Schools EXPECT kids to own a computer and access the internet.

advent1122

I am bored so I have just thought up this rant which has been bugging me.
The secondary school my kids go to set the children maths homework. Nothing wrong with that you may say.
Well, they have to access it from the internet and also submit it back to the school via this learning website.
It is just adding an extra element for no reason and we all know how sidetracked the kiddies get when they say "I have to go on the internet to do my homework", within 5 minutes facebook appears rather than algebra.
What is wrong with a piece of paper with questions on?.
How do parents without internet access manage.
I await the answer "Send him to the library to access the internet". grrrrr
He spends enough time faffing about on the computer without the school demanding that homework is completed online too.

Thank you for listening and I look forward to any questions you may have.
(C) Dragon's Den.

SarahMoon

Block facebook and other websites when it is homework time, this can be achieved by downloading a free website blocker such as http://download.cnet.com/Parental-Lock-Guard/3000-27064_4-10388169.html

I agree, Whats wrong with a maths book, work book and a calculator for some maths? I admit I can see it from the schools point of view, It means the homework is submitted on time (Hopefully) and the chanses of copying goes down, Other than that the old fashion way worked for us and will work for them!

Alias_Omega

Facebook etc can be blocked at the router if you use wireless. Therefore anyone wanting to use it will be forbidden.

Help on this can be found in the techie part of the forum.

dmg24

SarahMoon wrote: »

Block facebook and other websites when it is homework time, this can be achieved by downloading a free website blocker such as http://download.cnet.com/Parental-Lock-Guard/3000-27064_4-10388169.html

I agree, Whats wrong with a maths book, work book and a calculator for some maths? I admit I can see it from the schools point of view, It means the homework is submitted on time (Hopefully) and the chanses of copying goes down, Other than that the old fashion way worked for us and will work for them!

The simple answer is cost. It is much cheaper for children to work from a website than to be provided with text books, workbooks etc (which can all be lost). Also, try telling teacher that the dog ate your online work!

If a child does not have a computer (which clearly is not the issue here), the school will make provision for them to have access after school.

SarahMoon

How can you do Maths online? If you need to show working etc? its stupid!

I remember my uni made you submit online it was always down the system and then deducted points from you!

daska

We didn't have internet for quite a while because I couldn't afford a phone line but my stepdaughter kept saying that she had to use the internet for her homework. Strangely the requirement for homework to be completed over the internet disappeared after I threatened to complain to the school about them setting homework that I couldn't afford to allow her to do. It turned out that she was supposed to use study time at school to do the work.

dmg24

SarahMoon wrote: »

How can you do Maths online? If you need to show working etc? its stupid!

I remember my uni made you submit online it was always down the system and then deducted points from you!

Some of the programs they use now are pretty amazing! You have access to all the required notation, so no problems with showing working. However, where a textbook really cannot compete with a computer is in graphical work and decision maths. It is well worth having a look if your child has access to these programs.

(I tutor GCSE students.)

LemonGrove

Send him to the library to access the internet. What's the problem with doing that? You complain about people answering with it but don't explain why.

rygon

Wish I had to do GCSE maths online. All you need to do is type in the question in http://quickmath.com then cut and paste the answer.

marleyboy

Its a valid argument, not every parent should be expected to have an internet. Nor even a computer. Indeed it's fair to say that just as the Schools provide the means for homework (via text books or Math's books), if it is a requirement, then they should provide the Computer and internet.

Saying this, I do have a friend who's daughter was provided with a school laptop to perform her work (albeit no internet), her parents DO have internet, so it was not so much a problem.

As for Libraries, I am not sure "homework" can be done in a Library after hours, as libraries tend to close by 5pm. I am also not sure it is a safe method to send a child out to a library on their own, or expect that the computers in a Library are not already in use.

Homework, should be just that, work they do at home. Where parents are free to help them if they struggle. Study time, is done during school hours, maybe an after hours would make it more viable. But I really don't think a school should "expect" that a child has internet access at home.

Becles

My son gets home work on internet sites and is given CD-ROMS with stuff on. The computer is in the dining room with the screen in view of the door, so he's sort of supervised as we can keep checking what is on the screen when we walk past the door.

Could you move the PC to a more busy room of the house where you can keep an eye and make sure they don't load up Facebook etc?