As a professor at the University of Wollongong's School of Education and Early Start Research, Lisa Kervin can see the benefits of the remote learning program.
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But as a mother of three school-aged children who works full-time from home alongside her working husband, the Coledale resident admits there are challenges to monitoring the extra screen time associated with home schooling.
"Remote learning is obviously dependent on screens. It is a good thing because it is offering connection to their school, to their teacher and their peers. We know that social dimension is so important," Professor Kervin said.
"My biggest question is what's actually being done on the screens?
"If it is opportunities for connection and for the teaching that needs to happen, then that is great.
"The screen time needs to be broken up with other activities and that's what teachers are trying really hard to do at the moment.
"So to have a balance between that connectivity with their teachers and their peers but also time to do other things as well that aren't screen related, such as creative and physical activities."
Prof Kervin doubted anyone would think sitting in front of a screen from 9am to 3pm was a good substitution for being at school.
'But if it is used throughout the day to connect, and to direct and to guide the learning with opportunities for other things as well, then I think that's a good use of technology," she said.
"It is though a challenge to monitor if they are doing the right thing.
"My husband and I are both working full-time alongside our three children as they engage in remote learning. My children are in Year 3, Year 6 and Year 9.
"Every day we are getting our heads around what their calendars are, when they're expected to be doing certain things and trying as best we can to schedule our work around those times.
"It is not always smooth, it's a challenge but I think in our house we are just trying to balance screen time with time for physical activity and time for creative outlets such as arts and crafts or to spend some time in the garden.
"I also love to cook."
While Prof Kervin and her family have settled on a schedule which seems to work well for them, she urged parents not to put too much pressure on themselves.
"Home schooling is a tough gig," she said.
"Parents aren't expected to know exactly what to do otherwise we'd be home schooling all the time.
"You can only do the best that you can and hope your kids get the right balance when it comes to screen time, physical and creative activities."
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