Family Tips for Online Learning

Today, we’d like share some tips you may find helpful for online learning.

1. Get to Know Brightspace: All our courses are taken here in Brightspace, our learning management system. Parents/Guardians, if you can, sit with your learner during Orientation, which offers an overview of the site and how to navigate our courses. Orientation is always available to  learners and we encourage everyone to go back for valuable tutorials and resources. The more you know the better!
2. Support a Schedule: One of the best things about Online learning is its flexibility. However, kids often benefit from a daily or weekly schedule that gives them times to work and goals to achieve. Feel free to check out our pacing guides under “calendars” for direction.
3. Walk Through It: Parents/Guardians: You don’t have to know Calculus to support your learner in Math (or any other subject, for that matter). Often, learners just need someone to sit and walk them through the directions for a minute or two in order to get things started. If you need more support, please don’t hesitate to encourage your learner to reach out to the facilitator or to our tutors with questions. You can find a list of support resources at the bottom of our homepage.
4. Check in Regularly: Parents/Guardians: Please have your learner’s login information handy so that you can go in with them regularly to check progress. Check-ins can really help encourage success! What’s more, it’s great to talk to your child about their courses. Talk about interesting unit topics or what project is coming up next. Often, the best way to learn is to teach, so encourage your learner to “teach” you a little about what’s going on in class. Learners: HERE is a video on how to check for feedback in your courses. 
5. Reach Out: Our facilitators are ready and willing to help! As a program, we are flexible and more than willing to offer learners alternative pacing and or coursework. We also have tutors who are readily available to help. You can also feel free to email any of us with questions and/or concerns you may have. You can find a list of support resources at the bottom of our homepage at ileadonline.org.
6. Share your work with your EF/Coach/Guide. Your teacher of record is there to support your work at iLEAD Online and we welcome collaboration with them and all our learners. Please be sure to send your EF/Coach/Guide work samples regularly so that they can take part in celebrating your success!
7. Create a Space for Learning: Try to create a quiet space dedicated to study. Much like encouraging a schedule, creating a space to support learning can really go a long way to supporting success.
8. Make it Your Own: All of our courses are flexible and we want to make it clear that these are YOUR classes. Please feel free to request alternative schedules or coursework. You can collaborate with your EF/Guide/Coach and Online facilitator to replace or supplement projects in a class with customized work. We truly value your participation and feedback. The more you get involved, the better we can work together to support success!
9. Get Connected: Don’t forget to read through our Monday Message each week for updates and great resources! Also, please be sure to follow us on Facebook!