The extension of the national lockdown means that the start of term 2 for KZN schools has been interrupted.
And while the Department of Basic Education is putting forward proposals to cabinet to make up for this lost time, those who have the resources are attempting to continue with online teaching and learning.
For those of us who are new to the concept of online instruction, there is quite a lot to learn in a short space of time. But here is a look at what to expect:
Prioritising content
Online teaching and learning often takes a bit longer than in a traditional classroom setting, particularly in the early stages as everyone navigates the software and timetable. This generally means that teachers will prioritise the most important content for students rather than trying to cover everything at once.
Timetables
One of the major benefits of online teaching and learning is the flexibility of this format, but having some form of structured timetable is needed to ensure teachers are available for certain students at certain times. Relevant classroom material should be uploaded each day rather than overwhelming with bulk loads, giving students time to go over it and engage with the teacher on what is needed.
Online platforms
There are many free educational systems available which are easy to use and easy for students to access.
For resource sharing, Google Classroom seems to be the predominant platform locally, while teachers are able to engage with their students face-to-face through video conferencing apps.
Some of these are Zoom, Houseparty or Microsoft Teams. However, the vast accessibility of WhatsApp has seen it dominating as a means for communication, with teachers able to create classroom groups for discussion, share documents, videos and other resource material.
Communication is key
It’s easy to identify students who are battling to keep up or aren’t participating in class, but this can be a bit tougher with remote learning.
Teachers will need to ensure they are interacting with each student at some point, touching base to ensure they’re keeping up and are coping with this new platform.
Parental assistance
The role of parents in online teaching is possibly more prevalent than with the traditional school setting, as they are physically able to monitor the work being done, as well as whether their child is coping or not.
Parental influence will obviously decrease with the older children, and it’s important they mustn’t get too involved in the work being done – it’s for the child to complete, not the parents!
Take a break
Learning from home means there is a need to differentiate, where possible, the learning and recreational spaces.
This helps the student get into the right mental space for school work during school time and relaxation during breaks.
It’s important for children to get outside, wherever possible, and partake in physical activity. There is going to be a lot of screen time during this period, so frequent breaks are needed wherever possible.
