How to Help Your Kids Study for Online Tests
Because of the pandemic, even kids who are not that experienced in taking online quizzes have no choice but to participate. How can you help your kids study for online tests?
Now is not the time to give unnecessary studying pressure on children. We know that distance learning can be overwhelming, but studying for online tests should not be complicated.
That is why our goal here at All Digital School is to help parents and teachers access the best online education resources. You can also get some wise words from educators and parents in our community boards.
Table of Contents
Why help your kids study for online tests
When your kids are having a hard time, of course, you have to help them. You’re their parents, after all. However, helping your kids study is more reasonable these days. Here are some reasons why.
Even though kids these days belong to the information era, they are not masters in learning how to use technology, especially new learning management systems (LMS).
What’s the use of abundant information when you don’t know how to utilize them properly? As someone who has more experiences in life, you can provide some insight into the best, if not right, approach in solving new problems.
To motivate them to pursue learning, even in survival mode.
Your kids need encouragement now more than ever. Take note: encouragement, not nagging. Studying today is different—and we’re not just talking about the transition to distance learning. Kids have to learn, despite an ongoing public health crisis around them. As a result, you need to be extra patient and supportive. The key here is empathizing with them and ensuring to give them choices in learning.
To teach them self-efficacy.
In helping them study for online tests, you will also have an opportunity to nurture their self-efficacy. Kids need to learn that making mistakes and failing is okay. They have to realize that effort matters more than their skills as well. Helping them study is the perfect activity for teaching them those lessons.
When kids have good self-efficacy, they won’t be too hard on themselves when they fail. This will make their view of learning more sustainable, as opposed to seeing learning as aiming to get one right end result.
To bond as a family.
Studying together is also a good way to bond and create a bond that lasts. You don’t have to teach them hard facts all the time when you’re studying, too. You can also share stories about your childhood when you’re studying. What were your school troubles? What subjects were your least favorite? You can share those with them.
Through this, you can show them your more human side as a parent. As a result, they can understand you better, solidifying your bond as parent and child.
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To make them love learning.
Learning is not just about getting high grades. Of course, that’s one pragmatic way to look at it—you study hard to get good grades, in hopes of using them to land a great career in the future.
But let’s face it—kids these days want more than good jobs and material comfort. They want to feel like they’re contributing to something bigger than themselves.
Although it sounds idealistic, they’re right about it. As parents, you need to teach your kids that learning is more than just a machine for getting good grades and memorizing terms they’ll forget next week.
Show them that learning can also be a tool to grow themselves and help others; by doing this, they will love learning and will continue loving it as they age.
As you can see, helping your kid study for online tests is not just a chore. It can be a good activity for bonding, building their self-efficacy, and teaching them universal truths. Are you motivated to help your kids study? If yes, then that’s great—you’re in for some treat.
How to help kids study for online tests & quizzes
The pieces of advice we’ve written below works best for children who are in elementary school. They might be learning how to be independent at this time, but they still need your guidance. Follow these tips on helping them study for online tests.
Make the first move to talk to their teachers.
Back then, when our teachers called our parents, it scared us. But it doesn’t need to be the same way with your kid. Why not make the first move in talking to their teacher?
They might provide insights into how your kid takes in information, which can give you a clue on how they can study for online tests better.
Be smart and specific about your questions to their teachers, as well. This way, you can provide the right assistance to your child when they’re studying.
Talk about the curriculum.
It’s always a good idea to discuss your kids’ curriculum with their teachers. It’s even more crucial that you ask the right questions. For example, ask them about the most important topics your child needs to understand by the end of the semester.
This will help you know what your kids should prioritize. This, in turn, can give your kids some focus and purpose when they study for online tests.
If you plan to collaborate more with their teachers, you can check out Google Apps for Education and learn to use Google apps for more streamlined communication.
Be gradual in your approach.
Some kids don’t like their parents helping them study. Your kids might be one of them. That’s why you shouldn’t be too direct in suggesting tips on how to study for online tests.
Observe if they want to do things on their own. If they do, then don’t worry—it’s not the end of the world. You can always make them lead the way.
They might even have some better ideas. For example, you can ask suggestions about the kind of studying app or game they prefer. Through this, you can still make them feel that they are independent.
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Use metacognition.
Your kids may receive the right topics and subjects from their educators. They may have it all in their homework and curriculum. However, those advantages will go down the drain if they can’t overcome their limitations in learning.
Kids have to learn the strengths and weaknesses of their cognitive abilities. By doing that, they can work on their shortcomings easier, improving their skills faster. This is called metacognition.
Introduce them to the world of online learning.
Is it necessary to introduce your kids to the world of online learning when they’re already playing games on their iPads or desktop computers? Yes, it is. Think of this as an orientation before they enter school—but this time, the school is on the web.
You have to give them a short overview of virtual learning. This way, they won’t think of it as just playing on the internet or a chore. There will be a period of adjustment; that’s why introducing them to the world of online learning is still necessary.
Teach them how to follow directions.
Following directions is an important skill you can teach your kids. Not only will this save them from making heaps of mistakes on exams but will even save their lives in the future. In online exams, following directions makes a big difference.
When your kid follows instructions, they will get stars and great marks instead of a big fat red “NFI” or “not following instructions.” That is why as early as possible, teach them about reading instructions carefully when you study for online tests. Giving them specific and clear directions on your review quizzes.
Set a comfy study area.
There’s no definitive style in making study areas for kids. However, just make sure the area is comfortable and practical. Provide a reliable light source if they prefer studying later in the evening.
Also, if you can, soundproof the area. If you have more than two older kids, you can even attach desks under a wall bookshelf, so the books and documents are just easy to reach. The key here is providing a study area that’s comfortable but not too relaxing that they get easily tempted to nap.
Create a study schedule.
Study schedules or plans are especially essential for distance learning since kids do activities with minimal to zero supervision. A study plan will, at least, create structure and cultivate accountability.
Moreover, a study schedule will also allow for recreational activities after they study for online tests. Now, when creating a study plan, remember to consider your kids’ studying habits, how many hours they need to study for each class, and their current schedule.
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Make short quizzes on Google Forms.
Google Forms are not only for surveys, polls, and interviews. You can also use them to help your kids study for online tests! The best thing is that Google Forms is that it’s easy to use. You can also customize the theme and background.
You can make multiple-choice questions, fill in the blanks, and essay tests. It’s especially useful for online teachers who teach more than 10 kids since they can download the answers in CSV files or open the answers in a Google Spreadsheet tab. That makes data collection easier.
Teach them about the elimination method.
Most probably teachers are using different quiz software or apps to give multiple-choice questions. But what if your kid has no idea about the correct answer? You can teach them the elimination method, which involves critical thinking since they will make an educated guess of the right answer.
In this technique, they have to eliminate the most improbable answers until they’re left with two choices. After that, they have to reread the question and think which of those two answers makes more sense.
Show the importance of active listening.
Part of helping your kids study is nudging them to habits that will make studying more effective. For instance, you can teach them active listening. This is crucial in learning because active listening can help them get valuable insights they will not get from reading books.
For example, their teachers might mention invaluable information that’s not available in their learning materials. If they know how to listen actively—say, taking notes of what they hear in virtual classes—this will give them an advantage when they study for online tests.
Exercise their organizational skills.
Taking tests in distance learning can involve using more than one app. That is why you should teach your kids organizational skills, which will prepare them for the exam day. These skills will also help them make the most out of available tools and time.
As a result, they will become less pressured to finish online tests on time. To exercise their organizational skills, assign them checklists and labeling or sorting tasks. You can also let them do a weekly cleanup of their computer’s files.
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The common denominator of the tips above is teaching kids how to love learning and how to be self-sufficient. Studying together for tests is just one of the many activities you can do to help your kids grow. And if you want to streamline your studying sessions, don’t forget to use studying apps.
12 apps that help kids study for online tests
Whether you’re planning to provide occasional studying guidance or not, you will need some assistance in the form of apps. It would be a waste not to take advantage of the free resources we have for today. So, why not check out the ideal apps for studying? These apps are free, although they also have premium versions.
Google Keep
If you want to organize your to-dos for studying easily, use Google Keep, a flexible note app with a user-friendly interface. It also syncs real-time, which allows for easy note-taking experience with your kids and their teachers.
Your child can create folders on Google Keep and make reminders and notes about the book chapters they need to study. Using Google Keep will surely teach your kids some organizational skills.
iStudiez Pro
iStudiez is one of those apps that almost has it all. It has a built-in planner, calendar, and homework reminder for students. What is more interesting is that you can add details about the courses and the instructors. You can even include their email addresses, contact numbers, schedules, office hours, etc. iStudiez Pro is available on App Store and Google Play.
Flashcards+
Do your kids need to memorize a lot of terminologies for their online tests? Flashcards+ is an awesome kid-friendly mobile app you can use in your study sessions. You can customize and add decks, and study an entire deck as well. You can even get over 8 million decks from Quizlet.com on the app. It’s also available in 22 languages, with varying dialects.
Exam Countdown Lite
Need an app that acts more than a reminder? You could try Exam Countdown Lite. It’s a test timetable app that shows how many minutes, hours, days, or weeks are left until your kids’ exams. You can add notes on the dates, customize each exam date’s icon and colors, and share it with other users. It has free and premium versions and is available on the App Store and Google Play Store.
Quizlet
This list would not be complete without Quizlet! If you want your kids to master one subject they don’t like, Quizlet is one fun way to give them learning enthusiasm. It has games, puzzles, and educational activities, of course. Quizlet also allows you to create your own learning materials or use others’ pre-designed instructional materials. Quizlet is available on the App Store and Google Play Store.
Evernote
Evernote is a popular note-taking app among professionals, but it’s especially useful in the classroom. First, it has an uncomplicated note-taking system on mobile and desktop.
Plus, if you make changes to your kids’ reviews on Evernote, it will sync right away with your kids’ device. It’s also good for coordinating more than 20 students’ projects, and it even has an audio recording feature. Evernote is available on the App Store and Google Play Store.
SimpleMind+
Are your kids having trouble understanding a concept? Mapping ideas is one great way to master them. And SimpleMind+ is the app for that. On the app, you can create your own concept maps or use their map templates. You can also add images, videos, voice memos, and more on the maps from Dropbox or Google Drive. It’s available on the App Store and Google Play Store.
GoConqr
If you want a powerful studying and reviewing app, you can try GoConqr. It’s packed with useful features for kids who are studying for difficult tests. You and your kids can create revision cards, flow charts, mind maps, quizzes, flashcards, and notes on GoConqr.
It also has a free study planner, which allows you to set study goals and even gain your studying insights. You can also use the GoConqr Calendar on the study planner, which helps you manage and track your tasks.
Oxford Dictionary of English
There are plenty of dictionaries out there, but middle school and elementary school children can best benefit from the Oxford Dictionary of English. The app itself is updated based on the 2019 Oxford University Press update.
With more than 350,000 written phrases and definitions, your kid will never have to worry about a confusing term ever again when they’re studying. It even has audio pronunciations and four stylish themes in case you want a fresh look.
xMind
If you have the cash to spend, why not try using xMind? Create, draw, and write maps on a minimalist app like xMind. You can design your own map, but you can also choose from their 30+ built-in templates.
On the app, you can link to another topic and insert multiple types of media into a map. You and your kids can enjoy using this app since it’s designed for professionals as well. xMind is available on the App Store and Google Play Store.
StudyBlue Flashcards & Quizzes
StudyBlue is another reliable and well-beloved flashcard app by students. Using its crowdsourced library, you can create as many decks as you want. And if you’re a visual learner, don’t worry—you can add videos and images on the flashcards as well.
On StudyBlue, you can also track your progress and quiz yourself. This app is available on the App Store and Google Play Store.
YouTube Learning
YouTube Learning is not an app, but it’s one helpful section of YouTube for studying. You can subscribe to this channel. Kids these days engage better when there are videos, so you might want to supplement your study materials with videos from YouTube Learning.
On YouTube Learning, you’ll find videos from educational channels to which you subscribed. For instance, you’ll find AsapSCIENCE, TedX, and Vox. It even has pre-made playlists like Tips for Studying at Home.
Google Drive
Last but not least is Google Drive. Not only is it reliable for business use, but it’s also useful for eLearning as well. On Google Drive, storing, moving, and uploading media is seamless. You can also collaborate anytime, anywhere with your kids’ teachers and other kids’ parents on Google Drive.
For example, you can upload learning and instructional materials on a GD folder and then create a course. After that, you can share it with other parents or a community of educators. Using GD is one of the easiest ways to introduce your kids to Google for Education.
Conclusion
When kids study for online tests, they don’t always have to treat it like a chore. That’s why I wrote earlier that your kids have to learn how to love learning first. This way, studying will become a sustainable habit and not just a thing they do for compliance.
Indeed, this is the most important thing you can do as their parents—to teach them lessons they can’t learn inside the four virtual walls of their classrooms.
Related questions
What’s the best app for spelling and grammar?
For younger kids, you can try the free iOS and Android app Zoolingo. It is available in 16 languages and has more than 1000 grammar and spelling games kindergarteners will enjoy. Meanwhile, for elementary students, you can try Squeebles Spelling Test and Spelling Hangman.
What are some good apps to help elementary students study?
It depends on what particular problem you want the app to eliminate or improve. However, if you want your kids to study more effectively, you could try Flashcards+, Exam Countdown Lite, and iStudiez Pro Legend. Flashcards+ is for 6-year-old kids and above, while Exam Countdown and iStudiez are for kids aged 4 and above.
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