie talks about some of the challenges of distance learning, saying that kindergarten children need to move continuously, and they are not able to sit in front of the screen for long periods, so the resort has been to determine the number of daily classes in proportion to their ability through a prior program sent to parents, and prepare activities that allow them to move It keeps them occupied with using the resources and materials available in their homes.

What a child acquires from distance education is less than what he acquires in school at a time that exceeds 7 hours a day (Al-Jazeera)

The best option

Distance education for the new school year remains the best option with mixed learning, because it is impossible to leave these children without follow-up and communication, as what they will gain through distance learning, regardless of its percentage, is much better compared to what they will lose by not adopting this type of education.

Since parents are the primary partner in the success of this process, it is imperative to support their children with distance learning to maintain their academic development and mental health, and this experience will provide children with experiences that benefit them in their future to be able to face challenges and overcome obstacles, according to Maggie, Kindergarten Department Director.