Change to Virtual learning at school- is this happening elsewhere and how is it going?

[VirtualLearning]

DD’s school has quietly moved all learning to laptop work only , so they no longer use text books and write much less . They effectively spend much of the day on a screen. I thought it was Covid related but it is turning out to be permanent it seems.

Are there studies on this on teens? Many of us are bothered by the impact we are seeing on our DC who seem to struggle with it. Many have headaches and their learning seems less effective .

Please can I ask other schools’ perspective as we can’t be alone and how you find it?

I wonder what the recommended screen time is for say 14 year olds as google only tells me about recreational screen use.
I would much prefer them to go back to text books and writing for the majority of work Or strike a balance again as they seem weighed down by it all.

No idea I'm afraid, but I'd also be concerned about them losing the ability to write a decent essay/longer style exam question answer by hand. Most won't be able to use a laptop for exams, and writing long hand is a very different skill - the inability to edit, insert info that has been left out etc, not to mention the lack of speed due to lack of practise.

Yes - the handwriting skills for exams would concern me too.

My school is doing blended learning, so a mixture of laptop and book work. It's only been a few weeks so I think that catastophising that students won't be able to write essays or exam answers is a bit premature.

Also developing bad habits and not showing workings out in Maths.

Blended wouldn’t worry me if balanced well- I just don’t understand the advantage of moving to laptops full time. We had enough of that during the first lockdown when it had a great purpose, but no longer does.

I can't think of anywhere you would have to write an essay by hand anymore. It would be nice if exams could catch up.

@Hazelnutlatteplease

I can't think of anywhere you would have to write an essay by hand anymore. It would be nice if exams could catch up.

Exams probably are the only place that you do. Until schools can provide every entrant with the facilities to use a reliable computer for exams I can't see the system changing. Students are unlikely to be able to utilise their own tech as it would be too easy to cheat.

Until that time, students very much need the skill of writing by hand.

I’m less concerned by handwriting although that is one aspect. I more notice it affecting mental health and general health to shift entirely to a screen all day. We have enough of that in offices as adults imo and even then are free to get up and move about when need to

At our school it seems quite 50-50 at the moment but definitely been a shift to more online since lockdown. I think partly as they think schools may shut again or be part-time. Hopefully won't happen with a vaccine coming out but staff numbers are reducing everyday at ours with more and more staff off.

I think some of the new technology is good and its very useful for getting used to a workplace but my DS with SN hates it though maybe the change and he'll adapt in time. When I was on holiday a few years ago I spoke to an American who said oh look those kids have books how cute? And I asked her if they didn't have books and she said no it was all online.

This is what worries me, that is will become ‘normal’ and something to live with when the overwhelming feedback from the teens themselves is that they find it harder. I miss how lively and happy DD was and it seems her friends are similarly dragged down by the change in working