New age home schooling is upon us. When we were kids, our teachers used to get us to write essays and give speeches about learning via the Internet. While we appreciated the access to a vast knowledge bank, we always thought that every kid will simply go to school like we did. So a virus had to come around and tell us differently. It is great that schools, teachers and students have started adjusting to the virtual classroom. Here are things that you can teach your child to make him or her full of etiquette while following lessons on the computer.
01. Attire
In case the teacher wants the students to switch on their cameras for an activity or to just see how they are keeping, it is important to ensure that the child is not in rags or anything inappropriate for a child to wear. Self esteem and self respect both need to be taught and nurtured from a very young age. Not to mention, they will be seen as those with good etiquette and a good upbringing when they know how to dress to suit the occasion.
02. The Mic and the Video
Unless otherwise instructed by the teacher, children should always keep their mic and video switched off. Little ones don’t need to be taught technology, so they will figure out how to keep the mic and video off when connecting to the call, but, you do need to explain the importance of practising it.
03. You and Everyone Around
Your child’s education is as important as your career; please don’t undermine this. The last thing you want is for the child to tell his or her teacher that s/he is unable to pay attention due to the parents’ jobs. Display that their classes are important and that their need to attend these virtual classes cannot be compromised. Also, support them by making sure that you remain quiet and refrain from disturbing them while they are in class. You yourself should be appropriately attired and encourage attentive involvement in the virtual classroom.
04. Raising Questions
If your child wishes to ask a question, ask him/ her to raise his/her hand virtually, send a personal chat message to the teacher or follow any one of the methods prescribed by the teacher. Don’t barge in on the teacher while s/he is teaching and do not call the teacher on the mobile phone behind everyone’s back. It is a nuisance and it is poor etiquette.
05. Use of Backgrounds
Everyone will understand if people want to blot out their actual background with a stylised one, but make sure your child uses one that is appropriate. It should not be distracting, unsuitable for his/ her age or harmful to others in any way whatsoever.
06. Timely Connection
Just as much as a latecomer disturbs the on goings of a real life classroom, ones who connect to the class late also create some turmoil. This upsets the teacher also. Make a note of the times and entrust your child with the responsibility of connecting at least 5 minutes before hand so that there are no disturbances to the class.
While all of us pray and hope that the pandemic will end sooner rather than later, we need to adjust while it is still ravaging the world. Educate your young ones on how to be full of etiquette as they tune in to their class and tell them to write to us on fullofetiquette@gmail.com if they have questions. Happy studying to everyone!
Photo by Thomas Park on Unsplash
Full of Etiquette 
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