Do young people today have difficulty telling the time on analogue clocks?

[Draconis]

I've heard this from a couple of people now and wondered how much truth there is in it

Yes I think so

Such as?

We only have analogue clocks, so my 12 year old can, although they struggle with the concept of 25 to, 20 to, etc. Then again, it's a confusing method to determine time and I remember finding it confusing when I was a child.

Students have to remove any watch (not already handed in) and put it on their desk during the exam - ie not on their wrist. Invigilators can then check each watch very easily as it is in plain sight.24 Apr 2019

That's what I meant.

And a lot of people have always struggled with time.

If I were to be contrary I would say that 12.50 is technically half past 12. 12:50 would be 50 minutes past 12.

So the watches need to be on the desk in front of them not on their wrists

Not so sure analogue will become obsolete as we use digital and analogue clocks in different ways. Digital only gives you a fixed number, with no point of reference. With analogue you can see the whole picture. So we use analogue clocks not just to see what time it is, but to measure time, be able to see portions of time, time past and time left.

A digital clock is not as useful in a railway station or exam room where you often need to see how much time is left until a certain point in time.

Just realised this is why I can see the appeal of manual scales for cooking - with digital you can't see the bigger picture, so anyone learning on digital scales wouldn't get a feeling of proportions - what a gram / ounce is in relation to the next unit of measurement.

To some degree Satnav is the same as you only see your route, not your route on a large map. Digital gives only a snapshot, analogue / manual frames the measurement with a permanent visual point of reference.

This is not the current regulations - students are not allowed to do this. If your centre is allowing this they are contravening JCQ regulations.

That's very true

As I have said (many times) you are wrong.

https://www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/2022-Unauthorised-Items-poster-live-text_September22.pdf

@woodhill on a separate note I hope you don’t work in exams. JCQ regulations are both clear and strict to ensure that all students are examined under equal conditions. You have written here that you give advice / guidance to students (telling them how long they have left) and freely allow banned items into the room.

This is not a fair an equal situation and should your centre be inspected whilst you are breaking these rules the students could potentially be disqualified from their exams which is awful.

Love analogue clocks by all means but you must follow JCQ regulations.

No I don't

Work in exams or invigilate? Sorry it’s really difficult to know what you’re referring to. You have said you invigilate- this is working in exams?

It was a long time ago and the student had LDs

I would always follow exam guidelines to the best of my knowledge

Unless something is expressly permitted under access arrangements you were still required to follow JCQ regulations.

If you are no longer doing this then that’s a relief but you need to accept that things have changed - a bit like the use of analogue clocks I guess.

Analogue clocks are lovely imo. Like fountain pens. And writing a letter.

But times change. Nothing new there.

@YetAnotherSpartacus - I think if you do a long press to get all the icons wiggling, then press the plus button that appears on the top left of the screen. That takes you through to the various things you can have as widgets on your home screens. There should be a clock widget you can select and that can appear on screen much larger than the normal icon would.

You can also use an analogue clock / watch as a type of compass.

The difference with learning imperial is that an analogue clock is the same time, it is just a different means of conveying the same information. It is more like increasing your vocabulary if you can use it.

I think it is incredible that just two lines, one longer than the other, both with one end connected to a shared fixed point, can tell you the time at a glance. It is an amazingly efficient way of conveying a complex piece of information!

My GP's surgery, my local station, at least two of the schools I work for have analogue clocks in the main hall where we have meetings. I'm sure there would be many more examples if I thought about it.

Yes exactly when I wss doing my nurse training in the 90,s I used to.love receiving letters from other friends at university etc ,nowadays we have social media and the internet so.pep me don't write actual letters so much into re but can still.kerp.in touch and probably far more regularly.

Dc just finished y2, despite the fact we have analogue clocks around the house its still difficult!

They do, it is on the national curriculum in year 2 of primary school.

Obviously if it is never reinforced, people may forget (just as lots of adults can’t add up fractions despite definitely covering it at school).

My GP's surgery, my local station, at least two of the schools I work for have analogue clocks in the main hall where we have meetings. I'm sure there would be many more examples if I thought about it.

And in all those situations the non anologues among us would whip their phones out to tell the time. Or look at their digital watches.

It's the reality.

Right, but most teens won't be hanging around GP surgeries for most of their day and most teens will.have a phone on them ,anyway.