Road to 5**：Inadequate equipment for online learning
【明報專訊】Amid the pandemic, classes have been suspended for a long time, and online learning has become the norm. However, people living in subdivided flats are struggling to obtain the computer equipment needed for learning on the Internet, and even have to skimp on their internet data plans. Children's learning has been affected.
◆News summary
Ms Choi, who is not fluent in English, lives in a subdivided flat that measures around 100 square feet in Sham Shui Po together with her children who are both in Primary one. She had to borrow computers and data cards from the Society for Community Organization for online learning. However, as her children have four lessons every week, the data plans are insufficient.
Ms Choi says that her children are prone to distraction and are often late in submitting their English homework. Her daughter says that it is difficult to concentrate at home, and her plastic stools and tables are uncomfortable. Furthermore, there is not a teacher to maintain order. Ms Choi says that she received notification from the school in October 2020 that she could purchase mobile computer equipment sponsored by the Community Care Fund through the school. Though she signed the notice in December, she has yet to receive the equipment, and can only keep waiting.
The Education Bureau has responded by saying that it understands the huge demand for mobile computer devices in the market this school year, and it may take a long time for suppliers to deliver their products. The bureau has reminded schools to purchase such equipment as soon as possible or to lend their mobile computer devices to students.
Source: Ming Pao, 15 February 2021
■Mock examination question
Explain the challenges faced by different stakeholders in online learning.
-Students should explain the challenges encountered by different stakeholders rather than point out the difficulties of online learning merely.
Suggested points
•Parents: increased economic pressure
When switching to online learning, parents face increased financial pressure. Online learning increases family expenses. A social welfare agency says that although the Community Care Fund supports primary school children, the amount is not enough for buying a computer, and the balance has to be covered by parents. Many parents are also powerless. This shows that online learning has increased family financial pressure.
•Students: the effectiveness of learning affected
Students' learning effectiveness is affected by online learning. For example, students are easily distracted during online lessons, meaning that e-teaching will reduce the learning effectiveness. Furthermore, in e-teaching, parents must help their children catch up with others. This means that e-teaching requires students to spend more time preparing lessons at home. However, as students' daily homework workload is already heavy, e-teaching may increase their learning pressure and affect their learning effectiveness.
Translated by Odyssey Lang
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