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Original poster

Device for DC during home learning

40 replies

TwentinQuarantino · 08/01/2021 01:23

On Monday the school texted asking DC whether they have a device or not for doing remote learning. We replied that we do, dc1 has his ipad and dc2 can use the family laptop. Other than that DH has his ipad which he needs daily wfh. Wednesday the school announced from next week they will be starting live lessons on Microsoft teams instead of written work on the usual app. This has coincided with DC1's ipad not even turning on (checked the charger and it's not that), and the shared laptop's camera doesn't work. I rang school who said all the funded laptops have been allocated and there is nothing they can do now. We can't afford to buy new devices at the moment, I've put a message out to family and friends if anyone can lend us something for older child atleast (year 6). Not heard anything back yet. I guess everyone is in the same boat.

School should be able to do something to help the DC surely Sad I don't want them missing out on the live lessons as it's not a case of a week or two. It does seem like we will be home learning for a few months and they are already so behind.

OP posts:
herecomesthsun · 08/01/2021 19:34

We use chromebooks, they are much cheaper than other laptops and work fine for school.

BlackeyedSusan · 08/01/2021 20:25

Teams works on a smart phone. Dd is having to use mine as she doesn't have enough data.

Blubellsarebells · 08/01/2021 21:22

Im thinking of a chromebook.
Argos have them for 180-240 which seems reasonable although still a lot of money.
At the moment we are using a phone for home learning which is fine but means some of the lessons take much longer with copying things out.
Does anyone know anything about chromebooks?
We need PowerPoint and word.
Im not sure if they take screenshots but we could use the phone to send photos.

SillyUnMurphy · 08/01/2021 21:27

My nine year old has a proper laptop but my seven year old uses her Chromebook, which is really fast and responsive. The camera is good too. I think it was only £230 in Argos. The only thing it struggles with is printing but I do that from my laptop.
Don’t worry about a camera. Half the kids in my DCs classes have them turned off. As long as they can see the teacher and follow the lesson.

BBCK · 08/01/2021 21:27

Chrome books are great. They use Google docs and Slides instead of Word and PP but they are pretty much the same and all link perfectly with Google Classroom. You don’t have to pay for software either.

SillyUnMurphy · 08/01/2021 21:29

@Blubellsarebells

Im thinking of a chromebook. Argos have them for 180-240 which seems reasonable although still a lot of money. At the moment we are using a phone for home learning which is fine but means some of the lessons take much longer with copying things out. Does anyone know anything about chromebooks? We need PowerPoint and word. Im not sure if they take screenshots but we could use the phone to send photos.
Chrome books used Googledocs. Everything from Microsoft is readable on the screen but a PITA for printing things.
Phyz · 08/01/2021 21:31

Cameras not allowed on for most schools so unlikely to be a problem.

formerbabe · 08/01/2021 21:32

I've been looking at second hand/refurbished chrome books on ebay...less than £100 if you could stretch to that?

Blubellsarebells · 08/01/2021 21:37

Thank you, we wont be printing anything, we havent got a printer and wont be buying one.
Will look into it more at the end of the month, we are fine at the moment but I can imagine it getting tedious if this goes on until easter.
Ds is moving up to secondary in september so I guess he will need one then anyway.
Will powerpoints play on there?
We're not using google classrooms its mostly PowerPoint and worksheets via purple mash.

formerbabe · 08/01/2021 21:46

When my dc were sharing a laptop last lockdown, I gave one dc two days off in the week from work and they worked on the weekend days instead.

Original poster
TwentinQuarantino · 08/01/2021 23:51

Thank you for all the suggestions. I managed to get in touch with DC's teacher about the use of camera from next week. She replied that they will indeed expect students to turn them on when needed (and when a parent is in the room), but will make an exception for DC. So hopefully it shouldn't be a problem with him using the laptop now. Ipad isn't turning on despite DH trying alsorts.

I will look into an affordable chromebook for dc2, thank you.

@mookie81 they asked everyone before announcing the change in lessons. If I'd known I would surely have put DCs name down.

OP posts:
BadTattoosAndSmellLikeBooze · 09/01/2021 00:15

My daughters secondary have today emailed to say cameras must be turned off for safeguarding reasons.

quarks · 09/01/2021 00:18

no, the school can't provide a device, all their devices have been allocated. They can't magic one up.

No, you don't need a camera to participate in Teams meetings.

The best help for your child would be a few decent text books.

Ask the school if they can send some

ineedaholidaynow · 09/01/2021 00:27

Aren't the Government meant to be allocating more laptops (I know they never allocated all the ones they promised before but you never know). If your children are pupil premium they may be able to put in a new request.

Sorryusernamealreadyexists · 09/01/2021 08:24

We are using a laptop and a mobile phone. Less than ideal but in normal circumstances we don’t even use the laptop so not sure if it’s worth buying another. Also we would have to buy it on a credit card and we reeeeally don’t want to have to do that if we can help it

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