With the lockdown in full effect, schools fear their learners might be falling behind with the year’s syllabus.
To help mitigate the problem, most schools have opted for an online approach to learning, staying in regular contact with their learners and parents on the web, social media and cell phone services.
During the first week of the lockdown, many teachers started working out their online lesson plans for the coming weeks, while self-isolating at home. Some created slide shows, others made videos of themselves presenting a class and working through coursework, while plenty of resources were uploaded to various online platforms, or sent directly to their learners.
Laerskool Kenmare spokesperson, Iza Loubser explained that, “We worked out classes before the lockdown and placed it on the D6 Communicator for our learners, and added memos recently. The teachers also provide work on WhatsApp groups and we’ve joined Wolkskool, where learners can work through additional videos with worksheets and memos. It’s a lot of revision and repetition work, for example, of fractions in Mathematics. There are some assignments, like making a mask in Arts class.”
Hoërskool Noordheuwel has also taken to Wolkskool to keep their learners busy.
“The matrics in particular are registered on Wolkskool so they can continue with their work,” explained spokesperson Sonet Guy. “Then we have Moodle. It’s our own system on which all grades have received work with which they can continue. As we go along, the teachers continue to load work that the learners can and need to do onto Moodle.”
Sonet noted that Noordheuwel principal Dawie Kriel will implement additional plans after 16 April if the schools are not to reopen after lockdown has ended. They try to use all relevant social media at their disposal to provide help and additional learning opportunities to their learners. Even Noordheuwel’s theatre groups are working online, using Zoom video conferencing sessions to rehearse.
Quinton Botha from Laerskool Krugersdorp-Noord explained that, “We’ve asked parents to do revision of the first quarter’s work with the learners. The Grade 1s received exercises on the D6 Communicator, which parents can do with them. We’ve also shared various links on our Facebook page, for example to Wolkskool from Solidariteit, and the Department of Basic Education where learners and parents can find additional work.”
He added that once the lockdown is over, the school will announce their action plan to get their work up to date, lastly noting that, “The schools that give out formal work run the risk that the content will not be explained correctly or thoroughly enough”.
“While the education sector works to move in-classroom education into the virtual realm, Curro is well equipped in this department, with the group’s online learning approach stemming from years of development,” spokesperson Lara Rothwell noted on behalf of Curro Holdings.
“Many of Curro’s schools already have access to additional digital learning platforms, including Microsoft Office 365 Education, ITSI Pro, miEbooks and the Snapplify eReader. Teachers will therefore continue using these where applicable to maintain the usual routine with their learners.”
