A few months ago, Helen Zammit was not aware her daughter lacked confidence to ask questions in class. But she observed Annabelle, who is in year 4, smiling at the screen while other kids asked questions, so decided to ask a few questions herself.
"What COVID has shown is that parents can have a different role," said education professor John Hattie.Some parents discovered their children were diligent learners. Others realised their bright kids thrived on collaboration and wilted when they were required to work mostly on their own. Many parents of students with special needs found they thrived. "[My son] has more in his books, completed more projects, and demonstrated more knowledge ... than I've seen in the classroom in the last two years," one mother said.The NSW and Victorian governments have formed committees to try to identify the lessons for their education systems in COVID-19, but Birchgrove Public School principal Tracy Gray decided to do her own research.
Some 43 per cent said their children coped well with home learning, and only 10 per cent found it challenging. But even the parents whose children struggled in different areas of learning had a better insight into why.