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Primary schools zoom learning

24

Comments

  • #32
    wirelessdude01
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,465 ✭✭✭wirelessdude01


    daheff wrote: »
    No they can't be live all day, but surely they can organise to be live for at least one hour each day(or even an hour a week)?? People can plan around work etc if they knew each day at 11 the class would be online.


    The first lockdown should have spurred schools to put together a better strategy....but it's like we're starting from scratch again in the main.

    See the poster above. Live doesn't suit them. Should their child be left behind? The objective in our school is continuity of teaching and learning but not using any means which would disadvantage children due to their home circumstances. I'm doing some zoom but it'll be corrections and social stuff. Maths will be prerecorded as it is accessible by parents and children when it suits them.


  • #33
    BonsaiKitten
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,798 ✭✭✭BonsaiKitten


    My school is doing a lot of live lessons, yes. It can work very well, I found back in March that the learning and engagement in non-live work simply doesn't compare to work on Zoom. As a teacher I found it's much less stressful than prerecorded work too (I really hate correcting things handed in online).

    The issue is equality and access to devices. There's a lot of households out there that wouldn't have a device for each child or even somewhere quiet for them to work. That's not an issue in my school, so we'll do live because that's what we've found is effective. I couldn't and wouldn't expect every school to do that.


  • #34
    jlm29
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,818 ✭✭✭jlm29


    daheff wrote: »
    No they can't be live all day, but surely they can organise to be live for at least one hour each day(or even an hour a week)?? People can plan around work etc if they knew each day at 11 the class would be online.


    The first lockdown should have spurred schools to put together a better strategy....but it's like we're starting from scratch again in the main.

    Unless there’s going to be live classes after 5 pm, I can’t work around it. I’m a health care worker, and we’re fairly busy at work at the moment (it’s been on the news a bit lately :D), so whether it’s an hour a week or an hour a day, if there’s live classes my child will miss them. I’m not the only parent in the class with that issue, but my boys would be in the minority in both Their classes in being excluded.
    I’m so grateful that my childminder is continuing to mind my kids at the moment that I wouldn’t be happy to ask her to take on supervising zoom classes as well as everything else.
    I don’t feel that the world should revolve around me and my needs, but I’m just pointing out that it’s hard to suit everyone, whatever happens


  • #35
    shesty
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,918 Mod ✭✭✭✭shesty


    daheff wrote: »
    No they can't be live all day, but surely they can organise to be live for at least one hour each day(or even an hour a week)?? People can plan around work etc if they knew each day at 11 the class would be online.


    The first lockdown should have spurred schools to put together a better strategy....but it's like we're starting from scratch again in the main.

    It really depends on the child's age I think And as the last poster said, we would also be in a slightly awkward situation of having childcare available but being unable to use it if our eldest has to be kept home for "live" sessions at a specific time.But realistically, our 2 younger would have to go to childcare, as she couldn't do Zoom classes with the 2 younger ones bouncing around.And our work has to fit in around all this too. There is literally no substitute for them being in school in person, at best we will be ticking over here and no more.Thankfully the school seem to be sensible enouugh in their approach so hopefully it will work out ok just to get us through.


  • #36
    yankinlk
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,818 ✭✭✭yankinlk


    If all our schools did in January was to focus on the basics around cyber security and online safety.... I would be pleased.

    Recorded, offline, videos... anything. Maybe the teachers would learn something new as well.


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  • #37
    daheff
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,972 ✭✭✭daheff


    wirelessdude01 wrote: »
    See the poster above. Live doesn't suit them. Should their child be left behind? The objective in our school is continuity of teaching and learning but not using any means which would disadvantage children due to their home circumstances. I'm doing some zoom but it'll be corrections and social stuff. Maths will be prerecorded as it is accessible by parents and children when it suits them.

    So are you telling me that teachers in your school cannot arrange themselves to teach their students for just 1 hour a day?


  • #38
    byhookorbycrook
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 12,551 Mod ✭✭✭✭byhookorbycrook


    daheff wrote: »
    So are you telling me that teachers in your school cannot arrange themselves to teach their students for just 1 hour a day?
    I'm not sure I understand your question? Are you looking for a live one hour session?


    "Teaching" doesn't have to be via live Zoom or similar. Considering the difficulties adults have with zoom ,I think many parents would under severe pressure to be made sit with their child for a specific hour in the day, and that's before you take in the the connection issues, broadband problems, cameras on or off etc.etc. Setting an hour for live teaching would be very stressful for many parents who may need to use the device to work from home or that other siblings might need at the same time.



    We are using seesaw and sending out video clips with it, which means parents can pick and choose what time suits them best and that the child can pause and rewind as needed. As they will be returning work for correction and feedback, that will also take time. In class, feedback is quick and easy, because you can correct the work as a group and then check with anyone who is having difficulty on the spot or re-teach a point if a significant number of children have had a difficulty. Remotely, you have to correct each article separately for each child and then try to give individual feedback.



    There's a reason most teachers would prefer to be face to face in a classroom,it's just easier. But safety needs to take priority right now.


  • #39
    wirelessdude01
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,465 ✭✭✭wirelessdude01


    daheff wrote: »
    So are you telling me that teachers in your school cannot arrange themselves to teach their students for just 1 hour a day?

    Did you even read what I said? Jog on with your stirring.


  • #40
    mirrorwall14
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,730 ✭✭✭mirrorwall14


    We have childcare this time. Childminder is happy to tackle work set for my eldest but I haven’t and won’t broach live zooms with her. That’s too much responsibility when my toddler would be running around too so my child will likely have to do with out when they start. We apparently will have a few. I’m teaching from home though myself so I’ll have to wait and see when those classes are from the primary school and if I can pull him early from the childminder or drop him late to let him attend depending on when my classes are.

    Our teacher was excellent last time though and is the same again so I’m expecting individual short video clips for him to do on class dojo. Those should be fine with childcare


  • #41
    Spanishpoint
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 58 ✭✭Spanishpoint


    Motah wrote: »
    I think prerecorded lessons could be a good...better than assigned work week after week, with no communication in our case, bar no pressure...

    I agree with you. Prerecorded lessons will save time to everybody!


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  • #42
    Motah
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9 ✭Motah


    Spanishpoint wrote: »
    I agree with you. Prerecorded lessons will save time to everybody!

    Well, it's the same as last time...
    Email on a Sunday night, here's the work for the week...no zoom, no recordings, nothing. Do what you can...no pressure.
    We, like a lot of people, are working from home, full time, with 3 small kids. I find this frustrating. Also, the seesaw app is only to submit the work the kids have done...
    I think they should zoom, at least 1/2 hour a day, interrupted or not, or send recorded lessons...all my kids are at home, I'm constantly interrupted, meetings are not on my kids radar...
    Some schools seem to be making much more of an effort than others...
    This is not learning. It's just assigned work. I am not a teacher, but I feel under extreme pressure to get work done, while working and doing, like most you, dinners, snacks, washing etc and just seeing my kids...
    We have no childcare while in level 5, and no relatives near us.


  • #43
    Motah
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9 ✭Motah


    wirelessdude01 wrote: »
    See the poster above. Live doesn't suit them. Should their child be left behind? The objective in our school is continuity of teaching and learning but not using any means which would disadvantage children due to their home circumstances. I'm doing some zoom but it'll be corrections and social stuff. Maths will be prerecorded as it is accessible by parents and children when it suits them.


    You seem to be making a great effort, and your students are lucky.
    From the emails I received from our school, my impression is there will be no learning unless I'm teaching. Same as March to June, assigned homework mailed to me on Sunday, for submission on Thurs...that's it!
    After all this time, 10 months later, we have no advancement on the home/school learning environment, or even a single recording of a single lesson. I feel I'm going to have to pay someone to teach my children during lockdown...if I can find someone...
    Some schools are making much more of an effort than others...is there no national standard on this?
    This pandemic is going no where fast. This will be the norm, on and off for the next year, maybe year and a half...


  • #44
    wirelessdude01
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,465 ✭✭✭wirelessdude01


    Motah wrote: »
    You seem to be making a great effort, and your students are lucky.
    From the emails I received from our school, my impression is there will be no learning unless I'm teaching. Same as March to June, assigned homework mailed to me on Sunday, for submission on Thurs...that's it!
    After all this time, 10 months later, we have no advancement on the home/school learning environment, or even a single recording of a single lesson. I feel I'm going to have to pay someone to teach my children during lockdown...if I can find someone...
    Some schools are making much more of an effort than others...is there no national standard on this?
    This pandemic is going no where fast. This will be the norm, on and off for the next year, maybe year and a half...

    No national standard. DES really don't give a rats about anyone or anything.


  • #45
    mirrorwall14
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,730 ✭✭✭mirrorwall14


    If you have only heard from the main school wait until you hear from the teacher themselves and see what the plan is. The detail can be very different once the teacher themselves break it down into what works for their class

    There is a floor now however, the department have said daily contact so it shouldn’t be one email a week.

    Wait and see. But I will say as a teacher I don’t think asking for demonstration videos from teachers is unreasonable for any work that is being set. Depending on the age of the students live may be appropriate too.

    If nothing is forth coming then the procedure is contacting class teacher first, then the principal and then there are further steps like contacting the board of management

    You should also have access to the schools online contingency plan for learning. All schools should have one


  • #46
    Cyrus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,173 ✭✭✭✭Cyrus


    Motah wrote: »
    Well, it's the same as last time...
    Email on a Sunday night, here's the work for the week...no zoom, no recordings, nothing. Do what you can...no pressure.
    We, like a lot of people, are working from home, full time, with 3 small kids. I find this frustrating. Also, the seesaw app is only to submit the work the kids have done...
    I think they should zoom, at least 1/2 hour a day, interrupted or not, or send recorded lessons...all my kids are at home, I'm constantly interrupted, meetings are not on my kids radar...
    Some schools seem to be making much more of an effort than others...
    This is not learning. It's just assigned work. I am not a teacher, but I feel under extreme pressure to get work done, while working and doing, like most you, dinners, snacks, washing etc and just seeing my kids...
    We have no childcare while in level 5, and no relatives near us.

    Are they going to fall that far behind in a few weeks? Just do some reading with them at night , get them
    To practice their writing a bit during the day and leave the rest they will catch up.

    You are causing most of the stress for yourself.

    And yes we are in the same boat :)


  • #47
    shesty
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,918 Mod ✭✭✭✭shesty


    I am firmly in the "it is completely crazy" camp this morning. No way is this ok, nor should we think it is.


  • #48
    AmberGold
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,226 ✭✭✭AmberGold


    A friend of mine works for a leading video conferencing company where they make a cheap USB attached camera with microphone its used a lot in classroom / remote learning. They are out the door with orders into German and mainland European schools.

    No such demand from Ireland at all.

    Having seen the news in the UK with teachers complaining that Zoom is breach of privacy and the response to my initial thread on this matter here it's apparent a substantial cohort of teachers don't want to teach.


  • #49
    wirelessdude01
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,465 ✭✭✭wirelessdude01


    shesty wrote: »
    I am firmly in the "it is completely crazy" camp this morning. No way is this ok, nor should we think it is.

    What isn't okay?


  • #50
    wirelessdude01
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,465 ✭✭✭wirelessdude01


    AmberGold wrote: »
    it's apparent a substantial cohort of teachers don't want to teach.

    What do you base that on? The fact that Irish schools aren't ordering from your friend.


  • #51
    shesty
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,918 Mod ✭✭✭✭shesty


    wirelessdude01 wrote: »
    What isn't okay?

    Working a full-time job and home-schooling your child at the same time.If you have kids at the younger end of the school system, it is just not a feasible idea.I can't imagine it is much benefit to older kids either.


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  • #52
    AmberGold
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,226 ✭✭✭AmberGold


    wirelessdude01 wrote: »
    What do you base that on? The fact that Irish schools aren't ordering from your friend.

    Ehh no.

    I'm basing it off the response from some of the teachers in a thread I started at the beginning of lock-down.

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2058071593

    Have a look at it, couple this with the reaction in the UK I mention above and low uptake of Video Conferencing in Irish schools & it proves my point.


  • #53
    wirelessdude01
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,465 ✭✭✭wirelessdude01


    AmberGold wrote: »
    Ehh no.

    I'm basing it off the response from some of the teachers in a thread I started at the beginning of lock-down.

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2058071593

    Have a look at it, couple this with the reaction in the UK I mention above and low uptake of Video Conferencing in Irish schools & it proves my point.

    So your evidence for what is now happening is a thread from April 2020?


  • #54
    AmberGold
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,226 ✭✭✭AmberGold


    wirelessdude01 wrote: »
    So your evidence for what is now happening is a thread from April 2020?

    Are you a troll Wireless Dude? I don't even know why I'm bothering to reply.

    If you read my post I listed a number of factors including a thread
    contributed to extensively by teachers.

    Have those teachers had a personality transplant since?


  • #55
    wirelessdude01
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,465 ✭✭✭wirelessdude01


    AmberGold wrote: »
    Are you a troll Wireless Dude? I don't even know why I'm bothering to reply.

    If you read my post I listed a number of factors including a thread
    contributed to extensively by teachers.

    Have those teachers had a personality transplant since?

    Again, your evidence is a thread from April 2020.

    I look about my school and see people willing to try stuff now that they wouldn't during the last lockdown. Teachers and schools have generally moved on. Maybe try it yourself.


  • #56
    daheff
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,972 ✭✭✭daheff


    wirelessdude01 wrote: »
    Did you even read what I said? Jog on with your stirring.

    I did. And I'm 100% serious on what I said. Why can teachers not have an hour a day to work with the children in their classes?

    Rte are showing reports today saying Zoom calls are how kids did schooling today. Maybe for some schools, but I'd imagine not for the majority.


  • #57
    wirelessdude01
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,465 ✭✭✭wirelessdude01


    daheff wrote: »
    I did. And I'm 100% serious on what I said. Why can teachers not have an hour a day to work with the children in their classes?

    Rte are showing reports today saying Zoom calls are how kids did schooling today. Maybe for some schools, but I'd imagine not for the majority.

    Two teachers here, both zoomed and loomed with our classes today.


  • #58
    daheff
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,972 ✭✭✭daheff


    Motah wrote: »
    Well, it's the same as last time...
    Email on a Sunday night, here's the work for the week...no zoom, no recordings, nothing. Do what you can...no pressure.
    We, like a lot of people, are working from home, full time, with 3 small kids. I find this frustrating. Also, the seesaw app is only to submit the work the kids have done...
    I think they should zoom, at least 1/2 hour a day, interrupted or not, or send recorded lessons...all my kids are at home, I'm constantly interrupted, meetings are not on my kids radar...
    Some schools seem to be making much more of an effort than others...
    This is not learning. It's just assigned work. I am not a teacher, but I feel under extreme pressure to get work done, while working and doing, like most you, dinners, snacks, washing etc and just seeing my kids...
    We have no childcare while in level 5, and no relatives near us.

    Couldn't agree more with you. A lot of people have the same experiences.

    I have 2 kids..one in 3rd class and one in 6th class. Same emails... here's your work for the week. You can email the teacher if you have questions.

    Child in 3rd class done with days work by 10.15 am(having started at 9.30).

    Older child has more work to do, but still done after 2.5 hours.

    I agree that teachers should have a daily call with their class. If for no other reason than just to keep in contact and for the children to have some kind of link with the school.


  • #59
    mirrorwall14
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,730 ✭✭✭mirrorwall14


    Senior infant here, 5 videos of the teacher up this morning and 1 from the Sen teacher over their group. Plus four other activities to complete as well. That’s ONE day lol. Zoom call every Tuesday afternoon


  • #60
    wirelessdude01
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,465 ✭✭✭wirelessdude01


    daheff wrote: »

    Older child has more work to do, but still done after 2.5 hours.

    That is about right for a child in 6th class at the moment. That could take double the time for a less able child.

    Feedback after last lockdown was that 2-3hrs work was what parents wanted for the senior end.


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  • #61
    krissovo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,261 ✭✭✭krissovo


    My 7 and 11 year old start back at home school tomorrow. Their school has made lots of progress since the last lockdown and will do some “live” lessons or at least a daily check point using zoom or google class. They even practiced in school before breaking up for the holiday.

    My 7 year old will have a 15 minute 1to1 with his teacher on zoom each week. They will also as a class have a daily 30 minute lesson which is more of a fun session and just a way of seeing their class mates. The rest of the work will be assigned every evening. He is looking forward to home school this time around.

    My 11 year old who goes to the same school is a bit more serious, they all have google accounts and will have 2 live classes a day of 45 minutes. The work is assigned and completed through google. Her class has paired up and they will work in these groups together to complete their work. She is also looking forward to getting started.

    The school has been great, chrome books and mobile access points were made available for those who did not have the capability at home. Funding from a number of events since they returned to school like no uniform days and generous donations from a couple of the multinationals and pharma companies have really enabled the school. A number of the parents including myself work in the tech industry so we have been working with the staff to enable them with modern collaboration tools.


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