Please find attached a link to NLC’s digital offering to supplement that which is already on offer from individual schools.

Click Here: Digital Offering – Jan 2021

You will be aware from national media today that there have been significant access issues which have prevented users – pupils AND staff – from having access today to TEAMS.  This is something which has affected the whole of Scotland and is not a school or a local authority issue.  I appreciate how frustrating this has been for all of us, but it is something which is completely outwith our control.

A few things have arisen today as a result of parental enquiries, and I am happy to try and summarise these as FAQs as matters arise:

Attendance – all pupils are credited with attendance during this period of school closure.  Pupils do not have to log in to live classes over the course of the day to get their ‘attendance mark’.  As mentioned in Friday’s newsletter there will be many reasons why pupils cannot or do not come online at the same time as the scheduled class.  That is OK!

Engagement – we will be monitoring engagement of pupils (not necessarily at ‘live’ times) so that we can see whether or not pupils are able to access the work which is being set.  This engagement will be monitored through the insight facility within Teams and the school will contact families if it looks as if there could be an access problem.  Please be assured this is there to support families and to see if there is anything which we could do to ensure that we widen access to teaching materials in order to support as many young people as we can.  We understand that there can be many reasons why pupils cannot be online at any given time.

Live Lessons – this phrase does NOT necessarily mean that the teacher stands and delivers a lesson in front of the virtual class.  It can take many forms – preloaded video explanations or demonstrations; powerpoints with commentary etc.  The best summary of the different methods of presenting is that the teacher will be present in ‘real time’ – ie on the live chat – when the lesson is underway.  If a pupil is unable to attend at this time, he/she can email or leave a comment on the Teams chat which the teacher will respond to at a time when not involved in teaching other groups.

Password resets – the mailbox for password resets is monitored during working hours every day and all requests are answered.  If there is a problem with being missing from a class list then please contact the school and the request will be directed to the appropriate department. There is also a email form in the Remote Learning tab on the homepage where you can contact Faculty Heads.

It is understandable that as we face these new challenges, everyone just wants everything to fall into place and work.  Sadly the reality is the same as with the change to any new system – there will be teething problems along the way. It is important for all of us that compassion and kindness remains at the forefront of what we do – the situation we are currently in is unprecedented and is no one’s fault.  The gulf which remote learning creates makes it very difficult not to be hard on ourselves and each other that when things don’t work that it’s just not good enough.  The fact that we are trying to support each other is what makes us a tight knit community.  If technology gets in the way and is causing stress then walk away from the computer.  Tasks will still be there when the ICT highway can cope with the volume of users trying to access it.  Here’s hoping for a less technology stressful day tomorrow!