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.

Because some of the teachers at my DS school are too busy home schooling their own DC. That from a SLT friend.

northerner we have 70 PP students in our school. We were given 8 chromebooks.

I say 'given' : they have not arrived.

Why do these posts always ignore the state teachers who say they ARE doing video lessons (or voiced PowerPoints)? Different schools are doing different things. We can make guesses as to why your school are not doing them but they are just that, guesses. You'll need to speak to your school.

Yup! They also ignore the teachers who say not all private schools are grammar !

This really hacks me off. I can't understand why it can't be done.

I understand it's different if the school is in a very deprived area. But we aren't here. And most kids do have access to a laptop in ds2's class. Or if school needed to provide a laptop it would only be to a couple max.

There's just work set. It's babyish. No tests.
So no feedback on whether 1/2 the class are struggling with a topic, say algebra.

I've told teacher as much as well.

Was discussing with my friend have everyone we know is unimpressed as the quality of the teaching in all the local schools.

Even the mighty Lord Andrew (fuckwit arsehole) Adonis, after complaining that schools should use it was complaining that it didn't work in the House of Lords.

So if even this loud mouth prick has figured out that is doesn't work. Then I am sure that other people can figure out why it doesn't work for schools.

And that is without all of the legal problems that it brings.

@Piggywaspushed

Maybe my lack of understanding, I thought pupil premium was given to those who fell below certain income levels as they are deemed to be in poverty and was about £1500 per pupil a year. Is this money not awarded to the school as funding? If it is, surely this is a prime example of what the funding should be used for...If schools embrace some form of online learning?

I teach in an independent prep school - we’ve been doing live Zoom lessons for 5 weeks and continuing after half term. It’s working very well although I have to say it’s significantly more mentally tiring than normal teaching.
All our pupils have the necessary devices and most have good parental support, however. What suits one school won’t work well in another.

I did some online training as part of my professional development on how best to teach remotely. It was very clear that live lessons over video should only be used sparingly (if at all) partly got access reasons, but mostly because it isn't that effective. If you imagine a lesson in a classroom I might talk for 5 mins to explain something and then the rest of the lesson the students would be doing activities to support their learning whilst I circulated and helped those that needed it, you can't really do the circulating bit online. So instead we link to videos, set work for students to do and then give feedback on it online. This has the added bonus of students can access the work when the computer is free/WiFi is working/take a break when needed.

We are using Teams to do tutorials with Year 12. My first actual lesson was a distastr with swearing and stupid behaviour and I spend nearly 6 hours one day trying to call home to speak to their parents. We now have an airtight poilicy about online behaviour and the fact that I will call home the second they misbehave; these are A level science students. For Year 10 and lower; the parents do not want it. A lot of our students are currently caring for younger siblings and live teaching will not solve any problems for them and we are already poviding print outs for over 100 students per year group at the moment due to a lack of technology.

Just remember this means that students will be able to record us when we teach using this. Since September I know of 6 students in my own school suspended for inapproapriate use of images of staff, filming them or making photos and posting them online, altering what they are. Do you realise how exposing teaching with your face visible is? I really don't want to have to see a photoshop of a collegue giving a student a blowjob again.

@haverhill How would you respond to the reluctance of state school teachers to use such methods?

The Pupil Premium will most probably already have been spent. Many schools have distributed as much technology as they can afford and source. The government then announced then announced they would provide for PP year 10s except whoever is charge of procurement seems to have vastly underestimated what that would mean.
However, even those who don't meet that are struggling. Wi-Fi provision is quite poor in some parts of our catchment. We have year 12s who have missed lessons as they have run out of data and their broad band can't cope. This is one of many reasons I record my Teams sessions.

I would hazard a guess that the majority of secondary kids have some kind of smartphone or tablet. Even pre lockdown all of DCs homework was set via an online app I think this this the system for most secondary schools.

A good point but even with that, there will always be a huge chunk of pupils who use the school computer rooms to do their homework and revision, before school, lunch and after school plus attend homework support in computer rooms. I know because I have to staff them in my classroom every day and they are always full 3 x 30 PCs in a rooms worth) Sometimes, it isn’t as simple as just having a personal smartphone (and there are so many school children who don’t even have this surprisingly).

We have year 12s who have missed lessons as they have run out of data and their broad band can't cope.

Yes, we’ve even had a few Year 12s attend school under the vulnerable or keyworker criteria because they just couldn’t work at home for these reasons-obviously not for childcare reasons. This is why I’d advise contacting the school if you need extra support, no matter how old your child is.

Zoom champions:

What is wrong with the solution my school has come up with?

I think the number of those with the capacity to do some form of live online lessons would outnumber those who do not and perhaps they can be accommodated within the school. The majority should not miss out on learning for the reasons cited. If it's good enough for private schools it should be workable for state schools.

Even if a child has access to a device, we’re really struggling with bandwidth and Wi-fi speed.

Oblomov20, Who should underwrite any legal issues a teacher meets?

BackInTime
Why is Zoom better than the solution my school are using?

(50% don’t have a device/WiFi)

with 2 children doing schoolwork and 2 adults working from home

@haverhill Will your school protect you if your lessons are hacked? Are you personally liable?

BackInTime
Are you really so naive as to not believe there are MASSIVE differences in funding? State school teachers aren't even provided with laptops for them to use, let alone the kids.
And who is going to pay our legal protection?

Oh, am I repeating myself? No one has answered yet.

My y12 son at a state comp is having lessons via teams. The teacher is not on the screen, work is and the kids aren't visible either. All kids on mute unless they are asked a question or they want to ask a question. Two teachers on each lesson.
Seems very labour intensive for the teachers but works well.

Yes, we’re fully protected. Also, the Zoom security seems strong. All parents and kids have signed a contract for acceptable use which is pretty stern.

@CallmeAngelina

You are quite a negative person. Surely a legal waiver could be put in place exempting teachers from liability, as i assume it would not be them putting the images on screen and that by condition of entering the online learning parents are accepting that. I would be happy to do that for my 7 and 8 year olds.
I do think that schools would have to be harsh with any that dont comply, ie you don't get access to the online learning.