Don't let this graphic illustration deceive you into believing that I am going to advocate for walking around watching the students in a class or kitchen like a hawk or a spy. In fact, I believe it ought to be the exact opposite. From the earliest days when I had students in my library computer lab, I did not believe I had to be watching them like that. I first of all let my students know that I trusted them. But then I never left the room and I would walk around behind them so I could look over their shoulders and help them if I saw that they were having a problem. Too many teachers position their computers so that the faces of students can be seen but not the screens. I always made sure that I could see the screens and that others could see the screens of each other as well. That way I was more likely to ensure that my students were on task. Now, we move to the requirement, indeed, the need for students to go online from home because they cannot sit in their classrooms due to the pandemic. Here again, the first rule of thumb ought to be that you convey to your children that you trust them. You have to make sure that they have a plan of action as to what they are doing online and that they know how to proceed. But after that, you only need to supervise, pop up beside them periodically to check up. If your students do not know when to expect you, and that you expect them to stay on task, then they will be more likely to do just that. You put into practice the idea that you are their guide not the side and while you are waiting for a need for help to be expressed, you are. nearby and know what they should be doing and what progress on a task might look like. Now there is one other issue to deal with that goes along with this. If your students are collaborating, you want to be sure that they are sending and receiving levitate, task-oriented messages. When we went to server-based networks, all with access to the Internet, the students were assigned email addresses that were corporate, with their names included in the address. That way, we knew they were more likely to correspond legitimately. No nicknames or personal choices were allowed either. It is a professional approach to learning FOR THEM in that way. Too many parents don't necessarily check on the email addresses their kids are using and don't check to see what email messages they are accessing. If they are doing things properly, you are able to spot problems immediately. These are just some of the ways you can assure yourself that your kids are working properly and you can rest knowing that they are more likely to avoid problems. The key is dialogue and working with them but from a position of trust.
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