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Well, for John it's less of a chore because John doesn't have to write it.
With him having the difficulties that he does with his writing,
He doesn't come out...
He doesn't...
He can express himself without that physical element and without appearing different.
(Off screen) He's not worried about the homework, as such, because he doesn't have to worry about handwriting,
he doesn't have to worry about presentation?
Exactly!
Because it's on that medium, plus,
children of John's age are extremely adept at finding their way around websites so to them it's easy, it's something they are used to doing...
For him to get away from that 'paper thing' and that presentation thing and just let him present his knowledge
would be much easier for him
and I wouldn't be constantly at him...
His life's a misery!
'Watch your writing John, watch your writing' 'The lines are on the page for a reason'
'I can't read that number' You know what I mean because
it's quite hard to see, sometimes, if whether it's a 4 or a 9
and it would take that element away from it for him and probably build his confidence.
(Off screen) Do you think then that's also helped, for example, the comprehension in the news stories?
Oh absolutely!
He'll come down, sit at it and read it.
You know me, I'm normally with him when he does it but
I'll let him read it and I'll say 'What do you think that means?' and get him to think about what he's.., you know...
The fact that they're scrolling down and not turning the pages
particularly, for a child like John
it takes away...
because he's all this history of homework being really difficult and all the physical problems with it
it takes that all away.
(Off screen) Because it is a medium he can deal with now he approaches homework more positively?
Absolutely! It's not a case...
and he can fit it in.
It's something he can start and fit it into a 'nice' little time-slot in around the rest of his routine, as such, and what he has to do,
or things that he enjoys doing. And he enjoys doing that, so, it's not as if 'This is homework time, this is free time'
It is part of his 'free time.'
Because they are all online, and they can see each other online
It is partly like being in the classroom, but they're at home, and they know that they're not doing it on their own.
Sometimes, homework can be very isolating for children, where as, if they see everyone else contributing at the same time
Well, then, they know that everyone else is doing the same thing. They know that someone's not off having a great time while they're doing their homework!
(Agreeing) They're all in in it together!
(Off screen) That's the discussion boards. What did you think?
Well, I think (discussion)
It's a really good opportunity for them to discuss things that they, probably, normally
(Off screen) Don't? don't, or wouldn't think about.
I mean, they all, John would watch 'Newsround' and things like that
but, I'm sure he doesn't sit and talk to anyone else about it.
But the fact that they have to go through it and read it makes them think,
and actually, its quite good for them at that age to start thinking
outside of their little comfort zone, you know, and about the issues in the 'Big Wide World'
It has highlighted a lot of things for John that he would never have considered.
(Off screen) Have you seen John using any of the activities that I have set up in class, or that we've used in class?
...and when he can come home and he can look at it and he can correct his work.
That's a brilliant idea that he's able to, make mistakes and then it doesn't have to be presented and marked again
but then he can re-correct that, until he gets it right.
(Off screen) Has it reinforced what he has done in class? Oh, absolutely!
It gives us an opportunity to see...
A piece of homework is different.
A piece of homework is something you sit with them and you correct it as they go along.
But you can see them self-correct and that, in itself, is a great learning tool where they see where they've gone wrong.
When you have to correct something, it reinforces the whole learning experience.
It cements it in his mind, really.
(Off screen) What do you think about seeing, basically, what's going on in the classroom?
You're seeing more of the classroom now than you saw of it with Matthew, previously.
Exactly! You can see... when you have all those discussions, and things on what where they doing recently?
Oh, the whole idea of 'Should the rich...'
(Off screen) Oh, the wealth distribution through the tax system!
I loved that one! Get in there, get your own socialist ideas across!
But that gives parents a better oversight that it's not all about the teacher standing at the top of the classroom
and everybody's just sitting writing, you know what I mean?
It's a class effort, everyone joins in and you get them to think for themselves
you know, to take on...
John tends to take on other people's opinions, which I had to pull him back from to think 'Okay, but what about this?'
And present him with an idea. It gives us a reason to discuss things that you wouldn't normally.
Everyone's so busy but the fact that that is there and he has to do it
and gives us an excuse to discuss things what you probably wouldn't talk about either.
So it's really, great!
It's made a difference, particularly with a child like John with special needs who finds the physical element of writing homework down extremely difficult
It makes it fun. He doesn't have to write.
There's no pressure on him plus it's giving him an opportunity to improve his keyboard skills
and to improve how he can find his way around websites.
That fact that he can access resources online, too, is really good.
We know that he is accessing sites which are safe and,
that you have no fear of what he's going into.