A level results
- Thread starter fillyboy
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Shows that you can learn effectively remotely. The Open University has been doing this for years.
But there is a social divide, with independent schools performing much better, and children in poorer regions doing much worse.
For example , friends have kids in the local independent school - they never stopped learning. School was fully online within a few days of lockdown.
My kids had no school for months, with limited online lessons. And it was only in the last bubble closure a week before the end of term that the school were able to offer people laptops that needed them.
I spent over £1000 on computers and web cams to keep my kids in education, not many people can afford that though.
But there is a social divide, with independent schools performing much better, and children in poorer regions doing much worse.
For example , friends have kids in the local independent school - they never stopped learning. School was fully online within a few days of lockdown.
My kids had no school for months, with limited online lessons. And it was only in the last bubble closure a week before the end of term that the school were able to offer people laptops that needed them.
I spent over £1000 on computers and web cams to keep my kids in education, not many people can afford that though.
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At a a school I know none of the science GCSE or A level courses were completed. The teachers left out the hard bits. Not surprising they got good marks on what they covered. So however bright they are the students haven't completed the syllabus. Universities will find kids with differing gaps in their knowledge.
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I don't trust the results.
The kids have missed out on an awful lot school this year, the teachers and students kept spouting in the news how terrible it was missing so much school etc etc and how badly they have been affected etc etc
And then as if by magic the best ever results have come out of it. What a load of balls.
The teachers have once again chosen the grades and I suspect the requirements for each grade have been made easier to achieve.
The students have done very well considering what they e had to deal with so kudos to them for doing it,
However I am still cynical at the results.
The kids have missed out on an awful lot school this year, the teachers and students kept spouting in the news how terrible it was missing so much school etc etc and how badly they have been affected etc etc
And then as if by magic the best ever results have come out of it. What a load of balls.
The teachers have once again chosen the grades and I suspect the requirements for each grade have been made easier to achieve.
The students have done very well considering what they e had to deal with so kudos to them for doing it,
However I am still cynical at the results.
I concur.
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What is the alternative though?
Mark them all down, or tell them they can't have any grade at all? That will ruin all aspirations and chances in the future, and increase unemployment rates when kids can't get to uni. And the unis need UK kids there as EU ones are no longer applying.
Maybe the real problem is the old system of making people sit 20 hours of exams at then end of 2 years study in which they have to regurgitate everything they have crammed for.
There are better ways of learning. Both my wife and I did the Open University, and I continue to do some online learning now for work, and it is really effective. Some people, as in those academically driven who want good grades, do better with self study. I got into a bit of trouble at school as I bunked double geography at A level to go to the pub (mates didn't do geography, and it meant a 2 hour lunch break). After a few pints (head of 6th form collared me one afternoon!) I told the meteorology teacher that it was OK as I was learning more from the text books than the lessons - that didn't go down well! But it was true. The lessons were pointless for me, I already knew everything the teacher was teaching that day. I still managed to a good grade, and went on to study a Geography degree, so skipping lessons at A level really was not a problem.
Those kids with good grades now have them because they studied at home, did all the assessments, and worked hard. Those that did less well from the same social/economic demographic were likely playing on the xbox too much.
Mark them all down, or tell them they can't have any grade at all? That will ruin all aspirations and chances in the future, and increase unemployment rates when kids can't get to uni. And the unis need UK kids there as EU ones are no longer applying.
Maybe the real problem is the old system of making people sit 20 hours of exams at then end of 2 years study in which they have to regurgitate everything they have crammed for.
There are better ways of learning. Both my wife and I did the Open University, and I continue to do some online learning now for work, and it is really effective. Some people, as in those academically driven who want good grades, do better with self study. I got into a bit of trouble at school as I bunked double geography at A level to go to the pub (mates didn't do geography, and it meant a 2 hour lunch break). After a few pints (head of 6th form collared me one afternoon!) I told the meteorology teacher that it was OK as I was learning more from the text books than the lessons - that didn't go down well! But it was true. The lessons were pointless for me, I already knew everything the teacher was teaching that day. I still managed to a good grade, and went on to study a Geography degree, so skipping lessons at A level really was not a problem.
Those kids with good grades now have them because they studied at home, did all the assessments, and worked hard. Those that did less well from the same social/economic demographic were likely playing on the xbox too much.
i'm sceptical about the results that is all, had there been less people getting amazing out of this world grades than before the pandemic i would have found this more believable than magically after having missed a huge chunk of school everyone has got the best grades ever, it just doesn't make sense, especially when you give a pupil an opportunity to not learn they'll grab it with both hands, less so with A levels admittedly
all over the news the teachers and students have been saying how they have missed so much and they dont know how they are going to get the grades they require bla bla bla.
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But that is not true is it? The reports are on the improvements, but we are not talking about all the kids that have done worse. Those that have not got the grades they were aiming for, those are the ones we need to be talking about, and looking for ways to ensure we help them. But no, let's just bash the kids that worked their socks off to get a good grade.
We should all be proud of the massive effort the teachers have put in coping with pandemic rules and the effort school children and their parents have done.
I am sure pupils will have gaps in their learning, but they will catch up at Uni or at work.
i'm not bashing anyone,
you've taken that snippet out of context, i was figuratively speaking
i felt sorry for them, all the kids i know have really struggled and most just couldn't deal with the learning from home, this is why i am sceptical about the results that have been achieved.
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Well, you did say "when you give a pupil an opportunity to not learn they'll grab it with both hands" which sounded like you were suggesting they didn't do any work and were still awarded a good grade.
As said, the exam system is the problem. Assess kids throughout the year, and let teachers award the grades - they know what they are doing on the most part. Sometimes kids have a terrible exam after 2 years of excellent study - life happens, things get in the way. Why do we make them suffer because of one bad day? That is not really very fair.
As said, the exam system is the problem. Assess kids throughout the year, and let teachers award the grades - they know what they are doing on the most part. Sometimes kids have a terrible exam after 2 years of excellent study - life happens, things get in the way. Why do we make them suffer because of one bad day? That is not really very fair.
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Difficult one. On one hand the students have been expected to study on their own or via 'On-line' methods requiring access to Computers etc but then it does seem to be an expectation at schools and colleges as well to have a (laptop) computer of some form - which many teachers think means the latest Windoze device. If schools can get away from that mentality then things might be easier. There is lots of secondhand laptop machines around that are perfectly serviceable but just will not run the latest Windoze software yet will run open source office programs which produce windoze compatible output. Even a 'ChromeBook' works, but it's limitation is it needs a fast broadband connection to work.
So is the problem lack of BB connectivity? Lack of discipline? Lack of parental interest? To much football? Lack of (ICT) experience of school and education staff (teachers, governors, HMG) ?
Maybe a school supplied laptop which is 'Locked down' to only use the school network, even remotely, will help towards the answer.
So is the problem lack of BB connectivity? Lack of discipline? Lack of parental interest? To much football? Lack of (ICT) experience of school and education staff (teachers, governors, HMG) ?
Maybe a school supplied laptop which is 'Locked down' to only use the school network, even remotely, will help towards the answer.
For what it is worth
"A" level science education in the 1960's.....We were given in an depth knowledge of the basic rules of science together with training in to how apply those rules when solving complex problems. Today's curriculum seems to be primarily aimed at giving the answers to problems with the basic rules not being taught in sufficient depth.
Do we train students to pass A level exams or do we train them to solve problems. ?
"A" level science education in the 1960's.....We were given in an depth knowledge of the basic rules of science together with training in to how apply those rules when solving complex problems. Today's curriculum seems to be primarily aimed at giving the answers to problems with the basic rules not being taught in sufficient depth.
Do we train students to pass A level exams or do we train them to solve problems. ?
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