I was covering the math class at the continuation high school. (I know many people are already back in school. We are not. But, the continuation high school starts a month earlier than the rest of the district, so they are in school now.)
The majority of the math work is done on computer. The students can work at their own pace. It's a great system.
This one boy reminded me a lot of Snoop Dogg. So, when he raised his hand, I was expecting a whole different sort of encounter. But, he was having technical difficulties.
The program would not let him submit his test. It was done. But the button that would file the test and grade it wouldn't work.
Uh oh. My usual "fix" is to have the students reboot the computer. But rebooting the computer would erase the test.
We were out of my wheelhouse. Before I could panic too much, I got called over by other students. Everyone, apparently, was having internet issues. Well, that's a problem I can do something with. There's a tech guy on campus.
Unfortunately, he couldn't do anything to help. It turned out that the website (the ones that all the students needed to do the day's work) was down. (The tech guy had gotten a call from other classes that use the same program.)
There was a backup assignment in place, fortunately. But did anyone do it? Mostly, no. My Snoop Dogg clone? He totally would have done the backup assignment, but he had done it already.
On the bright side, the website was back up and running for the next class.
Bummer for those students. A down website wouldn't affect a textbook and paper.
ReplyDeleteSo was that class SOL or where they able to get their tests submitted eventually?
ReplyDeleteSOL. I have a feeling that whatever the boy had tried to do was a gonner. Ah well...
DeleteWe depend so much on the internet, don't we? Love when all sites work well, bummer (stealing Alex' word) when they don't.
ReplyDeletebetty
That is the problem with schools using technology! Teachers always need a paper backup assignment. I guess!!
ReplyDeleteYeah, well...
DeleteOh no. When a site goes down, it sucks.
ReplyDeleteEspecially when it's the site that everyone is using.
DeleteThat's when the old fashioned written test works wonders
ReplyDeleteIf only I had access to one...
DeleteTechnology is grand as long as it worked.
ReplyDeleteWe recently switched over to an entirely internet based system at work. Of course we had internet troubles shortly after the switch, and had an entire (very long) day of not being able to do ANYTHING.
Glad they got it back up and running quickly.
Because, of course, naturally, when you need the internet... That's like the day where the whole school was doing the annual state-mandated testing. That is internet based. And the internet went down...
DeleteThat sucks for them. They complete the test and can't even turn it in! And I guess looking like Snoop Dogg doesn't mean you act like Snoop Dogg :)
ReplyDeleteSchool here start the day after labor day.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on
So, we're not the only place in the country where school starts later! Seems like it's all back-to-school everywhere, while the schools around here (save the continuation high school) don't start for two more weeks.
DeleteI thought it was odd when my college had me doing math tests on the computer. All the previous math classes was paper for everything. That was only a few years ago lol Glad it was up and running for yall the next class :)
ReplyDeleteMore and more is done via computers nowadays.
DeleteBritish schools have six weeks off over the summer - a legacy of Victorian times when boys were needed to help with the harvest. Must admit I had to look up SOL to see what it meant! Now I'm going to use it all the time!
ReplyDeleteThat's Purrfect
If that had been me, I would've said too bad, not doing the assignment again and I would've taken my case as far as I could (like the kid with the backpacks, remember him?) because that's just not right. And I totally agree with Alex.
ReplyDeleteThat's too bad for the kids.
ReplyDeleteIt was.
DeleteAhhh technology. Gotta love it, right?
ReplyDelete