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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think live video lessons aren’t all they are cracked up to be

117 replies

Alex15 · 11/01/2021 20:54

During the last lockdown it seemed like people were almost obsessed with them and while they are good there are other forms of Homelearning the are also good and they really aren’t the silver bullet people claimed they were?

OP posts:
mummyof2boys30 · 11/01/2021 20:55

Im delighted our school isn't doing them as we do school work at different times every day depending on both mine and DH work schedule and can't ask grandparents to do all the school work

Covine · 11/01/2021 20:58

They're basically remote presentations put together with the expectation that the participants are unprofessional and possibly verging on feral.

I do not know what else teachers are supposed to do. Obviously it's not going to be the same as being in a classroom. And obviously it also means a lot of work for teachers.

But, that's what people want, so ...

whatkatydid2013 · 11/01/2021 20:58

Thrilled ours aren’t trying it. My parents are helping us down days and others we are juggling work and the kids. Doing the work sent on the timings that suits us (including doing some on the weekend and making a day in the week a movie and Lego day) will be so so much more workable for us. Our kids are young though (6 & 4). If they were older I expect the live lessons would be more useful and should require less supervision

BrutusMcDogface · 11/01/2021 20:58

Don’t do them then.

Original poster
Alex15 · 11/01/2021 20:59

I should point out my op is based on secondary’s but I’m sure the same principles apply to primary

OP posts:
Original poster
Alex15 · 11/01/2021 20:59

@BrutusMcDogface

Don’t do them then.
Hmm
OP posts:
switswoo81 · 11/01/2021 21:01

We surveyed our parents and they didn't want them. They prefer the pre recorded webinar style of video so they can access them at any time and rewind what they needed to hear again.
There are lots of bigger families in the school and classes could not run simultaneously as parents could not supervised both at the same time.

RMRM · 11/01/2021 21:03

We've had them the last 2 days for y1 and with the best will in the world and even with DS' amazing teacher, it doesn't work.

The poor teacher has had to record the session for those that can't attend and then deliver it twice live to restless 6 yr olds. She must be going out of her mind.

Spanglebangle · 11/01/2021 21:04

I disagree. My DD is 9 and just being able to see and talk to her teachers and classmates on the live lessons have made a world or difference to her mental health. She still feels like part of a group and it's been brilliant for her.

peanutbutterandbananas · 11/01/2021 21:04

For my kids in Primary they're brilliant. There's more pace when they're live and they move through work quicker. Plus they love seeing their classmates online.

NovemberR · 11/01/2021 21:05

They are hideous.

DS is supposed to be doing lots of live lessons on TEAMS. All he has is a phone and the wifi signal is shit. He's really struggling to follow a lesson where the teacher has uploaded pdf worksheets he needs to use and then is trying to teach the class from a PP whilst they do the work. It also means having to follow a very rigid timetable which is difficult with everyone else at home too.

I never wanted them!

NovemberR · 11/01/2021 21:05

Also, ours are not able to see anyone except the teacher. They have to have their camera and mike off so they aren't exactly interacting!

Frankinmachine · 11/01/2021 21:06

My DS is enjoying his live lessons. He doesn't have a good attention span or much self motivation, so the live lessons help keep him focused and give a routine to his day. He has a full timetable including tutor time and assembly, so I'm really grateful.

happytoday73 · 11/01/2021 21:07

Im finding them OK for secondary age kids... Luckily primary isn't using them, even for KS2, they upload a morning link and a couple of general items that can be accessed at any time... The 4 hours a day requirement seems to be an hour to long to me...

Pippapotomus · 11/01/2021 21:07

Live lessons are working fabulously for secondary dds. They are following their normal timetables, and both are up and dressed at normal time for form on Microsoft Teams. (during the first lockdown they were sleeping in late and working until the small hours.) They are both busy and doing lots of work.

DS is Yr 2, I'm collecting paper copies and we're picking what order and completing it at our own pace. There is a Google classroom updated each morning with tasks for that day. They are organised so that if you miss one you are then behind. Ie 'following on from yesterday's paragraph you wrote, write a letter to other character you only know if you read the page yesterday.'

Ohdoleavemealone · 11/01/2021 21:08

They have been great for my son. He is year 3 and the structure has been brilliant. Hard with my reception child though as they basically just have a chat with the kids for half an hour and then I have to do the teaching. It's fair enough, keeping them inline wouldn't work, but I also teach and me and DH are having to juggle it between us whereas last lockdown, I could fit it around commitments rather than having to monitor calls with her

hahaboink · 11/01/2021 21:11

My year 4 child has 3 short check in zooms a day and they are brilliant. At that age it’s not about the work as much as keeping a connection with friends and the school, and having a reason to do the work as they know someone cares. If we miss them because I’m on a work call, it’s fine, but I wouldn’t want them to be stopped because some people don’t like them!

Lougle · 11/01/2021 21:13

Live lessons working well for DDs 2&3.

DD1 goes to special school and they have sensibly decided to use a blend of live tutor time, remote online lesson content, and Zoom sessions for subject specific support. That allows for families to pace learning and get support as necessary.

WankPuffins · 11/01/2021 21:13

Absolute shit.

Year 2 Dd spends an hour sat in front of a maths lesson when she has done the work sheet in 5 mins.

Norwayreally · 11/01/2021 21:14

I’d love it if the teachers would just do live lessons most of the day and I could leave my DC to it in their bedrooms.

They record themselves talking over a PowerPoint sometimes or will record themselves talking while doing maths. It isn’t quite the same, I always need to help them in some way. They have a daily zoom session but it never lasts more than 20 mins and it’s basically just a catch up to say hi.

SimonJT · 11/01/2021 21:14

Ours are great, plus as they’re on teams if you miss one you can always watch it at another time.

MarshaBradyo · 11/01/2021 21:15

I’ve found it good here in secondary

Wouldn’t want them for primary

So it’s worked out well as the schools are doing this

MarshaBradyo · 11/01/2021 21:17

Although we haven’t experienced live in primary so it’s hard to know exactly what it would be like

snowliving · 11/01/2021 21:19

They have worked well for my dc, obviously not as good as normal but well.
They gave teacher and peer interaction possibles, use of chat rooms means group work is possible and as a parent I don't have to try and teach.

ScrapThatThen · 11/01/2021 21:19

I can visibly see the positive benefit on motivation and mood for dd in year 11 (last time although she did all the work, it really dragged, and she found the narrated PowerPoints really dragged and that she was 'doing the work' but not actually learning. This week she is bright, on top of things and motivated. I do think though that no more than 2-3 live lessons a day is needed, with some narrated presentations and some other learning methods mixed in. Thanks to the teachers 💐.

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