Solutions For E-Learning Challenges

Quality and Impact of K-12 E-Learning Solutions– D296, Western Governors

University

September 16, 2024

C As the educational field changes to include more online
h learning, e-learning designers need to understand the
challenges of online learning. Students who participate in
a online learning may have learning, social, and emotional
struggles associated with online learning. The students may
l have problems interacting with peers and teachers/instructors.
l Learning difficulties are a problem that children deal with in a
traditional classroom, but in an online classroom, they may be
e harder to work with and, therefore, may require some unique
and creative solutions. Students' mental health, something
n that has come to the forefront of education, is also an area
g that must be addressed. Students learning from home also
has its challenges. Students may have siblings who interfere
e with their learning, lack internet access, and other family
issues. Learning designers will need to consider all of these
s challenges to create an engaging online learning environment
that can keep the students interested and will have
 Challenge
#1
Interacting With Peers
• Students participating in online learning may
struggle with creating bonds with their peers
and learning how to interact positively
socially.
• This challenge is because the students are not
in direct contact with their peers and other
adults, which can help them traverse the
world of social skills.
• Students will display this challenge by not
having friends they interact with within and
outside of school. They may also fear being
rejected by classmates.
• According to “Strengthening Relationships in
the Classroom” (Fletcher, 2023), creating
some daily questions that students can
answer will help them see their peers
positively, maybe even see that someone else
thinks as they do. This can help them seek
out others to discuss their common interests.
 Recommendation
Interacting With Peers
• Creating times within online learning for students to interact with each other
• By creating task that require the students to work together in breakout rooms they will learn to
work with each other to accomplish the task that is assigned to them. This will help them get to
know each other, especially if the teacher creates tasks that require students to learn what the
other students like to do or are good at.
• A task can be assigned each week or every other week that incorporates the students asking
questions of each other to help them find the best job within the task for each student. For
example, if the task is to create a slide show, find out who is good at PowerPoint.
• Breakout rooms allow students to discuss ideas and topics without having the pressure of the
entire class looking and listening. (Clark, 2020) This helps the student interact with their peers
in a small group, allowing more freedom to talk and discuss their ideas and the ideas of the
others in the group.
 Challenge
#2
Internet Safety
• Online student safety can be difficult for
students, teachers, and parents to navigate.
Students already have information using TikTok,
Snapchat, and other social media. This affects
some students negatively, and they become
fearful and have anxiety over what is being said
or posted about them on social media.
• This anxiety may be caused by the overload of
information that students see and by the
actions of others already towards them on
social media.
• Students may be anxious if they no longer want
to participate in online learning and, even with
guidance, do not want to use websites given by
the teacher.
• The article “Increased Internet Use Linked to
Higher Anxiety in Teens, Research Shows”
(Lomte, 2023) states that students who use the
internet more than eight hours a day and have
other factors like food insecurity and family
 Recommendation
Internet Safety
• Create a lesson about internet safety and do reminders of safety protocols throughout the
course.
• This will help students who don’t have safeguards to put safeguards on their internet
activity. For those who do, it will remind them how to keep their information safe from
predators. Doing periodic reminders will help them keep up with the internet safety
protocols taught to them.
• At the beginning of the course, do a mini-lesson on internet protocols and safety. This will
include how to spot scams, how often to change passwords, and how to create strong
passwords. You can also include what information you should put out there, and if the
website asks for different information, do not give it that information. By making
reminders throughout the class, you can help them stay safe on the internet.
• Common Sense Education (Wilkey Oh, 2024) gives examples of mini lessons for children of
all ages. It provides some very positive and informative information on new technology
risks and a checklist of what to look for when using or signing up for new technology. This
lesson is 50 minutes, but you could break down each section and do a little bit for three or
four days during the first week of class.
 Challenge
#3
Distractions
• Distractions are a part of life, but when learning is
done at home, students may find many other things
to do rather than do their schoolwork.
• Possible causes for distractions could be siblings, the
lure to play video games, or even to go outside.
• If students have younger siblings, they may make
too much noise or come into the room and
bother/distract them by asking questions, playing,
etc.
• Students can be distracted by the same technology
we need them to use to learn. The EdTech article “5
Facts About Online Learning Distractions that
Educators Need to Know” (Lang, 2021) states that
distractions are normal and that we must find ways
to help students work through them and not dock
their grades for distractions.
 Recommendation
Distractions
• Help students and parents understand the importance of limited distractions and give both
some positive ways to help alleviate the distractions at home.
• By educating students and parents about distractions, you will empower both to have a
good home environment for learning. By having a mostly distraction-free environment,
the student can be more productive in their learning.
• Send, by email or in packets sent home, information on learning from home. That packet
will include how to deal with distractions and create an environment with limited
distractions.
• Being distracted is something we all experience. Addison Love (Love, 2020) gives some
very positive ways to help avoid distractions. You should show how students can become
distracted and give them ways to prevent it.
 Challenge
#4
Accommodations/
Accessibility
• Making sure that online learning is available to all
students and that those who need modified learning
options have options for their learning needs.
• Having reliable internet access to participate in online
learning can be difficult. We are a rural community, and
many families still do not have access to the internet in
their homes. As a small community, the number of
students with learning difficulties differs from schools in
bigger areas.
• If there is no internet available at home or minimal
internet, students may be unable to attend synchronous
classes or watch assigned videos. This makes it very
difficult for the student to complete their schoolwork.
• Covid-19 brought to the forefront of education the lack of
accessible broadband internet in schools and student’s
homes. “Online Learning for Rural Students” ( Leichty,
2021) states that in 2018, the United States average of
households with broadband internet was 36%. This
makes online learning nearly impossible for some
 Recommendation
Accommodations/
• Find ways to make online learningAccessibility
available to all students by offering ways to access the
Internet and providing all acceptable accommodations for those in need. Schools can
provide an area for those who need internet to come in and use it or help families find
alternative ways to receive internet. You can also offer USB drives with the information for
students to use at home. Ensure that all online learning has modifications for hearing and
visual impairment by having texts read to the student or being able to increase the size of
the text.
• This recommendation will give students access to the internet to complete the online
work. USB drives will provide the information needed for the course without needed
internet and allow students to do school anywhere they have their computer. Ensure that
all online learning provides adequate accommodations needed for those with learning
difficulties in the class.
• Schools can set up a room where students can learn online using the internet provided at
the school. Some students prefer to come to school and work independently instead of
sitting in a traditional classroom. The USB drive will be accessible to anyone who cannot
come to the school without Internet access. The USB drive also allows teachers to send
home the work for students who will be out for extended periods. Schools can also give
parents the information needed to get affordable internet.
• InfoBase gives nine ideas to use for those with limited access to the internet. Duran,
 Challenge
#5
Appropriate Workspace
• Having a place to do their schoolwork can be a
difficult thing to find in many homes.
• Some students share rooms with their siblings,
and caregivers may not have or be able to create
a space just for learning.
• A lack of a workspace can create an issue for
students when completing schoolwork. Some
households may have a table where they can
work, but the work must be removed for a meal.
For some students, that may not be a problem, but
for others, it may be hard to pick up all their work
and bring it back to the table to work.
• Ensuring students have a workspace promotes
and maximizes learning according to “Create a
Workspace that really works” ( Prada, 2024). A
workspace ensures students have supplies to
accomplish their work.
 Recommendation
Appropriate Workspace
• As part of the beginning of the class, give students and parents the information needed
about making an appropriate workspace in the home for students to complete schoolwork.
Also, provide them with why a workspace is important for learning.
• This will help students and parents to take ownership of learning at home by showing
them how and why creating a workspace for learning will help to provide a positive and
effective place to learn.
• By showing students how to set up a workspace for learning, you provide them with the
skills and knowledge to create a space that will make online learning successful for them.
• You don’t have to have a separate room to create a workspace. 7 easy steps can help
create a workspace in a small area. (L et al., 2020) Finding a place with good lighting, a
table with a good chair, and a place away from distractions are just a few of the steps
mentioned that can help create a great online workspace at home.
 Implementing these recommendations
for helping students develop better
online learning abilities will create
students who understand the need for
safety on the internet, be able to
establish relationships with their peers,
and learn to solve problems by creating

Conclusion
a workspace and understanding
distractions and how to prevent them.
For those with learning challenges, lack
of internet access, or disabilities, the
different courses of action will help
make online learning a viable option for
students.
As learning designers and teachers, we
want all students to have access to
learning. The implementation of these
recommendations will build a
community of student learners who are
 References
Clark, H. (2020, October 6). 11 Best Practices of Breakout Rooms. Holly Clark.
https://www.hollyclark.org/2020/10/06/11-best-practices-for-breakout-rooms/

Duran III, V. (2021, May 6). 9 Distance Learning Ideas to Help Students with Restricted Internet
Access. Infobase. https://infobase.com/blog/9-distance-learning-ideas-to-help-students-with-
restricted-internet-access/

Fletcher, J. (2023, January 30). Strengthening Peer Relationships in the Classroom. Edutopia.
https://www.edutopia.org/article/positive-student-student-relationships/

L, A., C, L., M, R., & S, F. (2020, October 20). 7 Tips to Set Up a Workspace for Online Learning.
American Intercontinental University Blog. https://www.aiuniv.edu/blog/2020/october/7-tips-to-
set-up-a-workspace-for-online-learning#:~:text=Rooms%20where%20people%20gather
%20to,Choose%20practical%20furniture.

Lang, J. (2021, April 6). 5 Facts About Online Learning Distractions that Educators Need to
Know. EdTech. https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2021/04/5-facts-about-online-
learning-distractions-educators-need-know

Leichty, R. (2021, January). Online Learning for Rural Students. National Association of State
Boards of Education. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1287240.pdf
 References

Lomte, Tarun. (2023, December 11). Increased internet use linked to higher anxiety in teens,
research shows. News Medical Life Sciences.
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20231211/Increased-internet-use-linked-to-higher-anxiety-in-
teens-research-shows.aspx

Love, A. (2020, October 9). How To Stay Focused and Avoid Distractions in Online Classes. SUU
Southern Utah University. https://www.suu.edu/blog/2020/10/avoid-distractions-online-classes.html

Prada, J. (2024, January 22). Create a Workspace That Really Works. Smart Kids with Learning
Disabilities. https://www.smartkidswithld.org/blog/create-a-workspace-that-really-works/

Wilkey Oh, E. (2024, June 12). Help kids practice smart internet habits and stay safe online.
Common Sense Education. https://www.commonsense.org/education/articles/23-great-lesson-
plans-for-internet-safety?
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