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A thread on why I think kids are currently being ‘left behind’:
Disclaimer, the research is still being done. So it could be a while before we know the full effects. Also this isn’t the experience of every child. And I think disadvantaged kids are the worse off.
Disclaimer, the research is still being done. So it could be a while before we know the full effects. Also this isn’t the experience of every child. And I think disadvantaged kids are the worse off.
Zoom learning isn’t the same. No structure for many kids. Teachers can’t control the home environment like they can the classroom. So distractions, behaviour and ensuring kids are paying attention is even harder to do. Especially for younger children. That’s just in general.
You have kids with less than perfect home environments. It might be noisy, small, cramped, poor internet and poor resources.
It’s really hard to motivate kids online. You have kids that don’t love school, may not be too ‘bothered’ and you’re expecting to motivate them when they are at home? Left to their own devices some kids will switch off mentally and not engage fully.
Online it’s hard to see the kids who are falling through the cracks. That’s either academically or emotionally. These kids benefit from teacher support and contact that they are not getting. It’s not the same.
Some parents have the time, resources and knowledge to help their children. Others don’t. Some are working from home, or working else where and have never been expected to help their kids to this level with school work before. It’s difficult.
The level of online teaching isn’t the same everywhere. My brother has less ‘lessons’ than he does at school. Even if they have the same amount lots of kids benefitted from after school classes that are no longer there.
Currently, we don’t know how they will be assessed. It’s so hard to remain motivated when you don’t know the goal. Some have resigned that they won’t have exams so aren’t engaging fully. What if they have to sit assessed work?
Then obviously there’s the fact that we don’t know how they will be assessed. No exams seems fair because of lack of schooling but as last years cohort found out it might not be fair for everyone.
I also believe that GCSEs/ A levels preparation and exams can set you up for the next level of education. Content, academic techniques and time management etc etc that they aren’t getting. This could be a problem. It might not. We don’t know.
Then there’s the social interactions they are missing. The sport they’d partake in. After school clubs etc. Huge effect on mental health.
Also, extra curricular stuff such as summer schools are cancelled. Work experience also cancelled. All beneficial and CV building. I went on 3 summer schools which set me up for university. This isn’t happening.
I think, there’s no ‘catching up’ we can only mitigate the impact of how we assess them for their GCSEs/ A levels it needs to be fair and ensure that as much of their work as possible is used so there’s some basis for grades.
Online learning isn’t easy, it’s not the same for everyone, and school offers so much more.
