Hua Hin Forum

Schools will be closed from Friday for 'most'.

HHTel wrote: ↑Thu Mar 19, 2020 1:04 am Schools will be closed from Friday for 'most'.

Yes, I've just seen that - not much clarity though.

He went on to say that children of 'key workers' would still go to school.
That means children of emergency services, firemen, health workers etc. So still quite a few schoolers being taught.

As I understand it, they will stay open to the children of key workers, e.g. NHS staff.

Great minds thinking alike and at the same time DM!!!

dtaai-maai wrote: ↑Thu Mar 19, 2020 1:39 am As I understand it, they will stay open to the children of key workers, e.g. NHS staff.

HHTel wrote: ↑Thu Mar 19, 2020 1:38 am He went on to say that children of 'key workers' would still go to school.
That means children of emergency services, firemen, health workers etc. So still quite a few schoolers being taught.

Thanks both

Here's the story link for all the above about UK school closures:

https://www.bbc.com/news/education-51643556

HHTel wrote: ↑Thu Mar 19, 2020 1:40 am Great minds thinking alike

Ah well, I suppose it was always unlikely that I'd be the only one on the forum...

Breaking News on Sky saying no Exams in this Academic Year.

Already said by Boris last night and posted by PeteC in the wee hours.

Oh do keep up BB.

I sleep at night Strange it was Breaking News though.

Sky is not always bang up to date. I've noticed that lots of media outlets report 'Breaking' even when it's not. I'm sure it's to catch your attention and improve their viewing/readership figures.

Schools won't reopen until July 1
The cabinet on Tuesday approved an Education Ministry proposal to postpone the reopening of all schools for the new semester from May 16 until July 1, as a measure to control Covid-19.

Government spokeswoman Narumon Pinyosinwat announced the decision.

She said the ministry will change learning methods to suit the curriculum at all levels for the 2020 school year.

Speaking after the cabinet meeting, Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan said classes would be moved online. The ministry would prepare both teachers and students for online classes, and take into consideration the capabilities and differences of each location.

“We have to admit that online learning cannot replace classroom learning, but it’s the best learning method in the current situation.


https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... til-july-1

I've now been teaching online for three weeks. It's not actually that bad but the working days are very long. So much more to prepare and to check afterwards than in normal teaching. For the first 2,5 weeks I did 12 hour days, this week Monday and Tuesday only 11 + Sundays as well. We start today our mini-Easter holidays (5 days off) so I just finished 13.30 after starting at 8.00.

It's worked surprisingly well considering we were given 12 hours to prepare for online teaching. For me with 14 different groups, from 1st graders to 7th graders, one big task has been to get them into one single place so that I can teach them live lessons. This has been achieved with some groups this week, even some 1st graders came to chat with me today but unless they are all or at least most of them online at the same time, which they should, it's not going to be very efficient.

Some parents cannot also understand that I cannot give personal training to their kids as they are asking me if the kids could come online some other time than when their class takes place. That's impossible as I teach other classes then. One mother even got upset with me when I said that her kids should be online at the same time as others. They couldn't finish their tasks because of this and of course, it was then my fault.

Anyway, it's been a good experience and I've learnt new things myself as well. Online teaching here in Finland will go on at least until 14th May but I expect with only two weeks left before summer vacation after that, we won't return to school before August when the next school year starts.

Interesting observations, I guess more teachers will be going online now.

Here is a BBC article outlining the complexities of it: https://www.bbc.com/news/education-52151411

With schools in Thailand offering no such materials, advice or anything constructive and remaining closed now until July, parents here have the same predicament. Our two will be stuck at home for another three months by which time the Xbox will have exploded ... along with my brain.

Here may be a good place to share online resources and educational materials for parents that now have to become full time teachers!