This is how the attempt at virtual teaching in Israel fails: Ineffective arrays and mismatches • Ministry of Education collected data showing that students do not use online means - but chose to turn a blind eye

• Distance Learning // Illustration photography: Gettyimages

Distance learning is resuming today with promises of a high standard curriculum - except that the Ministry of Education knows that failure is foreseeable. The reason: Students of all age groups hardly make use of computerized systems and school websites for learning purposes. The Ministry of Education knew the data it had collected - but preferred to close its eyes.

The matriculation exams will begin in about two months, and computer learning systems are already running marathons - making it difficult for many students. One of the reasons is probably that the students were not used to this kind of learning at all. 

Data collected from about 50,000 high school students show that only 28% used the school's website or computerized learning systems. During distance learning, students are also required to participate in discussion groups (forums), and according to the data, only 11.5% of high school students have done so. The Ministry of Education also knows that the key to success is practice, but only 43% of high school students say they solve math or English exercises using the computer.

This is an alarming figure given that this is all they have left until they are examined. According to the data, less than half of the students (46%) use technology for learning purposes. And what about the most important professions? Only 20% of high schoolers said they used a computer for maths lessons, only 34% for English and only 30% for language lessons. 

The data is based on questionnaires passed in January-March 2019 to 146,581 9th and 9th graders and 47,110 in 10th-11th grade - so they are all still students in the education system, which is why the education ministry is hard to shake off. 

Lior, a 10th grader at a high school in the Central District: "Everyone is talking about distance learning now, but in the routine and all the years I've spent in the education system, it's rare to find that they're trying to integrate technology. Grab the Ministry of Education unwilling, want the whole system to go from 0 to 100. Zoom learning is ineffective, it also seems very obvious to us that we are the Z generation that it will go smoothly, but the truth is that it's really hard. The students are difficult, not all teachers want and can teach remotely, some have difficulty adapting to the use of technology. " 

She says, unlike many other students, she has a personal computer: "It's a privilege I welcome, it doesn't have anyone and it increases the difficulty of learning. We students try to help each other, make friends and help learning." 

Sad condition in all layers

Even in lower grades, elementary and middle schools, students are not experienced enough in distance learning. According to the data, only 32% of middle school students use the school's website or computerized learning systems, and only 36% of elementary students. Only 15% of middle school students participate in school discussion groups on the school site or computer system - something they are now expected to do in distance learning, and only 27% of elementary students do. Overall, half of middle school students (50%) indicated that they do not use technology for learning, and only 57% of elementary students use technology for learning. 

Students are also not practiced in computer exercises (40% in elementary and 53% in middle schools do not solve exercises on study sites).

"Reality shows that what we warned about is happening. Students and teachers were not prepared for distance learning so it is not surprising that it has failed," says Galia Voloch, CEO of the Israel Children's Fund, adding: "However, it is clear that this is the future. Obviously, the matter must not be stopped. There is no choice but to go for wet practice. "

Ministry of Education: There is success

The Ministry of Education commented: "Tallis 2018 research has indicated that the education system in Israel is one of the world's largest leap in computer use. Distance learning in Israel is a success thanks to the ability of teaching staff to do it from the time they were closed."