E-learning has become a vital tool in education. However, for it to be effective it must be adjusted to the requirements and characteristics of the students.
In this post, we explain how to adapt learning for children and adolescents to maximize their learning experience.
Importance of adopting learning for children and adolescents
Children and adolescents like to participate in recreational activities, watch videos, and have some flexibility in their study process.
These may seem like common trends applicable to everyone equally.
However, it must be taken into account that each of them has particular learning styles and needs. Therefore, it is essential to shape the courses and educational materials according to the students to contribute to more effective and meaningful learning.
Adapting e-learning to children and adolescents is essential to increase their motivation, participation, and knowledge retention.
First, if you provide them with an e-learning platform according to their preferences, their interest in learning will be awakened and a greater connection with the content will be established.
Then, thanks to the use of interactive methods, dynamic activities, and resources, they will feel much more involved in the learning process.
And, logically, if the material is presented in a way that is clear and understandable to them, they will be much more likely to retain it.
By using specific pedagogical approaches, they will not only be able to better remember what they have learned, but they will also be able to apply it in real situations. Thus, your learning will become more lasting and useful.
How to adapt learning training for children and adolescents?
First of all, the first thing is to thoroughly understand the target audience: children and adolescents.
What are their characteristics as students? Are there differences in learning according to age?
Children and adolescents have unique cognitive, emotional, and social characteristics that influence the way they learn. To give a somewhat generic example, a child will learn better with a game, due to its perceptive and sensory nature. On the other hand, a teenager will benefit more from participating in debates and discussions, since they stimulate reflection and encourage connection with the knowledge she has acquired.
As they grow, their cognitive abilities and learning styles evolve, so it is essential to adapt e-learning to these dissimilarities.
On the other hand, you also have to know how to work with e-learning training with children and adolescents with special needs. Well, by adapting content and using accessible tools, we can ensure that all students have equal opportunities to learn and participate.
The appropriate instructional design
An adequate instructional design will be the basis for adapting learning to children and adolescents.
As you know, effective learning experiences must be planned and developed to ensure that e-learning is attractive, interactive, and relevant to young people in these types of online environments.
Significant learning
In meaningful learning, the student occupies a central and active place.
We are talking about an approach that is based on the student constructing their knowledge and establishing connections between what they are learning and what they know.
At the same time, it implies that the instructions and content are related to your daily life. That is, it is intended that the knowledge acquired can be applied in practical and real situations.
The role of the student and the teacher
In distance training, the student must adopt a critical and autonomous position. This means enhancing her abilities to search, process, and evaluate information, turning it into knowledge.
On the other hand, the role of the e-learning teacher is to be a guide, accompanying the student throughout the process and providing them with methods and techniques with which they can face learning. In this sense, he must be constantly trained in the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).
Contributions of ICT in the classroom
As we said, ICT plays a determining role in the educational environment. Its use in the classroom not only encourages student autonomy but also collaboration between classmates.
Without going any further, on the same e-learning platform, students can work on a group project, share ideas, research together, and develop teamwork skills.
Likewise, interaction with technology helps to learn in an orderly manner and better understand what is being studied, while expanding physical skills.
For example, by using an app to learn English, students can practice vocabulary and grammar exercises systematically and understand linguistic concepts effectively.
Clear and attractive communication
Naturally, it is essential to use language appropriate to the student’s age, making use of easy-to-understand analogies and avoiding technicalities as much as possible.
In addition, it is important to present the content in a friendly and visually attractive way.
Fun and engaged learning
Children and adolescents are attracted to interactive experiences and game elements. Incorporating interactive activities, questions, challenges, and rewards can promote their participation and commitment when training remotely.
One of the main tasks of any learning strategy focused on young people is to use tools that capture their attention. Combining education with entertainment will promote more friendly, deeper, and sustained learning over time.
Visual stimuli for meaningful learning
The design of e-learning focused on children and adolescents must make intensive, but rational, use of multimedia resources.
The right e-learning platform for children and adolescents
To choose an e-learning platform for children and adolescents, it is crucial to carry out a thorough evaluation.
Not all available options will be ideal. You will need to find one with specific features and functionality for them.
That it is intuitive and easy to use is essential. Therefore, in the first instance, make sure that the platform is friendly, with clear and comfortable navigation.
At the same time, he thinks that this audience has different needs and demands that must be covered. Therefore, try to find the relevant functionalities for sharing a wide range of multimedia resources, such as images, videos, audio, and text.
Likewise, locate tools that make it possible to carry out presentations, games, icebreakers, or group dynamics, to maintain interest and reinforce key concepts.
Likewise, the platform should integrate communication and collaboration instruments, such as discussion forums, chats, and other virtual workspaces. After all, they are tools that they already use in their daily lives and they will feel comfortable studying with them on the platform.
On the other hand, there are more aspects to evaluate in an e-learning platform for children and adolescents. For example, the possibility of including dynamic activities, such as filling in gaps, marking words, or completing an image, among others, as they are very enjoyable for this type of student.
