To think colleges should move to online learning

[foreverandalwaysme]

At least part time. I work in a college that covers an age range of 16-50+ however majority fall into the 16-20 bracket. Seeing the numbers rising in this age group coupled with the fact that colleges tend to not be the best places to try and enforce social distancing I feel that due to the age and the nature of the courses online learning should be pushed. For those courses with practical aspects I would propose a split timetable with all that can be delivered online is done that way and then only come in, in small groups to complete practical elements. For those courses e.g carpentry I would propose splitting down into smaller groups and running them on different days/half a day each.
I don't know about anyone else who works in a college but our students don't care, we have a masks on in communal areas policy but the cheek you get off of students if you ask them to put a mask on is ridiculous (we have a scheme for those who are exempt). It has got to the stage where myself and most of my colleagues are feeling unsafe and there really is no excuse. From this week all students are onsite full time, it's unacceptable! We already have schemes in place to provide students with laptops and an internet dongle if they do not have access to these things.
AIBU to say that where possible colleges should adopt online learning (apart from exceptions listed above)?

I'm in FE, due to staff shortages and using up every hour available in our practical room we can't split groups down. My group is double the size of our workroom so even without covid its crap. I don't feel safe, all rammed in like sardines with no windows for up to 6 hours at a time. But the college is so strapped for cash we can't refuse students despite the safety risk.

Plus most students in my are don't have access to ICT. I don't have a work laptop, I had to buy my own and pay for broadband during the lockdown to attempt access to students. No financial help from college, just expected. Now signed up for a 12 month contract I'm struggling to pay.

We’ve had a number of cases already since the beginning of term three weeks ago. It’s not a safe environment. We’re in a deprived area do online learning isn’t always practical. Our cleaning regime is dreadful and there are big groups of students, often unmasked who you have to make your way through. Have already had to self-isolate and am fully expecting to again at some point. I don’t feel at all safe. But it’s all about the money.

Bizarrely, most of the unis I work with have set up online learning for most courses - but are still encouraging students to physically be there.
Vested interest in charging full fees and income from student accommodation?
I think a lot of student accommodation has been outsourced, but no idea of the links between accommodation providers and unis, or whether contracts provide for minimum student numbers.

The unironic fact of promoting automisation while pretneding you will keep your job.

We are online only until at least January here, with practical courses getting limited face to face.