Zoom boon for Maccabi beginners

V LIKE MANY community organisations, Maccabi GB had to move its educational work online after the lockdown in March.

It created digital platforms for Steetwise, its popular guide to personal safety, and for Stand-Up, its anti-discrimination programme in general schools.

But by far the biggest take-up for its virtual programming has been for New Beginnings, the annual course for year-6 primary pupils about going to secondary school.

Some 600 children in around 15 schools joined New Beginnings sessions this year.

Maccabi also enlisted a number of older volunteers to make short videos offering tips on managing secondary school transition, dealing with topics such as travelling on public transport or organising homework.

There may be drawbacks in resorting to digital education and thus increasing the time children spent in front of screens — Maccabi’s coverage of online safety discusses issues such as how much screen time is too much.

But its head of education Nathan Servi has found “positive aspects”, particularly for some children.

“Zoom webinars have their challenges, but once the interactive

Video tips from Maccabi GB on how to prepare for secondary school

methods and creative tech have been introduced, this has led for far better listening skills and participation from young people,” he said.

“Introverts who would usually be very quiet in the class have thrived and — within the democratic online platform — feel comfortable to share far more.”

The online format has also benefited some who might struggle to concentrate all the time and potentially be disruptive in class. “They’ve been able to switch off the camera, run around the room, then come back and contribute really well,” he said.

Besides the typical questions primary children might have about moving

to a much larger school, this year they have faced an additional challenge: of starting a new school against the background of uncertainty over the past months.

But Mr Servi thinks they have largely taken it in their stride. “Year-6s have generally displayed the same concerns for their transition to secondary school than any other year,” he observed.

“Some ask about social distancing in their new schools, but that aside the concerns are always relating to new teachers, new surroundings, homework and exams. This leads us to believe that the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown has had a marginal influence on these young people.”