A little preparation makes the first online lesson calm and productive. Here is a simple checklist.
The day before
- Device: a laptop, desktop or tablet works best. A phone screen is small for a whiteboard.
- Browser: use an up-to-date browser such as Chrome, Edge or Safari. Open the classroom once to check it loads.
- Camera and microphone: allow them when the browser asks. Headphones help a lot with sound.
- Internet: sit close to the Wi-Fi router if you can, and pause big downloads in the house during the lesson.
The space
- A quiet spot with a table, good light on your child's face and the window behind the camera rather than behind your child.
- Paper, pencil, a calculator if needed, and any schoolwork they want help with.
- Notifications and other apps closed.
Tell the teacher
Before the first lesson, send a short message: what your child is finding hard, their year group and exam board if relevant, any additional needs, and what you hope lessons will achieve. It helps the teacher plan from minute one.
During the first lesson
For younger children, stay nearby for the first few minutes, then let them get on. The first lesson is often partly about finding out where your child is, so do not worry if it feels like a check-up.
Afterwards
Read the teacher's notes together, and ask your child what they enjoyed. Small wins early on build confidence for the lessons that follow.
On Education Lifeguards, students can try the classroom first with the Demo class button on their dashboard to check camera and sound. More answers for parents.