Last March when Covid-19 forced schools to shut down, our family, like many others, scrambled to make distance learning happen. Our kids would sometimes work at the dining room table, at one of our desks, at their desks in their respective bedrooms, or even in bed. It was emergency remote learning, with the emphasis on “emergency,” rather than on “learning.”

Fast forward six months later and we are MUCH wiser in terms of how to give them the best conditions for actual learning. And just in time because many school districts like ours are offering a distance learning plan and we are excited about it.

Just as you did when organizing your home office, a distance learning space should feel comfortable while supporting the student’s need to be productive. We circle back to Feng Shui, and certainly think that some of those principles can be applied to distance learners too.

To that end, we think it’s so important to support distance learners by giving them a distraction-free place to study and learn. And we want to support parents with some ideas to make this happen.

Space for Learning

The first step is to find a space in your home conducive to learning based on your child’s age and style of learning.

When I was a kid I did my homework at the dining room table. Looking back, my mom could easily check in on me as she prepared dinner to make sure I was actually doing homework, and most importantly, it provided me with a consistent space conducive to learning. Granted, this was not a full-time learning situation but the consistency provided the space needed to get the job done.

Kids can get distracted very easily which means that everything in their bedroom can take away their focus. And the phones…oh the phones! It’s so very challenging to keep them from living on their phones during the non-learning time, right! So, their level of self-discipline should really dictate the location of their actual learning space.

Lighting

Light is an important mood booster which is key to learning. Choosing a space that is flooded with natural light is best, but lamps will do the trick if this isn’t possible.

Studies show that students receiving high levels of natural light achieve test scores up to 18% higher than students receiving minimal natural light.

Heschong Mahone Group

Distance learners are living in a virtual world in terms of schedules, assignments, calendars, and books. A physical reminder of their daily schedule and tasks can still be helpful for both early learners and high school students alike.

Think cork board or whiteboard that they can customize and make their own.

Distance learning is not the same as homeschooling. Don’t stress if your child’s workspace isn’t as perfectly organized or as meticulously set up as a proper homeschooling classroom. Engage your kids in the process and give them a place to sit, think, and learn, and your family will be on track for distance learning success!