Schools across Ireland prepare for online learning in the event of closures due to coronavirus.
While rumours about schools shutting circulate on social media, the Department of Education has said it will act on Health Service Executive (HSE) advice for the coronavirus on when to close schools. In the meantime, it is business as usual at Coláiste Bríde in the Dublin suburb of Clondalkin, and at schools throughout the country.
In the background, schools are working on contingency plans should the public health advice regarding Covid-19 change, leading to the enforced closure of schools. In any such scenario, their focus will be to ensure students can continue to learn remotely, especially those preparing to sit state examinations.
Coláiste Bríde principal Marie-Therese Kilmartin points out many of the school's teachers already use Information and Communication Technology (ICT) remotely, so hopefully they will be prepared.
Coláiste Bríde uses the online platform Outlook 365/Microsoft Teams to keep teachers and students connected.
This kind of cloud-based teaching and learning may prove invaluable.
The school’s computer science teacher Sarah-Jayne Carey explains how the online learning platform works.
While Coláiste Bríde students are comfortable with the technology, some sixth-year students share their concerns about remote learning. Kailey Aston thinks science experiments and Home Economics practicals for the Leaving Certificate might be an issue in this environment.
Rosemary Belo thinks discipline could also be a concern,
We might be able to focus, but we’ll be more lazy to be honest though, because everyone won't want to get out of bed, to like, study.
Coláiste Bríde is in an area with good broadband provision. Remote learning will be far more challenging for students who live in parts of the country with poor or no broadband. There is also the issue of resources, not all students have a computer to work on at home.
The Department of Education has confirmed that staff will be paid if a school is obliged to close on HSE advice. As will any employee obliged to self-isolate because of Covid-19.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 9 March 2020. The reporter is Emma O’Kelly.
