Top 3 Benefits of Learning Pods

December 19, 2024 byKristina Cappetta

6 min to read

Enrolling in online public school can provide great opportunities for students to excel, but some families may be hesitant for fear that their students will miss out on other opportunities and chances to socialize that they would typically have in a brick-and-mortar school. Because of this, many Learning Coaches alleviate those worries by joining or starting a learning pod. Learning pods allow for like-minded Learning Coaches to bring their students together and enhance their education by pooling together their resources in order to provide opportunities for field trips, extracurricular activities, tutoring, and a space to socialize.

What is a Learning Pod?

A learning pod refers to a small group of students, often from different families, who all learn from home. They can be enrolled in online public school or a homeschool program, under the guidance of one or more Learning Coaches. Learning pods provide students who learn from home an opportunity for in-person, collaborative learning with their peers while taking part in different and fun activities to supplement their education.

Families in a learning pod pool their resources together to share the expense of school supplies, tutoring, and extracurricular activities. Learning Coaches volunteer their time and homes to host learning pods, especially for Families who decide to have one consistent location or rotate throughout the year to share the responsibility.

How to Create a Learning Pod

If you are thinking of creating a learning pod for your student and their peers, you want to remember that learning pods are often formed by families looking to supplement their student’s online learning experience, which means there is no one way to form a learning pod!

Learning pod members will need to plan and fund field trips and any other extracurricular activities, and learning pods are only as successful as the effort Learning Coaches put in. This is why you want to be sure that you are forming a learning pod with families who share your values and are looking for the same outcomes.

Follow these steps to create a learning pod:

Talk to other Learning Coaches in your student’s class. Start here to find families who have similar needs, share the same educational values, and want to use a learning pod as a tool to provide different opportunities for their students. Local at-home learning groups can be another resource. You may also want to notify the school to see if they have had similar requests for learning pods. This will not only help you find members to form the group but will also let the school know that you will be forming a learning pod if future students would like to join.
Decide and agree on the logistics. Everyone needs to be on the same page for a learning pod to work. Discuss where and how often the learning pod will meet and what will be covered. Decide who will be the leader and who will serve as a Learning Coach. You can also discuss whether the learning pod will meet online or in person. If it is going to be in-person, determine if the location will be consistent or rotate. If online learning pods are utilized, discuss how the Learning Coach will connect the students using videoconferencing tools.
Set rules. All families in the learning pod should be on the same page when it comes to covered topics, break times, and what the learning environment will look like. Be sure that the dedicated space can accommodate all students and is productive for learning. This may mean removing distractions such as televisions and video games. You may also want to limit cell phone use and collect them at the beginning of each meeting so students can’t use them when they shouldn’t.

What are the Benefits of Learning Pods?

1. Socialization

While learning pods can offer great learning opportunities, they also allow children to socialize, since student success often includes positive connections with their teachers and peers. In learning pods, students can build social skills when they take breaks, have lunch, and work on projects.

Students in a learning pod who may have a hard time focusing on online school can also benefit from a learning pod because they are around other children who are also trying to learn. Research shows that being around other productive people can have a positive impact on your own performance. Having a shared space that a learning pod provides can allow students to focus better while providing the interpersonal connections they need.

2. Field Trips & Enrichment Opportunities

Learning coaches of online learning pods, homeschooling pods, and in-person learning pods can organize field trip opportunities that can also lead to socialization opportunities. Visiting local museums, zoos, and seasonal attractions allow students to learn, share their discoveries, and interact with their friends in real time. These types of places typically offer group rates, making these opportunities more affordable than going alone, as learning pod members share the cost.

Learning Coaches may also want to look into free community events that can provide enrichment opportunities. Local libraries may offer free book clubs or art classes that students will enjoy. Community garden projects are another example of an activity that learning pod members can do together to socialize and expand their horizons. These are just some of the many fun learning pod group activities that Learning Coaches can explore for their students.

3. Additional Support & Schedules

Learning pods can provide additional support for families as Learning Coaches balance their responsibilities with their student’s educational needs. Learning Coaches can set a schedule that works with theirs if they have a hybrid work model that calls for them to be in the office a few days a week, or if they work part-time. Their students can attend a learning pod when they cannot be present, and they can offer to host the learning pod on the days they are home. The Learning Coach overseeing the pod provides a structured daily and weekly routine that supports learning and development.

Students with special needs that may require them to go at a slower pace than their peers can also receive extra support in a learning pod. Learning Coaches can provide these students with the extra time they need to understand what they are learning. This can be especially helpful for students with dyslexia or other learning disabilities.

Learning pods not only provide children with a collaborative learning experience, but also give them the opportunities to socialize, visit area attractions, and learn how to work together. Learning Coaches and caregivers can also get help as they strive to balance educating their students with their daily responsibilities. The experience you and your student as part of a learning pod is all about what you put into it. That’s why it is important to find families who share your education values.

If you want to learn more about how your student can benefit from an online education and how to enroll, contact the Connections Academy enrollment team.