Distance learning.

[ericmark]

I heard people so worried about schools being closed, I lived for 4½ years on the Falklands and nearly all primary school education was done with 2 meter ham radios, anywhere else in the world you had to take an exam, but in the Falklands they has a special 2 meter licence that licensed the radio not the person. Limited frequency 145.000 to 145.800 with two spot frequencies for one repeater, but no video just speech and it worked.

I accept exams are a little different, but again as an electrician I did my C&G 2382 using a computer, allowed the book, but limited time, so you could look up a % of questions but not all, OK maybe it needs the exam rewriting so it can be done on a PC, and maybe it needs doing in a larger room to keep spacing, but in my life there were very few exams which could not have been done on line, the main point was written with 100's of questions which were random asked, so even if you mate did the exam day before no good asking what the questions are.

Some exams do seem daft, I did an 'A' level in digital photography and had to print out the picture for the exam, why, it was digital photography, there was no need to print.

Yes as a dyslexic I did find distance learning hard, but my dad left school at 14, and had a 7 year apprenticeship, he was taught his trade far better hands on than me with 5 years, the whole idea is to be qualified by time your 21, so the longer people are at school the less specialised teaching they get.

So today to cram it all in with less time we have block release, we can still teach children just have to use different methods, including small local schools rather than large schools with buses bringing in children, be it the library building, the fitness centre or other building which is closed down, it would give those venues some income while they can't open as normal.

Let the teachers travel to the children rather than children to teacher, be it village hall or church there are loads of places children can be taught without gathering in huge numbers.

 

[charliegolf]

What went on on the Falklands, as well as the Oz outback, was/were culturally embedded. When a teaching student in 75, I recall being told that in the 60s, it was thought 'certain' that in short order, ALL learning would be machine based. It still isn't. It can be, but we're only talking about it due to covid. We could spend billions to ensure that we NEVER close a road or school due to snow. It's a cost benefit idea. And either needs to be developed if it's what you want. Until that decision is made, and the development done, you have to be reactive. That's where we are now. Your final point is interesting... PS the Labour Party is suggesting 'Nightingale Schools for that reason. I was head of a 200 pupil school with seven teachers. Seven age groups into seven locations, with seven age groups... Still interesting

 

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

The UK government should have spent the Xmas holidays sorting out distance learning, instead of wasting time getting schools geared up to do mass testing, then closed the schools after the first day.

 

[johnny2007]

Distance learning for children under 13/14 simply doesn't work.
Some conspiracy theorists are saying that the power to be don't like working class kids taking "their children's posts" in future because this is already a problem for them.
Poor kids in well deserved positions of power: outrageous!
So the theory is that rich kids have private tutors anyway and will continue becoming the best they can be and better (thanks to dad's friends).
Instead poor kids (and this includes working class, not just the poor who can't eat) will lose more and more of what should be "compulsory education" so to have no chance in future.
Crazy theory!

 

[ellal]

Distance learning can be done, but at what benefit?

Will we still be paying the same per pupil when there are empty schools?
Will university students still be paying the highest tuition fees in the world to empty universities?

And as has been said, the rich will always come out on top.
Tried buying a cheap laptop recently?
In short supply and prices on the up. And what if you can't afford the broadband, which is also on the up price wise.
And what about the space to set up an 'education room(s)' if you aren't lucky enough to have a large enough property that you own?
Plenty of people have been forced out of having that extra room by the bedroom tax!

But education aside, what sort of next generations would appear.
Starved of a shared experience, and their lives revolving around a screen.
No sports (unless you can avoid it privately), and no chance of those other important things in life like meeting friends face to face.

But you know what the worst bit is?

Not being able to challenge what you are being taught, and debate...

Individuality will be lost!

And in reference to the AI thread, how long before artificial 'teachers' will appear with a pre-approved 'curriculum' with no resort available to object to?

 

[ericmark]

Tried buying a cheap laptop recently?

As said on the Falklands it was voice only, no laptops, no cameras, and they taught with remote learning until age of 11.

Yes as you get to secondary school you need more equipment for some lessons. Even when I went to school there were special rooms for domestic science, science, woodwork, and metalwork, plus PT needed careful monitoring. So once into secondary school there will be a need for some face to face learning. One is hardly likely to have a lathe in the home, and even if you did, not safe to let kids loose on it.

But some work does not need the class room, and instead of a blanket return to school, or stay at home, a selective return for critical lessons which can't be remote taught seems better, be it telephone, radio or computer or even the postal service there are many ways to remote learn.

Yes I can see easy with a laptop with internet and a camera, but does not need to be done that way.

It seems school is being regarded as child care. And I can see how some parents need it, but child care does not need children taken by bus to large buildings where near impossible to have social distancing, community centres, churches, and many more building can be used to teach children or care for children without herding them like cattle on to the school bus.

Each child can end up in three social groups, the home, the bus, the class room, if you can remove or reduce size of the social groups that needs doing. And telling parents you must send your children to school or you will be fined, is wrong in this climate. Every child is different, it may be grand parents can look after children, but not if the children also go to school, and there is 10 days between any change.

 

[johnny2007]

a selective return for critical lessons which can't be remote taught seems better, be it telephone, radio or computer or even the postal service there are many ways to remote learn.

Wrong!
Remote learning does not work.
Seen with my own eyes.
These children are victims of the pandemic hysteria and have lost 12 months education.
No 2 ways about it.

children taken by bus to large buildings where near impossible to have social distancing,

Social...Distancing...
Listen to yourself!
What does that mean???
If you socialise you do not distance yourself from others.
Socialising is a human habit and NEED.
By physically distancing we are making ourselves non humans (or humans by genes and nothing else)
Social Distancing doesn't exist, it's some rubbish invented by people making money out of others' misery so to put a trendy label on a prohibition.

Each child can end up in three social groups, the home, the bus, the class room, if you can remove or reduce size of the social groups that needs doing.

Children must not isolate or reduce the number of people they see.
In fact, they must gather in very large groups to grow up properly.
Just look at the difference in behaviour between a single child and children from large families.
Now imagine if you totally isolated that poor child.
That's how you end up with social inept people.
Children who grew up in large groups, most of us here, are socially skilled and relationship experts.
If children nowadays don't go back to school and all other activities soon, we're going to have a generation of zombies with serious mental health and social problems.