Why does online learning not work, the younger the child is, & less supported at home?

Teacher cannot

1. Check for understanding
2. Hold child to account.

Parent has to get child to focus, check the learning & do what the teacher normally does in the classroom 1/10 THREAD 👇🏼

It works well with highly motivated Sixth Formers.

They are mature and ambitious enough to make use of the teacher’s knowledge to further their own ambitions.

But even at Sixth Form it cannot work with kids who need teacher to do what teachers normally do! 2/10

What do teachers do in classrooms?

They don’t just lecture! Not if they are good teachers.

They constantly pepper questions to check for understanding.

They test knowledge retention to judge whether something needs reteaching.

This cannot be done on Zoom. 3/10

Why can’t it be done on Zoom?

Kids have answers in front of them. So teacher can’t test.

With a challenging intake, audio from kids undermines teacher’s authority and allows one child to derail entire lesson.

Kids turn off video and then disappear- not hearing a word! 4/10

Why do we think it can be done on Zoom?

1. We mistakenly think kids are like adults and can lead their own learning & behaviour. They can’t.

2. We imagine parents are able to support at home. Many cannot, won’t, do not know how

3. We want to believe there is a solution. 5/10