#110: Learning at Home during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) Outbreak

An overview of the top-level suggestions from experienced homeschooling parents, educational supervisors, ed-tech investors and home learners for families facing school closures as a result of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) Outbreak and resulting SF Bay area Shelter-in-Place.

Mentioned in this Episode:

1. This is a sanctioned opportunity to connect with and learn about your self and your love ones (of all ages) and find glimmers and sparks of your innate love of learning. (Put the acquisition of content on hold as much as possible.)
2. Adopt a parent-as-consultant model rather than parent-as-manager.  Get curious about, and with your kids and co-create your learning environment and plan.
3. Focus on meta-learning and meta-cognition skills now (and always) because learning how to learn is the most relevant and useful skill you can strengthen in yourself and scaffold for your kids.  (I'll be sharing more on this in the next few days.)
4. Now is the time to put your attention on what you value, remember or identify your priorities, ask what is needed and how you can serve and bring good.  This query is a great learning topic to share with kids.
5. If you're not sure of how much or how little structure to request or expect use my model of Consumption = Creation = Contribution.  Try to ensure that you and your kids are doing all three in relatively equal measures.
6. Expand your understanding of what appropriate structure could and should look like.
7. Use the skills you know and find useful in your adult life at home and with your kids.  Teach them productivity, communication skills, and any content expertise you are excited about. Leave the things you dislike about regular work at work.  Embrace and use the opportunity to soften all of the edges that generally create conceptual and actual walls.  All ages together, blending of work/learning/home/family, customization, pivoting as needed.  So much possibility.

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Transcript:

This was a big experiment, recording three platforms at once.  I was live on Facebook, and in Zoom for my Learning at Home Youtube series and of course, recording to voice for my Super Power U Podcast all at once.

A brief intro: I'm the host of the Super Power U Podcast, an actor, a dancer, a speaker, and a speaking coach.  My primary overarching commitment it to helping amazing people tell their stories and amplifying their voices in all the ways so we can change cultural narratives on Aging, Learning, and all aspects of Life Design and personal agency.  My top-level belief is that the more we focus on our own and each others' strengths, the more positive impact we can have and the better Life will be.

So wow…uncertain times!

And because when things are uncertain and we face adversity it's my belief that we are being called on to rise up.  We may not be able to change the circumstances but we do get to choose how we respond.  Part of our human brain is what is something referred to as the reptilian part that says you're in danger… “run” or “fight” NOW.  And when we are in the midst of uncertainty it seems like the most obvious thing to do…and it's natural because it's part of the reason we've survived evolution.

For now, I'm putting all of my launch efforts and offerings for Life Legacies, Artful Aging and Speak Up for Yourself because I realized that right now there is a need for my expertise in progressive education.  I know that I have experience and knowledge that can useful to the parents in our communities who are impacted by school closures and are navigating having kids at home for somewhere between 3 weeks and 5 months.  So for the past three days, I've been hosting conversations, participating in panels, compiling resources and issuing reassurance for families who will be co-working and co-learning at home for the next few weeks or possibly months.  I've been gathering it all in a Facebook group which you can find by searching “Learning at Home in Crisis”.

The circumstances of life for many of us right now (rec March 19th) is an unprecedented time.  Here in the SF Bay area, we are under Shelter-in-Place rules which means not going out of the house in any way that exposes us to other people outside of our immediate family in a collective attempt to flatten the curve and make sure that as we build herd immunity to the Corononavirus and as scientists work to find cures or vaccinations that we don't overwhelm our medical system.

In the past few days I've hosted conversations with the people in my community who have been deeply involved in creating and supporting alternatives to learning outside the standard box of brick and mortar school for years.  I've been hosting livestreams and participating in panels intended to give parents with kids at home reassurance and ideas and I'm noticing that there are recurring themes.  So today I thought I'd share the top-level points I think parents need to know.