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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To tell you why 'live' teaching isn't the be all

207 replies

CrunchyCrumpet · 19/06/2020 20:52

Given the preference for 'live' teaching on MN I wanted to dispel some of the misconceptions widely held on this as its entirely possible we'll see a mixture of in-school and remote learning going forwards.

Research shows us that there is no significant difference in learning outcomes between remote live lessons (with the teacher facilitating learning online) and other methods of remote learning (for instance narrated powerpoints, use of videos and/or instruction sheets). Interestingly it would seem that a recording showing the teachers face actually detracts from the learning.

What matters most is the quality of that teaching and whether it builds on the prior knowledge of the students and how that knowledge is assessed. All students are unique and need different learning methods to optimise their learning, in a class of 33 students the ideal is to get a mix of approaches to remote learning (worth noting here that school policy will influence that 'mix'). One of the huge positives of remote learning is the emphasis it can place on the development of independent learning skills.

Access to technology in of itself is a huge barrier to learning during these times, it is a shame that the free laptops promised were restricted to incredibly narrow criteria.

We can't replicate the classroom experience, however we can take what we know works and adapt it for remote learning. Something that takes a lot of work and a lot of trial and error with the tech.

Sorry that is so long! There are of course many other factors that interplay with the different approaches taken, I've focused on the learning here alone. Teachers know their students and will select the best approach available to them within the boundaries of school policy. As many PPs have said, if you have questions or problems with an approach speak to your school.

RemoteLearningRapidEvidenceAssessment.pdf EEF

OP posts:
EducatingArti · 22/06/2020 09:35

But we've just been saying - actually videoing the teacher( rather than voice over to PowerPoint etc) is not the best way of teaching on line

buckeejit · 22/06/2020 09:42

I thought we'd just been saying it wasn't solely the best way live rather than should never be done. It seems to me it would be best to have some aspect of this. Wholeheartedly agree it's not feasible full time

Piggywaspushed · 22/06/2020 09:54

There's independent study and then there's been left to it. Independent study at Uni - is not the same - there are weekly tutorials even for the most independent reading courses, no way would you ever be left for 12 weeks without human contact.

This is exactly and precisely what ahs happened to DS1 : at uni in first year.

GazeboParty · 22/06/2020 09:58

@Piggywaspushed

There's independent study and then there's been left to it. Independent study at Uni - is not the same - there are weekly tutorials even for the most independent reading courses, no way would you ever be left for 12 weeks without human contact.

This is exactly and precisely what ahs happened to DS1 : at uni in first year.

That’s awful - and he’s paying fees for that?!
Piggywaspushed · 22/06/2020 10:00

Yes. Tbh , it doesn't bother me, or him .I don't think seeing someone's face is all that important.

Piggywaspushed · 22/06/2020 10:00

In terms of on a screen ,I mean!

noblegiraffe · 22/06/2020 10:02

I’m a maths teacher, I want them to be looking at maths not my mug.

GazeboParty · 22/06/2020 10:07

Sounds like a few of you teachers could talk yourselves out of a job!😂

Piggywaspushed · 22/06/2020 10:11

Not really, no : it's just that both noble and I believe , I guess, that (in the absence of being in a classroom ) it is the quality of the resources that matter most , not the presence of someone's face.

I do think live lessons with someone yammering on without their face on show is hard for a lot of students. I have to be honest, I am finding everything worse since we went to live lessons : everything that would normally be discouraged is creeping in : droning, loads of teacher talk, students giving one word answers, students using lots of informal language, quiet students saying nothing, pupils not focusing and being off task, students being passive.

The quality of what they were doing was better before live lessons. And more of them were doing the work !

GazeboParty · 22/06/2020 10:42

@Piggywaspushed

Not really, no : it's just that both noble and I believe , I guess, that (in the absence of being in a classroom ) it is the quality of the resources that matter most , not the presence of someone's face.

I do think live lessons with someone yammering on without their face on show is hard for a lot of students. I have to be honest, I am finding everything worse since we went to live lessons : everything that would normally be discouraged is creeping in : droning, loads of teacher talk, students giving one word answers, students using lots of informal language, quiet students saying nothing, pupils not focusing and being off task, students being passive.

The quality of what they were doing was better before live lessons. And more of them were doing the work !

Are you both Maths teachers?
SmileEachDay · 22/06/2020 11:22

I think video added to PPs can contribute to cognitive overload.

I do my introduction with my face, the bit where I read the text with my face and the rest is audio voiceover.

noblegiraffe · 22/06/2020 11:25

I do Loom voiceovers on stuff like mymaths. There’s an option to have my face in the corner. That would detract rather than add!

Piggywaspushed · 22/06/2020 11:37

No , I teach English gazebo.

GazeboParty · 22/06/2020 11:46

@SmileEachDay

I think video added to PPs can contribute to cognitive overload.

I do my introduction with my face, the bit where I read the text with my face and the rest is audio voiceover.

The power points provided without voice overs are not much different to textbooks. I don't see the point in them tbh.
GazeboParty · 22/06/2020 11:52

@Piggywaspushed

No , I teach English gazebo.
Interesting - the English dept were the only dept in our school to use live Zoom lessons.
Piggywaspushed · 22/06/2020 12:02

Really? I guess that may be because there really aren't many good already existing online platforms for English (unlike maths, for example). We have Zoom blocked at my school but could use camera on Classroom : I just can't see the benefit and don't see why I need to talk over a ppt when reading is an important English skill!

My main gripe though is the passivity of the students who don't have to actively read and engage themselves.

Piggywaspushed · 22/06/2020 12:03

What's wrong with a good textbook??

I wish my students had a textbook! It would be so much easier in so many ways.

SmileEachDay · 22/06/2020 12:17

The power points provided without voice overs are not much different to textbooks. I don't see the point in them tbh

That’s not what I said I was doing.

I wish we had text books for each child.
Tbh I bought a KS2 workbook for each subject and that’s how I’ve done the home schooling of my own child.

flamingochill · 22/06/2020 12:21

I had to buy textbooks for dd in Sixth Form. They cost a bomb but they've been invaluable for home study purposes.

They don't use textbooks for younger years so my younger child is getting online work and some pre-recorded lessons. I don't think it's inferior to live lessons but my son learns better listening to the info than reading it so it's a better format for him.

noblegiraffe · 22/06/2020 12:43

My Y2 DD has had the dreaded Twinkl worksheets with no marking etc etc.

It’s been fine. I certainly don’t think she’s in the middle of a catastrophic educational black hole from which she’ll never recover. Sure she’s not learning as much new stuff as she would in school but she’s keeping the old stuff ticking over and given the spiral nature of the curriculum I don’t think she has missed her only chance to pick up the key points.

GazeboParty · 22/06/2020 12:49

@Piggywaspushed

Really? I guess that may be because there really aren't many good already existing online platforms for English (unlike maths, for example). We have Zoom blocked at my school but could use camera on Classroom : I just can't see the benefit and don't see why I need to talk over a ppt when reading is an important English skill!

My main gripe though is the passivity of the students who don't have to actively read and engage themselves.

I thought discussion was important in English and many other subjects, I know our RE Department were very hot on debating - I suspect one of the reasons why dd got a very effortless 9 in her GCSE.
Piggywaspushed · 22/06/2020 13:10

It is Gazebo but not anything like as important as reading and writing which are being reduced by live lessons.

They don't discuss in live lessons. The same students who always dominate , dominate the chat function. The most commonly typed words are 'yeah and 'byeee'. Half of them don't have mics. Those that do won't use them.

Two girls are not attending live lessons because they find it too stressful.

It is really important to drop the vision of a confident student and see how it doesn't work as well as some would like, otherwise we won't ever look for improvements.

hedgehogger1 · 22/06/2020 13:16

When every child at every school has access to a computer and working internet all day, every day, without distraction. Then live lessons MIGHT be the way to go. That is not the situation now.

noblegiraffe · 22/06/2020 13:18

Even then, do you want your kid in zoom meetings all day? Adults seem to hate it.

Fizzysours · 22/06/2020 13:25

My (outstanding) school just started to deliver live maths lessons to the sixth form. They just sat there and would not speak. Not a single kid. We record a video, for the kids up to year 10, for each lesson and go through / explain the skills of the day. The students seem to like that far more