Singing on Hangouts
As coronavirus crisis develops, virtual classrooms become a way to provide education, support and fun for children. Some technology previously used mainly for communication is now going to be trialed for singing and drama.
Little Voices has been teaching children and young people in Stockport for six years. We are based currently at Stockport School Lile End Lane SK6 6BW. We are really supported there by the school staff especially Mrs Tankard the business manager and Mrs Stone the Head of Drama. Our new venue in Compstall/Marple Bridge area has had to be postponed for the time being due to the Covid-19 emergency. We will be letting Stockport parents know about this new venue as soon as the conditions allow. For our existing pupils, we are determined to continue as long as the school remains open, but we have contingency plans in place for if and when the decision is made to close the school. We have set up virtual classrooms so our pupils and parents can access the lessons online.
If children are going to be at home for extended periods, we believe it is important that some usual routine goes on…especially for those pupils whose exam has been postponed by the examining body. We are working with a platform called Google Hangouts which is used quite widely and successfully in Higher Education. It will be a challenge adapting it for singing and drama lessons but we are up for the challenge!
We plan for it to look just like a Little Voices Classroom, the usual teachers will be there and our pupils will behave as though they were at lessons. Our classes are very lively so we will have to try not to talk over each other any more than usual. I’m sure we will get used to this new form of communication. It may even prove useful for the future, when the coronavirus crisis is behind us. Our pupils could easily find themselves using virtual teaching and learning platforms as they grow older and technology advances, so why not start now?
Little Voices Is not just about acquiring skills and developing talents, however, it is about friendship and support, both of which will be needed as the weeks pass.
If anyone would like any information regarding our existing or new classes, please visit Little Voices or email susan@littlevoices.org.uk
