Whilst
it might have been low key fun for teachers and learners that schools closed
early due to Covid-19, which is no longer the case. Learners are worried about
their progress and teachers have also been concerned about their jobs and how
to go about it.This is the situation of those who at most cannot afford online learning.
Learner's feelings during Covid-19.
The most group of learners that is
worried during this time are the Grade 12’s.They are on the ending to the start
their lives out of high school but this pandemic has been a threat to their bright future. It hit when they were least prepared for distance learning.
In response to the question, a grade 12 learner said,
In response to the question, a grade 12 learner said,
It has been
challenging and a very confusing period of time. I have no other choice but to
study and learn on my own without the help that I am used to getting at school
which I now see that it made a difference. Having to go through all the books
of the 7 subjects that I do is not easy, especially with subject like Life
Sciences which I struggle with. I wish my school also communicated with us, or
at least helped us one way or another because right now, it is all quite.Studying on my own is what I have been able to do but not to the extent I am required to right now, I have had to change ways of studying, wonder if I would be able to follow my class timetable at home with all the things that happen , being sent to the shops and there is no way I can make myself invisible so that I can study in peace. The environment at school makes the difference, I miss my friends and even when we are at home, we can only meet to the very least.
I do watch TV for revision purposes and use applications of my phone which eases me. Online learning would be good very useful right now. I quite enjoy learning on my phone, but I need supplements. I need other ways of seeing the things I study , teachers made it easy and if online learning was possible, we would be taught whilst being at home, get tests to see how well we are doing but unfortunately not.It was going to make a difference if we also had teachers who contacted to help us even with Whatsapp, now the only thing we can do is try to study on our own and wait for communication from school.
I do watch TV for revision purposes and use applications of my phone which eases me. Online learning would be good very useful right now. I quite enjoy learning on my phone, but I need supplements. I need other ways of seeing the things I study , teachers made it easy and if online learning was possible, we would be taught whilst being at home, get tests to see how well we are doing but unfortunately not.It was going to make a difference if we also had teachers who contacted to help us even with Whatsapp, now the only thing we can do is try to study on our own and wait for communication from school.
Teacher's feelings during Covid-19.
The space of teaching and
learning and the relationships teachers have with their jobs and their learners
has never been tested like this. There has never been a time where teachers had
options of how they could reach children at home and now that the time has
come, it is very unfortunate to those who find themselves in less resourceful
schools making it a challenge or almost an impossible thing to do.
When two teachers who fall under quantile 1-3 were asked " How has the time of Covid-19 been for you and what are your thoughts on online teaching and learning?" they answered,
One said at first I thought that this was going to be an opportunity to reflect on my work since I have a lot of grades that I teach and with the recent changes and the latest developments, I am not ready to go to work, that is risky especially in my school, I cannot put my health in a department that has not put learning first. I am ready for work but not under these current circumstances.If we went back to school, it would be disastrous.
When two teachers who fall under quantile 1-3 were asked " How has the time of Covid-19 been for you and what are your thoughts on online teaching and learning?" they answered,
One said at first I thought that this was going to be an opportunity to reflect on my work since I have a lot of grades that I teach and with the recent changes and the latest developments, I am not ready to go to work, that is risky especially in my school, I cannot put my health in a department that has not put learning first. I am ready for work but not under these current circumstances.If we went back to school, it would be disastrous.
A teacher noted, I am worried about my learners, knowing their background and how online learning needs home support, I doubt they will be able to do much of learning. This bothers to a degree because when we go back to work, a lot might have to be done during the time period that we will be open for hence I vouch for online learning.Things will get better and clear about it, even in schools that are no pro at online learning now. The teacher said that we live in a digitized world and we cannot let our situation hinder us from connecting with other people. The online world has proven to be practical, people do concerts, government officials address nations online using social platforms and so it would be good to use the same technology for teaching and learning as long as there is support in our schools and from the government. This teacher agrees with the saying below by Donna J. Abernathy.
Online learning is not the next big thing, it is now the big thing.
Both teachers are from different schools in the same area and this has
led to them working together in sharing resources that make teaching better.
They are recent graduates teaching different subjects and I feel that their age
influences how they view online learning because they see the technology that
comes with online teaching and learning not that complicated. It is simple and “not
so technologically advanced” teachers would be able to grasp how they are used,
according to them. These teachers being recent graduates and being technophobes
at the same time, are not blind to the technology divide that exists
between the government schools and private school.
South Africa as stated to be a “digital unequal society” in this article, has led to a lot of
alternatives that I have also taken part in including google initiatives to
make teachers of the digital era. The two teachers welcome the ideas and
suggestions in the pinned article above, it makes it possible for them to
introduce online learning to their learners, it might not be with teaching
their subjects but using current means to accesses what is possible whilst
taking note of the financial burden an online learning platform can be to
learners and their parents, most saddening reality when they cannot afford it.
These teachers appreciate the means that parties are contributing
towards closing the tech skills gap and growing online learning, getting used
to learning online and not just be on line for Tik Tok and snap chat.
My opinion on what the learner shared is that the depth and the extent of online learning depends on the interests of the teacher. I stand to be corrected that any teacher who cares to the very least about learning during this time is reaching out to his/her learners.
This period has not been easy on anyone, people of all sectors have been affected and in as much as we can adapt, we should keep on reaching our pockets of faith to remind us that we will come out strong and better than we were before.
My opinion on what the learner shared is that the depth and the extent of online learning depends on the interests of the teacher. I stand to be corrected that any teacher who cares to the very least about learning during this time is reaching out to his/her learners.
This period has not been easy on anyone, people of all sectors have been affected and in as much as we can adapt, we should keep on reaching our pockets of faith to remind us that we will come out strong and better than we were before.
