School not using Video Conferencing but lashing out the homework

Teach30

maninasia wrote: »

Why are you a teacher if you are afraid of it interacting with students or working in a noisy environment?

When did I say I was afraid of noise?

I’ll interact in a professional manner not idle small talk.

The Bishop Basher

An Ri rua wrote: »

No they're not. Since when do employees have to do solo runs and figure things out? This is the remit of the Dept of Education. Catch yourself on.

We obviously have different approaches to our work.

When something new needs to be done In work I’ll go figure it out myself. I don’t wait for someone to tell me how to figure it out because I’d be waiting forever and besides, that kind of lazy approach would be frowned upon.

This thread is enlightening. I can see now why my daughters teachers have done so little in 4 weeks.

They’re worried about the dodgy wallpaper in their bedroom along with umpteen other lame excuses.

The Bishop Basher

Teach30 wrote: »

Overall I’d like to point out that while it may seem that a teacher is doing very little you have no idea what is going on in their lives.

Everyone has things going on in their lives. Teachers aren’t special.

Honestly your posts read like a catalogue of flimsy excuses as to why you won’t bend an inch to adapt to this situation.

You say you have no data left on your broken phone and a bad case of eye strain yet you can post away on boards no problem at all.

s1ippy

The Bishop Basher wrote: »

We obviously have different approaches to our work.

When something new needs to be done In work I’ll go figure it out myself. I don’t wait for someone to tell me how to figure it out because I’d be waiting forever and besides, that kind of lazy approach would be frowned upon.

This thread is enlightening. I can see now why my daughters teachers have done so little in 4 weeks.

They’re worried about the dodgy wallpaper in their bedroom along with umpteen other lame excuses.

It's not a competition for a gold star. You seem like you have some unbelievable chip on your shoulder and the way you attack another person, for taking time to reasonably explain why they would find it difficult to do the same things as you, shows a lack of empathy and understanding which are very bad characteristics in a teacher.

Our (special, primary) school has sent out an Internet safety policy which none of the parents have sent back signed which is why we can't proceed with video learning.

Also Zoom's security breaches are troubling (the GAA Club porn incident and several others, a Google away).

We send parents a list of recommended work each morning (handwriting, reading, grammar, tables, maths exercises, Arts Ed, SESE, PE), a mix of interactive and book work. Some of them will post photos of work on Google Classroom, which we correct and comment on.

Many of my colleagues live in apartments with others making noise/passing through, or don't have equipment/good Internet, so they aren't set up to do videos. I did a live video lesson early in the lockdown and this resulted in students overhearing the parents of one child screaming at each other in the background, so that had to be cancelled pretty early on.

Since management of our school brought in the policy document that needs signing, they tell me I can't upload recorded videos anymore as parents haven't agreed not to forward the videos. In fairness, even with the form signed, there's nothing to actually stop the kids taking videos of me and editing them or whatever. Although I would be surprised and probably impressed if they went to the bother.

sasta le

Coralcoras wrote: »

My husband is a teacher and currently working to upload work on google classroom using the family laptop. I absolutely oppose the notion of zoom. Where are me and my new baby going to go for the day? The bedroom? Ir should my husband present to his students from his bedroom???

Have ye only 2 rooms?

Guy:Incognito

s1ippy wrote: »

Also Zoom's security breaches are troubling (the GAA Club porn incident and several others, a Google away)..

You obviously didnt google it too far, or even read this thread. That issue, as has been explained, was because the idiots posted the link to the session on their public facebook and twitter feeds.

Guy:Incognito

Coralcoras wrote: »

My husband is a teacher and currently working to upload work on google classroom using the family laptop. I absolutely oppose the notion of zoom. Where are me and my new baby going to go for the day? The bedroom? Ir should my husband present to his students from his bedroom???

Why not? Is your bedroom wall papered in porn or something? It could be any wall in the house , how would anyone on the chat know the difference?

maninasia

Teach30 wrote: »

When did I say I was afraid of noise?

I’ll interact in a professional manner not idle small talk.

You said you couldn't work because your parents are noisy. Fact is everybody has to adjust right now. Better done than not done. You think the rest of us working from home have it any better ?
Students need to be in contact with teachers, they don't want their teachers hiding away behind email.

splinter65

AmberGold wrote: »

So far I’ve heard

1 An argument about not streaming a class from a bedroom.

2. Another who wants the school to opened to stream from there.

Let’s face it we all have access to a laptop with a mic and speakers and broadband, beginning to sound like Garda not wanting to adopt the Pulse system.

Enjoy your break as you send out one or two emails a week to your respective classes.

I don’t have access to that.

ILoveYourVibes

AmberGold wrote: »

I have three children under 12, none of their schools are taking the opportunity to avail of the latest technology to provide lessons.

Given WhatsApp, Teams and Zoom etc are free this is disappointing as all we seem to have is teachers flinging homework over the wall & lots of it at that.

I appreciate teachers have their own children to look after but an hour or two a day wouldn’t be too much to ask.

Is this unique to the schools my children attend or are our educators missing a trick, I’m thinking about contacting the principal of the school to voice my concern.

Same here only not school but a course I am doing.

Male senior infants teacher here. I have an eight week old and an 18 month old at home but I am still trying to keep the show on the road and the kids engaged. I mostly work very early in the morning, late at night or during nap time.

I use a system called Class Dojo to send out a PDF of their work for the week each Sunday night. I'm realistic and ask the parents to do what they can, and for the most part the parents are great and very engaged.

Then every morning I'll send out some resources and optional extra worksheets to complement the work. I'll also send out quizzes and fun tasks and challenges and ask the parents to send in pictures of the kids' work and activities and share them on the app so the kids can see each other at work. They send in pictures of their work and I'll give some feedback and encouragement. It helps to sustain the sense of being a class and there is lots of goodwill and great feedback.

As anyone who has ever taught young children will know, the thought of doing a live lesson on Zoom or Google classroom is just not feasible and would be a disaster. It would also not be fair on my wife to leave her alone with a tiny baby and a lively toddler.

Bashing teachers is a sport at this stage, but thinking that we should just be able to adapt and plough on as normal from home is wishful thinking. Teaching is not like working in an office or for a company. I've done both.

Teaching is immersive and tactile and in the younger years and to be honest at the moment what young children need mostly is a sense of engagement with school and their classmates, some sense of being together in this, more than live lessons or remote teaching. If teachers can provide support to parents and the children can continue to work in some way that is fun and engaging then that's as much as can be expected.

Black_Knight

TheValeyard wrote: »

What you mean by this?

What I mean is don't concede defeat without even trying to help students remotely first. Using red tape and lack of policy to not bother.

gnf_ireland

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Male senior infants teacher here. I have an eight week old and an 18 month old at home but I am still trying to keep the show on the road and the kids engaged. I mostly work very early in the morning, late at night or during nap time.

I use a system called Class Dojo to send out a PDF of their work for the week each Sunday night. I'm realistic and ask the parents to do what they can, and for the most part the parents are great and very engaged.

Then every morning I'll send out some resources and optional extra worksheets to complement the work. I'll also send out quizzes and fun tasks and challenges and ask the parents to send in pictures of the kids' work and activities and share them on the app so the kids can see each other at work. They send in pictures of their work and I'll give some feedback and encouragement. It helps to sustain the sense of being a class and there is lots of goodwill and great feedback.

As anyone who has ever taught young children will know, the thought of doing a live lesson on Zoom or Google classroom is just not feasible and would be a disaster. It would also not be fair on my wife to leave her alone with a tiny baby and a lively toddler.

Bashing teachers is a sport at this stage, but thinking that we should just be able to adapt and plough on as normal from home is wishful thinking. Teaching is not like working in an office or for a company. I've done both.

Teaching is immersive and tactile and in the younger years and to be honest at the moment what young children need mostly is a sense of engagement with school and their classmates, some sense of being together in this, more than live lessons or remote teaching. If teachers can provide support to parents and the children can continue to work in some way that is fun and engaging then that's as much as can be expected.

What happens in 3 weeks time if you have to go back to work ? Your wife is on her own then. Believe it or not, parents have challenges too and everyone has to get on with it

No one is bashing teachers who are trying their genuine best. People are rightly frustrated that some teachers feel that sending an email once a week and radio silence after that constitutes support or engagement with kids.


No one expects infants to be taught over zoom. No one is that silly. But as a suggestion, maybe have a zoom call (no video) with the class some day this week and sing a song or two and so whatever else is natural for the classroom. 15 minutes to show the kids you are still there and not something Mammy or Daddy reads from an email. Or maybe record a short 30 second message that mentions their name and how hard they are trying

Especially with infants - it’s not about the work, it’s about the engagement. Parents can access reading and writing material online. What they cannot replace is the relationship between the teacher and child. And in many cases, this is missing right now.

No one is saying teaching is like working in a company. But in these time’s everyone needs to adapt and everyone is understanding of those making an effort. I would happily take your level of engagement over my teachers single email a week and radio silence after that - funnily enough for senior infants as well.

The last line of that note this week said “an don’t forget RTE classroom is back from Monday” - despite the fact the content is not directed towards infant classes !!

Well done for trying, but remember there are those who are making no effort and that’s where people’s distraction is directed towards

gnf_ireland

gnf_ireland wrote: »

What happens in 3 weeks time if you have to go back to work ? Your wife is on her own then. Believe it or not, parents have challenges too and everyone has to get on with it

No one is bashing teachers who are trying their genuine best. People are rightly frustrated that some teachers feel that sending an email once a week and radio silence after that constitutes support or engagement with kids.


No one expects infants to be taught over zoom. No one is that silly. But as a suggestion, maybe have a zoom call (no video) with the class some day this week and sing a song or two and so whatever else is natural for the classroom. 15 minutes to show the kids you are still there and not something Mammy or Daddy reads from an email. Or maybe record a short 30 second message that mentions their name and how hard they are trying

Especially with infants - it’s not about the work, it’s about the engagement. Parents can access reading and writing material online. What they cannot replace is the relationship between the teacher and child. And in many cases, this is missing right now.

No one is saying teaching is like working in a company. But in these time’s everyone needs to adapt and everyone is understanding of those making an effort. I would happily take your level of engagement over my teachers single email a week and radio silence after that - funnily enough for senior infants as well.

The last line of that note this week said “an don’t forget RTE classroom is back from Monday” - despite the fact the content is not directed towards infant classes !!

Well done for trying, but remember there are those who are making no effort and that’s where people’s distraction is directed towards

If I go back to school, then my toddler will go back to the childminder and she will be on her own with the newborn.

And thanks for the suggestions on how to do my job! Let me know what you do and I'll give you a few suggestions on how you could improve your output! That's a joke but I think it cuts to the heart of the matter - nearly everyone thinks they know how to teach but only those who do know how different it is from the perceptions people have.

As for the messages, yes, I record myself doing the challenges I set them (build a fort, help out at home, PE, keep uppies) and put them up on Dojo with a few appearances from my toddler and the kids love to see it.

RobAMerc

teachers do massively important work and we as parents are very much indebted to them and the fantastic effort they put in. Remember even missing a week is detrimental to our children's lives and future prospects - thats why I think its fantastic that the teachers are considering canceling the summer holidays and bringing the children back to school for June, July and August in lieu of the time they are not teaching now. It truely shows how much they value themselves and their own work, and the sacrifice they are willing to make to make up for it.

gnf_ireland

[Deleted User] wrote: »

If I go back to school, then my toddler will go back to the childminder and she will be on her own with the newborn.

And thanks for the suggestions on how to do my job! Let me know what you do and I'll give you a few suggestions on how you could improve your output! That's a joke but I think it cuts to the heart of the matter - nearly everyone thinks they know how to teach but only those who do know how different it is from the perceptions people have.

As for the messages, yes, I record myself doing the challenges I set them (build a fort, help out at home, PE, keep uppies) and put them up on Dojo with a few appearances from my toddler and the kids love to see it.

No I don’t think that was a joke. But unlike my job, parents are the child’s primary educators and we are carrying the bulk of the load at the moment. These are unprecedented times and we all need to work together.

But teachers always seem to have a chip on their shoulder about feedback. It’s like no one knows anything about a child’s education but them and their way (despite every teacher being different) is the best. Every employee of every company has performance reviews each year and feedback is always provided and suggestions made about how things could be done differently. There is absolutely no need to be defensive when someone makes a suggestion.

But to be fair, you appear to be doing your best so well done for that. Compared to my senior infants teacher of a weekly email and that’s it - it’s a world apart.

My suggestion on recording came from the fact most senior infants cannot read fluently yet and therefore voice would make a massive difference to them. But hey, what do I know about my child !!

Wanderer78

RobAMerc wrote:

teachers do massively important work and we as parents are very much indebted to them and the fantastic effort they put in. Remember even missing a week is detrimental to our children's lives and future prospects - thats why I think its fantastic that the teachers are considering canceling the summer holidays and bringing the children back to school for June, July and August in lieu of the time they are not teaching now. It truely shows how much they value themselves and their own work, and the sacrifice they are willing to make to make up for it.

Our educational systems aren't that important, they actually do a very bad job of preparing kids for adulthood, and rote learning is a truly dreadful method of teaching as it only tests memory, only one aspect of intelligence and learning. We really need to stop harassing kids with all this homework nonsense, and teach them valuable life skills instead. I have great pity on exam kids this year, with even more stress on their shoulders with this whole leaving nonsense

completedit

Wanderer78 wrote: »

Our educational systems aren't that important, they actually do a very bad job of preparing kids for adulthood, and rote learning is a truly dreadful method of teaching as it only tests memory, only one aspect of intelligence and learning. We really need to stop harassing kids with all this homework nonsense, and teach them valuable life skills instead. I have great pity on exam kids this year, with even more stress on their shoulders with this whole leaving nonsense

Education is the sum of its parts. What are the life skills you want to give them? How to pay bills? How to buy a house? (I just always see these type or comments under Joe Rogan videos) Seems to completely miss the point. Education provides kids with skills that are hard to quantify because we take it as a given that they will have them. Our education system give kids the skills they need to have the best chance to survive in our environment.

The problem I have with the educational system but it's more how life is set up, is that we are meant to have stuff figured out far too soon.

Gooser14

niallo27 wrote:

Come on, this cannot be a valid reason. Even hotspotting on your phone in the back arse of no where would get you 5-6 Mbps.

Not all phone plans permit you to hotspot.

spurious

Ricky Wonderful Addict wrote: »

Yes that would be another good solution. They could align with the secondary schools to do the same (take May, June and July as summer holidays for secondary).

Mocks are held during normal school year and take the full exam format/set up, so no reason why leaving cert couldn't take place in August and everyone back to school come August as well, virus permitting of course. .

Who would examine the papers and what would their classes do during September while they do it? Examining is a full-time 3 week (7 days a week) job.

Wanderer78

completedit wrote:

Education is the sum of its parts. What are the life skills you want to give them? How to pay bills? How to buy a house? (I just always see these type or comments under Joe Rogan videos) Seems to completely miss the point. Education provides kids with skills that are hard to quantify because we take it as a given that they will have them. Our education system gives people the skills they need to have the best chance to survive in our environment.

You ll actually find very little of the information we are given in our educational systems is actually used in adulthood, our educational systems are just joint memory competitions, I'd completely agree with David mcwilliams here, they make a whole pile of people think they're really intelligent and another pile think they're really stupid. Our system needs a gigantic overhaul, but that may never happen. I'd prefer to see exercises in more team based activities and collaboration, not our current individualistic competition, prioritisation in wellbeing, both physically and mentally, and stop the damn homework, we re showing kids, if you don't bring your work home with you after school/work, you ll be a failure in life. Ffs, there kids, they only get one go at childhood.

noodler

Teach30 wrote: »

Right and have my mother roaring at me do I want my dinner/am I going to the shop now/will I answer the phone/what am I doing etc etc or their grandchildren running in on top of me - they have NO boundaries. I would actually be mortified for my students to see that living situation. I am not willing to risk it to be honest.

Overall I’d like to point out that while it may seem that a teacher is doing very little you have no idea what is going on in their lives.

I’m struggling as it is being at home caring for my elderly parents. The lack of contact with friends, the fact my wedding has been cancelled and I can’t see my fiance. My nerves are in shreds, I can’t sleep and I also have to worry about not getting in trouble for lack of internet access. When in reality I am trying my very best to stay on top of things but I feel like I’m sinking as I have no routine in my life.

Let me back in a classroom and I will gladly teach from there.

I'm sorry you are feeling that way.

However, what would you be doing if school was on? Would you be going? Or would you stay home to look after your elderly parents?


You have so many excuses in your posts and some of them are incredulous as excuses for not doing a bit of work with your atudents.

pwurple

The difficulty is the variance really. My own kids, the younger class the teacher is absolutely brilliant , she does a 15 minute video from her phone every day, reading a story, and asks the kids to do some phonics work. Find things in the house beginning with an S sound for example, and write them down. It's small, simple, the kids enjoy it and it keeps them in a little routine and maintains the teacher relationship.

My older daughter in 3rd class has had absolutely nothing from the same school. Zero emails, no work, no interaction. Just complete radio silence since March. Now, they have Aladdin, they have private FB groups, they have a school website. The PA bought ALL the teachers laptops last year.

I understand people have family commitments, may be looking after people, but even a note to say that would have been appreciated.
We are doing our own thing with her, in the absense of anything else. She practically drinks books, and we've set up a book swap on the street (yes they all get wiped down and stored for a few days in sealed boxes). Lots of time messing about outside. And we do some online stuff, not much. I've set her up with my own work laptop in the evening when I finish and she's doing a little online typing course. RTE and TG4 are on for an hour each day too.

But I know we are the exception in her class. Her friends parents send messages occasionally to a group whatsapp asking has anyone seen any work. People respond no, and talking about how it's a great break for them. When the schools go back, it will be messy to get them all back on track I'd say.

facehugger99

As a parent of 2 primary school children, the lack of effort from the teachers of either school has been disappointing but unsurprising.

While the rest of the workforce has had to get on with remote working and make the best of it, the teachers are using every excuse from lack of technology to GDPR - it would be laughable if it wasn't so serious.

Wanderer78

facehugger99 wrote:

While the rest of the workforce has had to get on with remote working and make the best of it, the teachers are using every excuse from lack of technology to GDPR - it would be laughable if it wasn't so serious.

I'd say there's plenty of trades people using their Internet devices to remote work alright!

Teach30

noodler wrote: »

I'm sorry you are feeling that way.

However, what would you be doing if school was on? Would you be going? Or would you stay home to look after your elderly parents?


You have so many excuses in your posts and some of them are incredulous as excuses for not doing a bit of work with your atudents.

No excuses just reality. If the school building was open I would gladly attend and use the facilities there. As is stands I have to assist in caring for the elderly, they think when I’m at home I will help them, going to shop etc they dont get this online learning.

We all have to adapt so why can’t students adapt to receiving work via email? Seeing me or hearing my voice is not going to motivate them any further. I would have no problem streaming my teaching from an appropriate location e.g a classroom but until then they too will have to adapt and cope like the rest of us.

Teach30

maninasia wrote: »

You said you couldn't work because your parents are noisy. Fact is everybody has to adjust right now. Better done than not done. You think the rest of us working from home have it any better ?
Students need to be in contact with teachers, they don't want their teachers hiding away behind email.

Yea I dont want my students knowing I live at home with my parents. The noise levels they create make it an unsuitable area for streaming from.

Just like us all the students will have to cope. Resilience is a key feature of wellbeing and this is a great time to work on that.

Nothing wrong with using email to assist in remote learning, they can ask their parents/guardians for help if they need to and I’m only an email away if they have questions.

Dravokivich

thomasdylan wrote: »

Why would it be a GDPR issue to use your own laptop?

Data accessible to and stored on the device. Would be a concern, regarding any potential exposure of the device. Especially a device that's not managed by the organisation. How many people here encrypt their Laptops Hard Drive?

noodler

Teach30 wrote: »

Yea I dont want my students knowing I live at home with my parents. The noise levels they create make it an unsuitable area for streaming from.

Just like us all the students will have to cope. Resilience is a key feature of wellbeing and this is a great time to work on that.

Nothing wrong with using email to assist in remote learning, they can ask their parents/guardians for help if they need to and I’m only an email away if they have questions.

It doesn't really sound like you are even trying to cope tbh.

I've no idea why you think a few minutes a day from a blank background in your bedroom will "give away" that you live at home.

Have you video called before? You know there is a mute mic option for when you aren't speaking?

Sorry kids, no lessons as teacher is a bit embarrassed about living from home... I wasn't aware employees had an option not to do their job out of perceived embarrassment.

gnf_ireland

Wanderer78 wrote: »

I'd say there's plenty of trades people using their Internet devices to remote work alright!

Would you believe my alarm technician posted me out a number of batteries and then rang me via FaceTime and talked me through each of the steps to check the alarm and worked out the batteries that were running low etc and I changed them myself.

Was it ideal - no ! Was it better than not having a working alarm - absolutely !!