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11 Posts Of Kids Struggling With Distance Learning That Are Both Depressing And Hilarious
Interview
Technology is supposed to make distance learning easier during the pandemic, but sometimes it can be absolutely exhausting.
Parents are posting photos of their kids struggling to use Zoom during their virtual lessons. The expressions and their body language say it loud and clear—they’re over Zoom and just want everything to be over already. Bored Panda has collected the best such pics that embody the feeling of ‘Monday,’ so scroll down and upvote your fave ones.
Remote learning is a challenge for everyone involved: the kids, their parents, as well as their teachers. And all of them have to adapt to the ‘new normal’ because not every kindergarten and school is holding classes in-person. We wanted to learn more about how to fight 'Zoom fatigue' and what the benefits of in-person classes, when compared to distance learning, were, so Bored Panda reached out to trained primary school teachers Tom Rose and Jack Pannett. Read on for their insights and for our interview with young adult author, Kara McDowell, whose photo of her kindergartner son has been making waves all over the net.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
It Doesn't Get Any Better Little One
Shopper East 5 years ago (edited)
I think it's time you learned to read, type and send emails, then Pernille.
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Nicole Tomme 5 years ago
Poor thing. My niece is in 1st grade and first week they expect her to so complex math equations, now how to multiply tens, no longer sight read or sound out words and write paragraphs with introductory sentences "to draw in the reader." That was 3rd grade curriculum in the 90s. Needless to say she had a full blown anxiety attack. We do not need to be putting our youngest students through this kind of stress academically when distance learning is horrible enough.
David Kim 5 years ago
The type part especially. Most people don't learn how to type until they're 7 or 8.
Kanrry Kang 5 years ago
these younglings need human interaction. so much pressure is being put on them all at once, it's way too much. at least hold an in-person orientation so they know their classmates and teachers.
RELATED:
#2
The Cat Loves To Show Herself During The Daughter’s Virtual Classes
okpkpkp 5 years ago
I am happy to see that kids still have 'stickers' they can put on their books, notebooks, etc.
#3
This Is How Our 5th Grader Is Coping With Monday Today. If Wearing A Plague Doctor Mask While Remote Learning Doesn’t Sum Up 2020 Schooling, I Don’t Know What Does
Dippin Dot 5 years ago
I'm surprised my son hasn't gotten out his plague doctor mask yet. But then again, he's still busy trying to pick out the perfect background for each of his virtual classes.
Tobias the Tiger 5 years ago
I have a plague doctor costume, and I'm very tempted to start doing this.
The Zoom videoconferencing app has seen huge growth during the coronavirus pandemic and exceeded all expectations. The BBC reports that its revenues soared 355 percent to a whopping 663.5 million dollars during the second quarter of 2020. Customer growth rocketed 458 percent and profits rose 186 million dollars compared to the same time a year before.
Even though the app is both useful and popular, it doesn’t mean that it’s perfect or that we’re built to use it so much. So-called ‘Zoom exhaustion’ or 'Zoom fatigue' is a relatively new phenomenon that parents and students alike are vulnerable to: constant video calls and a lack of physical interaction with people are mentally tiring.
Primary school teachers Tom and Jack shared some great tips on how young students can avoid feeling mentally drained from using Zoom. They suggest maintaining good posture, taking movement breaks between lessons, and keeping the brightness of the screen at appropriate levels. However, that’s not all.
#4
The Teacher Texted Me And Told Me To Wake Her Up
Hiker Chick 5 years ago
I can relate. I "may have" fallen asleep during a Zoom meeting once or twice.
Vicky Zar 5 years ago
Then maybe she should go to the doctor. She may have sleep apnea. It can cause you to be always tired
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Beatrice Multhaupt 5 years ago
College level Spanish classes used to include compulsory ''language lab'' sessions where we listened to taped lessons. The sound of my forehead hitting the melamine desk inevitably woke me.
#5
2nd Day Of Virtual School
Perfumista Perfumista 5 years ago
Just like real school (got my head stuck in a chair as a tyke)
Tobias the Tiger 5 years ago
That was my first thought.. wondered how he managed to do that then, and I'm still wondering now.
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BABY_FOX_ヾ(•ω•)o 5 years ago
how did he get stuck when he got in but his head fitting perfectly?
Pari Gilmour 5 years ago
They do this stuff in the classroom too - because teachers are supposed to have 4 sets of eyes and 8 arms!
#6
Online School Meetings Can Be Frustrating
brandon sat 5 years ago
totally agree. the attention span of a 4 yr old is not long enough to be on a zoom meeting. my 1st grader struggles to get through her 20min meetings in the morning
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shoto Todoroki 5 years ago
my sis is in preschool but they dnt have to wear masks for some reason
Fred Bigox 5 years ago
Pre school here's an idea PLAY WITH YOURBOWN CHILD AND TEACH THEM THINGS YOURSELF. THAT WILL INTESNIFY YOUR BOND AND GET THEM AWAY FROM ANOTHER SCREEN. Not rocket science
Edgar Gutiérrez 5 years ago
I really understand your point, I really understand it a lot and we spend a lot of time together and I teach him what I can in the time I can (in the evenings), but my son loves his zoom classes and he is 4 years old.
At first he couldn't understand how to turn on the sound or how to set up the camera or concentrate, but it was a month and a half process or so, until honestly one day, Leo could be in most of his classes entirely on his own, even when we can't help him get his class gear ready, he gets sad, because he wanted to see his friends, show them the dinosaur he made with clay that day or he just wanted to do his everyday activities, sing the song of the little hands or the jumps and no matter how much we do that later with him, in his own words "but if I don't see Daniela I don't know if I'm doing it right and if I don't move, Jose Manuel doesn't move. ..".
Sincerely, he is happy with his zoom classes.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version) clase-de-d...7-jpeg.jpg 
Lululoohoo 5 years ago
Our preschool does half hour to 45 min zooms Tues/Thurs. they sing & do crafts together (the parents have to prep the craft items beforehand) but it works & the kids have fun talking and singing and dancing together
Athena Gurl 5 years ago
Zoom PRESCHOOL?!?!?!?!? Dang, I’m in 7th grade and still find it hard!
“A more technical tip is to remove the option for your child to look at their own camera. Have a play with the functions, perhaps turn it off or make it very small on your screen if you can’t turn it off on certain software. Having your own camera on your screen provides the opportunity to look in a mirror whilst being taught, which is very distracting and draining,” Tom and Jack said. “We’ve noticed some pupils judging their appearance, moving their hair, and so on, looking at themselves more than us.”
They added that parents ought to help their children become more independent by not fixing all of their problems for them. Counterintuitive? Maybe a tad. But they have a point.
“Children can often fix their own problems if you give them the tools and confidence to do so. What they might be lacking here is the time to talk and develop their own vocabulary for their feelings. So, without leading them to come to your conclusions, allow them to discuss what they enjoyed, what they didn’t enjoy, and ask how these things made them feel. Children may prefer to describe their feelings more physically for example, 'It felt like my tummy was tight.’ Giving them a safe forum for self-reflection is often a very positive approach.”
#7
Class Better Be That Boring
HufflepuffPanda 5 years ago
Me and virtual school have a love/hate relationship.
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#8
My Kindergartner
Bored Panda also spoke to young adult author and Arizona mom-of-three, Kara McDowell, whose photo of her kindergartner son has been a real hit online. She revealed that distance learning has been difficult for her 5-year-old son for several reasons, including "endless" problems with technology.
"His lessons often freeze, stall, or cut out in the middle, leaving us both frustrated. It's also disappointing for him not to be able to see or converse with friends, and to sit on mute through a school day, especially when he's excited or has something he wants to share with his teacher."
For Kara, the main advantage of in-person classes is that they're not on a screen. "As a parent, I've worked so hard to limit my son's screen time, and now he's getting several hours of it every day. Traditionally, schooling also has the advantage of social interaction and a teacher who is present to engage the student's attention and explain concepts and homework if they're confused."
Kara added that teachers are working hard to make the best out of a bad situation, however, she's looking forward to the day that all kids can safely go back to their classrooms.
Astrid Nineor 5 years ago
Most ADULTS have an attention span of 20 mins, possibly much less. Poor kid.
Jane Thorne-Gutierrez 5 years ago
My granddaughter ( Molly) is doing distance learning for kindergarten too. A zoom meeting with teacher and her own little niche, but showed up in kitchen about 8 minutes into meeting. Mom said " Is the meeting over already!" Molly:" No , she's still talking, but I'M DONE". Kinks to work out....
Mir Olson O 5 years ago
how the heck was he supposed to sit through all that! they just starting to get a tiny idea of school and unfortunately has to distance learn and of course cant stay in one spot! still give the kids kudos for not even leaving that chair! looks to me like he tryin to be on his best behavior!
#9
2 Types Of Kids
postboredom 5 years ago
Pic 2. Cause my butt freaking hurts after sitting on the chair for 3 hours
Sara Lopez 5 years ago
I work from home for a call/tech center and I am pic 1 in the beginning of my shift and 2 at the end
ANNIKAH MARTINEZ 5 years ago
pic 2 *inhales* HE ESTADO SENTADO EN MI CULO DURANTE TRES HORAS DE ESTRECHO Y NADIE DICE NADA
Liesl Monnig 5 years ago
I got kicked out of all my classes and then was counted absent, so I think #2
Grace Marraffa 5 years ago
The second one cause my a*s is killing me, I have classes from 6:00 am to 4:30 pm. I hate it
Athena Gurl 5 years ago
What the- my brain is exploding. 6:00-4:30?!?!?!?!?! I go from 9:20 to 2:15 but work until about 4:30. Damn
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Teaching and learning virtually, while convenient, don’t have the same pros that in-person classes do. For instance, it’s far easier to see if your students understand something through their body language and facial expressions if you’re teaching them in person.
“Online learning has forced some good teachers to have to tirelessly ask things like, ‘Does this make sense?’ or, ‘Stop me if I’m going too fast,’ to make up for the lack of their ability to ‘scan the room.’ Most good teachers interact with social cues from the class, so it’s a bit like being a comedian with a blurry, buffering audience—you never really have the synchronicity of an in-person lesson. Therefore, a lot of children have been 'coasting’ through online lessons, not fully understanding what’s being taught.”
#10
43 Minutes Into 1st Day Of 2nd Grade Via Zoom
TheaterNerd 5 years ago
if shes anything like i was she wont give that up for a while
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Heather Althouse 5 years ago
she needs a bigger table and bigger chair. god that would be uncomfortable
#11
I Know The Feeling
Misty Willis 5 years ago
I'm crying laughing So Hard! Did someone Yell "Recess!" I tell you. It's like this...
Chris Machabee 5 years ago
What exactly is going on here?I see three legs and a computer screen. Are they about to exchange places? This is a very odd zoom class.
Other experts agree that videoconferencing isn't a perfect substitute for in-person classes. “Zoom is one of the platforms we use to try and fill the communication void. [It is a] poor substitute for face-to-face communication,” Memorial Regional Healthcare System chief of the department of psychiatry Daniel Bober told Parents.com.
According to him, certain social cues are “out of sync” when using videoconferencing apps and we’re left feeling irritated and anxious.
Bober adds that telephone calls might possibly be a valid alternative to Zoom calls because people are less stressed when they don’t feel like they’re being “watched” or that they have to “perform.” With that in mind, switching off your kid’s camera might help them feel less tired.
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What do you think ?
KatHat 5 years ago
I will never understand why we didn't spend the summer prepping for school on TV, plus alternative locations for kids who couldn't stay home. We could have had lots of outdoor options; used community centers and YMCAs, and just generally done better for our kids AND our teachers. Oh, but I'm assuming a government that both functions and cares about people, which the US is currently completely lacking.
Lola 5 years ago
Are you kidding? My school didn’t even clean the spiderwebs. And according to them, the school had been professionally cleaned and was ready for us. The only thing protecting me is my mask. God, I hope it does.
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Bill 5 years ago
How do advertizers understand kids' attention spans, but the education system doesn't? No kids program goes 40+ minutes straight
Stille20 5 years ago
1. Because we don't put the money into education that we do into advertising. 2. You can keep someone fixated with flashing images and promises of fun and candy, but learning is actually work. It's a lie we tell that it should always be fun.
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goldenwood_cottage 5 years ago
As a homeschool parent, I never used any screen time for learning under age 10. You are pointing out the obvious reasons here.
William Mahoney 5 years ago
Just pay off politicians with union money and never work hard or be accountable again.
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Cassie 5 years ago
This isn't how you teach young kids. They would learn better from educational TV shows designed to engage young minds and doing play activities that reinforce things they learn like counting and sorting. A lecture on a screen is not appropriate for preschoolers and kindergartners. Even first, second, and third graders would benefit from engaging software instead of lectures. Older kids benefit from reading and engaging in reinforcement activities. Sitting and being talked at is the worst way to learn. Why is our education so dead set on sticking with this format?
Anna Woodhull 5 years ago
I dont think any early elementary teachers are lecturing on zoom. I have a first and a third grader remote learning. They have spent a fair amount if time on zoom, but it's never the teacher lecturing. Sometimes shes giving directions or reading a story, but most of the zoom time is students talking. It's just really hard listening to your classmates and waiting your turn. They also watch educational videos, use interactive software for things like math games, and do offline activities that they usually submit by photo.
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Useless Panda 5 years ago
My French class keeps getting interrupted because every 5 minutes my teacher has to get up and sort out whatever the hell her son keeps doing on his zoom class
Kenny Kulbiski 5 years ago
Poor kids. I remember ' real " school as boring as hell too but at least you had some people around to share the misery.
Madison Feehan 5 years ago
People need to start learning how to homeschool! I understand that a lot of working parents don't have the luxury, but for the stay at home parents, it's really not that hard!
Lara Mig 5 years ago
Exactly. This is why we started homeschooling. No way would I want my kid anywhere near that hot mess. I work part time and the total "school" content of the day takes maybe a couple of hours. She's still way ahead of grade level.
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Julie 5 years ago
My school system uses Google classroom. All assignments are posted and you only need to log in through a FaceTime twice a week just to check in. It's going great, we complete each days assignments within 2 hours, leaving time for review maybe another hour and bam! we're done. He is doing great, much better than when he attended in person. He is in third, and I am right there with him...I think it would be impossible to just leave your small child alone to deal with it by themselves.
Julie Hanford 5 years ago
oh, i wish my school could do that. instead i suffer through 6 hours of video meetings for my 7th grade(age 12-13) classes, because even though in person is a choice, it's only a matter of time before someone brings the virus in...
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CodingGirl04 5 years ago
It's super fun in high school as well, sitting down for zoom calls mostly 80 minutes long, clocking about 4 hours of zooms per day (not including asking teachers for help when you don't understand the work)
Lara Mig 5 years ago
Ouch. I highly recommend knitting as a way to get through boring Zoom calls with your sanity semi-intact.
Load More Replies... KatHat 5 years ago
I will never understand why we didn't spend the summer prepping for school on TV, plus alternative locations for kids who couldn't stay home. We could have had lots of outdoor options; used community centers and YMCAs, and just generally done better for our kids AND our teachers. Oh, but I'm assuming a government that both functions and cares about people, which the US is currently completely lacking.
Lola 5 years ago
Are you kidding? My school didn’t even clean the spiderwebs. And according to them, the school had been professionally cleaned and was ready for us. The only thing protecting me is my mask. God, I hope it does.
Load More Replies... Bill 5 years ago
How do advertizers understand kids' attention spans, but the education system doesn't? No kids program goes 40+ minutes straight
Stille20 5 years ago
1. Because we don't put the money into education that we do into advertising. 2. You can keep someone fixated with flashing images and promises of fun and candy, but learning is actually work. It's a lie we tell that it should always be fun.
Load More Replies... goldenwood_cottage 5 years ago
As a homeschool parent, I never used any screen time for learning under age 10. You are pointing out the obvious reasons here.
William Mahoney 5 years ago
Just pay off politicians with union money and never work hard or be accountable again.
Load More Replies... Cassie 5 years ago
This isn't how you teach young kids. They would learn better from educational TV shows designed to engage young minds and doing play activities that reinforce things they learn like counting and sorting. A lecture on a screen is not appropriate for preschoolers and kindergartners. Even first, second, and third graders would benefit from engaging software instead of lectures. Older kids benefit from reading and engaging in reinforcement activities. Sitting and being talked at is the worst way to learn. Why is our education so dead set on sticking with this format?
Anna Woodhull 5 years ago
I dont think any early elementary teachers are lecturing on zoom. I have a first and a third grader remote learning. They have spent a fair amount if time on zoom, but it's never the teacher lecturing. Sometimes shes giving directions or reading a story, but most of the zoom time is students talking. It's just really hard listening to your classmates and waiting your turn. They also watch educational videos, use interactive software for things like math games, and do offline activities that they usually submit by photo.
Load More Replies... Useless Panda 5 years ago
My French class keeps getting interrupted because every 5 minutes my teacher has to get up and sort out whatever the hell her son keeps doing on his zoom class
Kenny Kulbiski 5 years ago
Poor kids. I remember ' real " school as boring as hell too but at least you had some people around to share the misery.
Madison Feehan 5 years ago
People need to start learning how to homeschool! I understand that a lot of working parents don't have the luxury, but for the stay at home parents, it's really not that hard!
Lara Mig 5 years ago
Exactly. This is why we started homeschooling. No way would I want my kid anywhere near that hot mess. I work part time and the total "school" content of the day takes maybe a couple of hours. She's still way ahead of grade level.
Load More Replies... Julie 5 years ago
My school system uses Google classroom. All assignments are posted and you only need to log in through a FaceTime twice a week just to check in. It's going great, we complete each days assignments within 2 hours, leaving time for review maybe another hour and bam! we're done. He is doing great, much better than when he attended in person. He is in third, and I am right there with him...I think it would be impossible to just leave your small child alone to deal with it by themselves.
Julie Hanford 5 years ago
oh, i wish my school could do that. instead i suffer through 6 hours of video meetings for my 7th grade(age 12-13) classes, because even though in person is a choice, it's only a matter of time before someone brings the virus in...
Load More Replies... CodingGirl04 5 years ago
It's super fun in high school as well, sitting down for zoom calls mostly 80 minutes long, clocking about 4 hours of zooms per day (not including asking teachers for help when you don't understand the work)
Lara Mig 5 years ago
Ouch. I highly recommend knitting as a way to get through boring Zoom calls with your sanity semi-intact.
Load More Replies...
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