Some areas in the United States are implementing restrictions and the United Kingdom is back in lockdown again this year. Because of this, children are asked to learn from home with the assistance of their parents.
Not every family has a laptop or PC that can be used for remote learning, as most of the gadgets are used by other family members who are required to work from home. Fortunately, there are some game consoles that can be used as an alternative computer to help the children.
The Xbox One, Xbox Series, PS4 and PS5 consoles all have good web browsers, and they can be used to hook you up to online remote learning services. If your child managed to get one of these systems, then this is a great way to make sure that they keep learning even while they are required to stay at home.
As for Nintendo Switch, it can't be used in this way, as it does not have a web browser that is easily accessible, but it may have that feature in the future.
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Using this method with your console, you should be able to access remote learning services through Microsoft Teams and Google Classroom, though the compatibility with other online services is still not guaranteed.
How to access remote learning through Xbox systems
The Xbox series of systems use the Edge browser. If you do not already have the Edge browser installed on your console, you need to make sure that you access the Microsoft Store and download the Edge browser from the Apps section of the store. The Xbox also has the advantage of being compatible with USB mouse and keyboard control schemes, making this a convenient method that you can use.
As soon as the Edge browser is downloaded and installed, you can access it from the Game & Apps menu. You can either search for your remote learning service such as Microsoft Teams, Google Classroom and HWB, and then access the site and log in as usual with your username and password.
By using Microsoft's OneDrive, you should now be able to access Teams, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and more.
It is highly recommended that you use a mouse and a keyboard to control the Edge browser on Xbox, though in a pinch the Xbox controller is a good way to access remote learning. All Xbox One and Xbox Series have similar menus, so navigating them should be easy.
How to access remote learning through PlayStation systems
PlayStation systems are a bit more complicated. The PS5 web browser can be accessed, but not easily. You need to have a PSN account and a message should be sent to you, like a link to Google. This will then allow you to navigate the rest of the web.
Once that is done, you can then locate and access your remote learning service in the same way that you do for Xbox systems, but this time with a mouse and keyboard.
The good thing is that PS4 web browser is easily accessible. If you search through the app menus, you will inevitably find a web browser icon, that will be three Ws that are surrounded by a circle of dots. Once you are in, you will be able to access remote learning.
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Written by Sieeka Khan
