To think it’s unfair to stop access courses being in person

[Sevendaysaweek]

The local college near me has moved all online adult learning on to zoom. I’ve just seen on the community page.they are saying it’s an adult education due to government guidelines. Surely if that was the case university’s would have to close. As someone who’s done an access course they are very intensive and would be even harder not having teacher contact.

My Sewing class is going ahead so .....

I’m on an access course right now, it’s still in person and will be unless the college is forced to close. However it’s held at what is mostly a sixth form college which is obviously still open and I suppose that’s the difference.

My 16 year old dc started a full-time college course in September he's been on site twice the rest over teams. It's hard going and he hasn't made any friends, has very little support from staff (one 5 minute teams call 1:1) but he and friends on other courses have just got on with it it's not ideal.

The 16-18 year olds are still allowed on site just no adult education.

The vast majority of teaching for many university courses has been online since March, with the exception of some seminars and labs since September/October. I think the main reason they haven't closed universities is actually to avoid a mass travel of students across the country again, but they really aren't having a normal level of face to face teaching like you suggest.

I'm doing a HND in a manual therapy and we are only allowed in college for 3 hours a week, they have had to split the group into two as no more than 10 are allowed in the clinic at once. The rest of the course is teams lectures apart from the one where the lecturer is in college teaching the HNC groups so we are having to learn from powerpoints alone for that module! It's not the easiest way to learn at all!

I run and teach in a college department and all our learners are over 18. We are still teaching face to face and are all hoping that it continues.

I’m doing a work related uni course and because of COVID, 99% of it is now being done online. Not great, but better than having to defer for a year.

It’s up to that college. Adults should be capable of independent learning, so they’re prioritising safety while still able to meet the course needs.

Surely if that was the case university’s would have to close

Universities are online as much as possible. Why would that mean they have to close?

Just weeks ago people were screaming for higher education to move online. Seems they can’t win. As for universities, in my experience the majority is online with only things that are really necessary - ie lab work being done face to face.

Most uni courses are online too, it’s only ones with a practical element that aren’t (I.e nursing, engineering etc).

I’m an FE tutor although currently on mat leave. My college is primarily online too which sounds like a minefield but some of the staff are older and vulnerable so I think they’re glad about it.

Unless people have labs or experience, most unies are online.
Access are intelligent students getting their qualifications to go to uni, it wasn't that many hours at college anyway and most was self study. It's nlt like they have nothing. Zoom lessons are not perfect, but they can run well if people participate properly.

That’s not great. I did an access course and can’t imagine having to do it online, it was really intense (much more so than the subsequent degree I did), and being able to ask for clarification during lessons, have a chat with the teachers after class, face to face tutor sessions and peer support was all pretty vital IMO.

Also the drop out rate was pretty high, I can’t imagine not actually being able to go to college would help that.

I’m doing an access course and that’s still going ahead in person