Why can't secondary schools do lessons via zoom?

[Dickorydockwhatthe]

I know not every child will have access to a computer or be able to log online but I'm surprised our school has not attempted it or even pre recorded lessons like the online oakwork academy. I know most private schools are setting up lessons via zoom. I really hope the government and schools take this into consideration for our children especially those coming up for GCSE's next year. It's just seems our children will be disadvantaged.

Our secondary is doing about 75% of lessons live via teams or pre recorded. State comprehensive but affluent catchment and vast majority (over 90%) of children have their own laptop and broadband.

Would that help though Chloe?? If you could knew in advance?? What I want to know is if my child prefers the science on oakwood because its a taught lesson then what his school has set would it disadvantage him to not do the set school work??

The unions seem to be using two arguments to avoid video lessons:

1. They are unsafe- I think the risks here are being overstated and private schools seem to be using the technology without any issues. Unis and college have also used similar technology for a long time without any issue.

1. Some DC don't have the technology- this is certainly true, but surely the unions should therefore be arguing for laptops etc to be handed out to these individuals. In any event, don't think it makes sense to deny all DC access because some don't have the facilities.

To sum up, I think the unions are unfortunately putting up barriers rather than suggesting solutions. I don't know how their twin positions that 1. There should be no return to school anytime soon AND 2. Online lessons should not be allowed can be sustainable.

OP, the reason why you are getting these responses is because there have been many threads on this-there is even one currently still going.

I suppose you might get a better debate if you could say what your DS is finding difficult currently? My DD is currently using Oak National Academy too and I am very happy with it.

Would that help though Chloe?? If you could knew in advance??
Maybe (as I said though, my subject isn’t covered) but I do know the teachers on ONA are doing this in their own time and I am not sure when they would be able to do that.

Hakefish, in the most deprived homes if you provide IT for students to use at home it disappears very quickly.

Do you have ANY idea how much money Oak had to secure to do that??

What I want to know is if my child prefers the science on oakwood because its a taught lesson then what his school has set would it disadvantage him to not do the set school work??

What I did was I emailed my DD’s teacher to say that I was finding ONA easier to do whilst I was working and was told that was fine.
I’d email your DS’s teacher to ask and check. It could well be that it is fine, just useful for teacher to know for when they get to see your DS again.

We would hate this. The only good thing about forced home schooling is being able to be flexible and not set to certain times. DD's school make a PowerPoint and then record a teacher giving a lesson to be watched alongside working through the PowerPoint. It's great and works brilliantly.

And the specialist IT support and equipment that was given to the I am teachers, too...

@IHeartKingThistle just seen your post. Thank you for doing it like this. It's working very well for dd.

Oak

The schools here in Edinburgh definitely said it was a safe guarding concern, this was several weeks into the school doing it. Pic or email attached.

For me it's not that it cant be done, I'm a secondary teacher and could do it. School dont require it but do encourage. It's just that it's not really always as good as people on these forums/similar try and make out. Theres a big storm about it and how any school not doing it isn't providing quality. However, I haven't found it that effective.

It's very distracting for students, they dont always focus as well, take up numbers are usually pretty low (which takes time away from supporting all students) and student internet connections can mean you're having to wait/repeat things several times. That assumes the school is also able to provide staff with good tech at the same time.

Sure worksheets and online platforms aren't always as fun/engaging for the students but, done consistently alongside email/similar communication with teachers they are more effective for most state secondaries in my opinion.

All school dependent of course, but realistically you cannot compare the facilties of parents/students (and school IT) from private with state counterparts.

Oh my goodness I'm asking a question is this not a group for discussion?? I've only used zoom during this with friends so apart from technical issues wasn't sure why it wouldn't work as I'm sure it's been explored as an option and decided not suitable and I'm asking why seeing as its the course universities will be taking. Some of his work has been uploaded on Teams and it was a nightmare to navigate so not a fan.
We've all had to addapt during this and I'm sure nothing is perfect. I'm a nursery teacher and have read stories pre recorded and short activities (was looking into other ways of teaching from home) I know it's not the same for secondary.

Zoom has pretty much become a catch-all term for video calls, like Skype used to be, but I think schools are now mostly using more secure options.

My oldest has lessons through Microsoft Teams. Pretty much never is his whole class there. It's usually 4-6 out of 10-16 kids. They're moving to less real time and more activities done out of class that they submit and then get feedback on. I prefer that as then I can read the feedback and use that information to help him which I can't do on anything that happens in his class with his headset on spending a lot of time dealing with tech issues. We're kinda video'ed out.

I'm not sure how we would manage if my older daughter also had lessons on at the same time, even worse if this is still going in September when my younger daughter becomes Y7 plus my using a laptop for work and teaching the youngest. Sure, they have access to a device, but we don't have 4, including 3 with webcams and mics or an internet that could take them all going at once. It gets cranky enough as it is during morning and evening peak.

My daughter's school has had no issues with my or other parents making substitutes most weeks. I've done it a lot though mostly with PSHCE/RE/similar that I don't think work well via PDF. It would be something to discuss directly with the school though.

I'm surprised we got to so late in the day before this was asked for the 75th time.

You must have realised that someone else would have asked this before and had it answered

I know of 3 schools that are doing a “normal” lesson timetable by Zoom.1 state secondary, 2 private - all of them require you to have a laptop/tablet when you join, and set work this way from Y6 or 7 upward. The state school provide the tablet when children start in Y7.

Safeguarding
Lots of children don't have the technology
Lots of children don't have wifi
Zoom isn't unhackable

Zoom has pretty much become a catch-all term for video calls, like Skype used to be

I think you’re right there! A bit like ‘Google this’

I think it would have a minimal impact on many children that age. It would be more like a lecture type of teaching surely - not particularly engaging for many that age. I don’t work in a secondary school but remember being in secondary school - quite a few people have seemingly forgotten. I was fairly academic, but I can imagine even I would switch off and start doodling if I wasn’t particularly interested in what was being offered on the zoom lecture or if I was struggling to understand the concept. About half the other kids I remember from school would be playing with their phones off camera and a fair few would walk off or never even have joined the virtual lesson in the first place.

Well said pink.

So, I will answer my own question and add a fact.

Oak got £3300k funding for their lessons form the DfE

The laptops for school initiatives awarded my 1800 pupil secondary with 8 laptops. We haven't received them yet.

Apologies , finger slipped £300k funding (and some sponsorship0

I hope to god someone will do a Zoom lesson Soon on How to search for topics on websites.