right now we are in a time where it isn’t possible to learn in a classroom,and it is obvious that the second best option is zoom,

I do hope this situation does not continue too much longer, but if yes, perhaps we can get designed a program similar to Zoom that will give the teacher full administrator control over the child’s device. The teacher can turn off the child’s screen so the child will know they are being watched by the teacher, but cannot see. When helpful (with suggested guidelines for teachers from the experts how much screen time is healthy etc.) the teacher can turn on the child’s screen and control exactly what they will see.

I’m not a computer expert, but I do believe all the technologies are already there, it’s just a matter of designing the system and making compatible with different devices.

Alternatively, perhaps we can talk to Zoom, google meet etc and request they design a version of their system for what we need.

The burden cannot be put on parents, this should be done collectively by those who can and care.

As a teacher who has taught students who learned online I can tell you that the skills of kids who learn online are below standard.

From my experience, the kids who pick up the skills, are the ones who their parents take the time to do text learning with them on a regular basis.

My kids are going through this issue and I tried all the issues above for a month and many other solutions, but I came to the realization that they are children and you can’t give a screen to a child and expect a child to use it like an adult.

We must remember that they are children as many restrictions as we put they are children, and what I realized is that’s zoom is a distraction, we can try to find many ways to stop this distraction but we can’t hide the fact that it is the distraction!

Aside from all the damage that is done from the internet, there’s also the fact that the child becomes a computer technician overtime can override your filter and just gets addicted and many more negative things, I tried many things and I spoke to teachers. I have to agree with the first article and use a phone like many frum schools around the world are doing successfully.

Regarding the comparison to the online school that the shluchim use, there are 2 points:
1) Many of their kids are unfortunately exposed to negative things online (I have verified this).
2) you can ask the parents and I’m sure they’ll tell you they will be pleased if it would be only by phone it would have saved her child much damage,

Using a phone may not be as good as seeing the teacher, but on the other hand, it’s not a distraction, so automatically the child is more focused.

Giving the option for calling in is not a solution since the child is used to zoom with his friends now and telling him to go off will make him very disappointed.

I would love to hear what our community rabbonim say on this matter.

Shluchim’s kids have been learning via Nigri School on line classes for years.
Don’t try to reinvent the wheel. Reach out to shluchim you know and ask them what they did when their child was distracted.

A lot of it is discipline, and the child’s ability to stay focused. Some kids will sit and watch and participate the way they did in a classroom and some kids won’t be able to, just like they couldn’t when in the classroom.
Did your child have a para? Maybe s/he needs someone now to help stay focused, even if it wasn’t necessary before.

But how will just listening to a detached voice and not being able to focus on the teachers face be easier than watching?