Confirmation—all teaching will be in-person

[historyrocks]

My uni has decided that for this coming semester, all teaching activities will return to 100% in person, apart from classes with 40+ students. They have to wear masks and have 1m social distance. (Last semester it was 50/50 split between on campus and online)

This is in response to instructions from the Scottish government

I was really psyching myself up for more online teaching. I think I’m happy with being back in the classroom, although it can be challenging to do group work when they’re spread around the room.

Yes same here (in London)
Masks but I don't think social distancing

A bit worried about doing 3 hour lecture with a mask on, I don't find them uncomfortable but worried if students will understand me well enough

Yes, we did F2F teaching (ITT) all last year with social distancing. Designated separate seat/tables at 2m distance.

Group work as we would usually do it was impossible. Sharing resources impossible.

But paired talk was definitely possible. We designated a 'next to' and a 'diagonal' partner for each person, and they turned to talk to one person or the other to discuss. It only took a couple of sessions for them to be able to judge voice pitch and it certainly kept the discussions on topic.

By the summer term, we could do discussion in 3s with everyone able to hear in their triangle, and gave the option of being closer together in masks or going outside for more collaborative group work.

They managed the whole year like that, and wete so grateful to be able to meet in person regularly, so that remains our Plan B if we have to put extra measures in this year.

Currently, we have groups of four at each table with no distancing, but optional mask wearing or distancing for those who want it. Windows and door open. Heating on full blast...

@dreamingbohemian

Yes same here (in London) Masks but I don't think social distancing

A bit worried about doing 3 hour lecture with a mask on, I don't find them uncomfortable but worried if students will understand me well enough

I was told that we can remove masks when lecturing/speaking at the front of the room. That was permitted within the Scottish government’s rules. Not sure if this is also true elsewhere.

I'm in Italy and we've been doing in-person teaching all year - woth the option for some students to follow online (which I hate! I would rather do one or the other). We have to wear masks but can take it off if we're over 2 metres away from the nearest student.

I taught face to face all last term, and it was OK. I didn't catch the disease (major concern for me, as it's likely to make me quite ill). And the kids stayed in masks for all the seminars.

I reinforced my university's requirement that everyone wear masks, by reminding them that if I became ill, there'd be no-one to teach them. I think that was an incentive, and they were pretty responsible about testing and staying home if they had symptoms.

They were so pleased to be back in person that they were a delight to teach!