SGS On-Line – Again!

Posted on : January 13, 2021

The New Year sees a new Lockdown, and SGS returns to on-line teaching. One week into the new term and the school is in full swing albeit on-line. Many lessons were learned in the first Lockdown and the school moved quickly in September to make sure that it was well placed to respond to another Lockdown if the need arose. The preparation has paid off and now Sligo Grammar School teachers are conducting full classes and implementing the school timetable in “real time”. Many teachers are working from the school in a bid to maintain as much normality as possible both for themselves and their students. Classes are, in the main, being taught  “live” with teachers interacting fully with their pupils. “I’m teaching as I would in normal times, as far as possible” one of our science teachers says, “with science experiments being demonstrated live in front of the on-line students.” Other practical classes, such as Art continue to be taught, with students working at home under the supervision of their teacher. “I demonstrate and instruct in front of the camera and check the students work via Teams, giving immediate feedback and advice” says the Art Teacher. Our Special Needs Assistants are in school and in contact with their charges, making sure that everyone is coping with the demands of on-line learning. The office staff are also on hand to help with any queries. The school has provided visualisers and laptops to the teachers to help make on-line teaching as easy and efficient as possible. SGS has also loaned chrome books to any students who found it difficult to share home computers with their siblings. The aim of Sligo Grammar School is to keep teaching and learning as normal as possible, and so far, so good. Both students and teachers appreciate face-to-face teaching and the excellent attendance and engagement of the students is a testament to the success of this approach. Well done to all and hopefully it won’t be for long!