A place for both
At Brookfield School, students used to spend most lessons listening to explanations. Teachers wanted to leave more time for discussion, so they recorded short videos for students to watch before class. Students could pause or replay a difficult section instead of trying to understand everything immediately.
The first week revealed an unexpected problem. Some students shared a single phone with their families, while others had unreliable internet. The school therefore opened its computer room after lessons and provided printed summaries. These changes made participation easier, although a summary could not replace every activity in a video.
In class, students worked together to solve problems connected to the videos. Teachers walked around, asked questions and offered support. A few students needed reminders to prepare, but many began asking more specific questions.
The school decided to continue the approach for another term. Its aim was not to replace teachers with screens. Instead, it hoped to use online materials for preparation and classroom time for meaningful interaction.