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Cerys Shanley , Head of Nursery , Dulwich College ( Singapore ) Kindergarten School ( DUCKS )
Whilst we as teachers in Singapore reflect upon the E-Learning of 2020 , our colleagues in the UK are currently experiencing it for the second time . Articles and opinions on social media forums differ between authorities and sectors , but the general consensus is one of solidarity . I myself have managed a wry smile at one or two funny anecdotes I have read and remember my own experience of Home Learning / E-Learning from last year .
As a teacher with more than 23 years in the education sector , I can honestly say that I had never experienced a time more nerve racking , thought provoking , vocation testing or hilariously emotional in all my career . As we left school that day back in March just before Easter , armed with a box of potential resources , little did we know the ups and downs of the journey that lay ahead . A journey that was not only professionally challenging but also personally .
Picture the scene . . . we are a ‘ normal ’ expat family : two adults , two children . What fun this will be ‘ working ’ from home together . It was agreed that ‘ due to safeguarding regulations ’ our youngest child would be in the living room , oldest child ( teenager ) would remain in bedroom and , with camera off , I would be in the spare room set up as a mini classroom . Visual aids were blue tacked to my cream-coloured walls , various soft toys were positioned around me on my sofa ( think Floella Benjamin Blue Peter , showing my age here ), iPad and laptop fully charged , alarm set for first session online and ZOOM I was ready to go .
Daily teaching Zoom classes were supported by teaching videos . Filmed in living rooms , on balconies and anywhere quiet really – not always possible . We fed back ‘ after school ’ in meetings with our Year Group comrades and ever supportive Leadership teams . We ironed out teething problems and planned our activities together . Ensuring that each child was given time to speak , should they wish to , was imperative . Every child had to have a voice – even though I chuckle remembering one parent who held up a piece of paper stating , “ please mute us , he won ’ t stop talking ”.
So , should the question arise would we want to do it all again ? Or , could we do it all again ? Of course we could and we would – we ’ re teachers .
EDUCATION & LEARNING :
HOW DO YOU TEACH THROUGH A PANDEMIC ?