My uni has suspended face to face classes

[QuestionableMouse]

Just got the email telling me. Not sure when we can go back but all my classes are online for now.

I feel a bit sad to be honest.

So has mine, and my son’s.

Isn’t it all just awful?

I'm a lecturer and relieved that they've suspended face-to-face teaching. The teaching buildings are great big germ factories.

I'm frantically trying to work out how to use the software to teach online. It's difficult to see how it will work particularly well.

My son’s uni had planned to close this coming Friday due to virus in the local area And the general risk. Today they confirmed a case on campus and have now stopped all ‘in person‘ teaching.

He’s first year and 300 miles away, I’m just wanting to get him home now.

A truly awful situation.

@historyrocks I am in the same position...so much of what I teach is group work and discussion based, not sure how I will adapt.

We use canvas and it works okay for my course (English) but I have friends who are studying more practical based courses and I'm not sure how they're going to manage.

I’m a university admin and all classes have been cancelled here too. We’ve been getting emails every couple of days telling us that home working may be on the horizon.

The faculty management have been checking what IT provisions we all have/need to facilitate it so it’s probably going to happen in the near future.

@redeyetonowheregood I’ve come to the conclusion that collaborate on Blackboard is the best option. I’ve also been looking at Microsoft Teams, which may be better for things like meeting with dissertation students.

I’m still stuck as to how to replicate a seminar-type class, however. .

I was asking my DS (his University looks set to close) if people on campus will be expected to SI in their accomodation.
for the ones who are stuck away from home .

What about Students who work (often in zero hours contracts) to pay their way?
My DS works P/T but lives at home so if he needs to SI and not work he'll be ok (but will need to take pot luck with food)

Same for my DD1's uni. I think it's sensible. I also think BJ and his mob are still not taking this anything like seriously enough.

Mine has too. I find it really weird though as I’m a trainee teacher, so I’m not allowed into uni but I am allowed into school!

Mine hasn't. I'm at a university which specialises in the arts and I'm in the final year of a very practical course. No idea what's going to happen as nothing can be taught online and we all need to be using the facilities on campus.

My uni has forbidden students on campus but all our lectures are online. We have a great online platform and apart from being there in person I won't notice any difference.

@historyrocks

A lecturer colleague said he did three seminars today using a basic chat feature on Moodle and he was happy with how it went. Lots of engagement from the students.

Mine's announced finally after dragging their feet for days - I'm just relieved the prospect of having to go in on crammed public transport is over to be honest.

Now people are freaking out if our final instalment of this year's loans will be paid - if that isn't I'm financially buggered to be honest.

We’re on three weeks of study leave as of today and then online teaching after Easter. My course is mostly theory but there are a couple of modules that are going to be tricky to do online. The uni is staying open so hopefully we can at least access the library.

Mine has, I think my lectures will be video recordings which is kind of fine but I'll miss the interaction for sure. Especially as we're a small class and we can usually pop in and see lecturers if we have any questions or need help. I'm studying maths and it's surprisingly difficult to explain a problem via email!

I'm at drama school, and the director is refusing to close. He's asked us not to hug each other though, so, you know, we'll probably be fine.

Hi, We are moving this over to the Coronavirus topic area now.

Think we go to the same university as mine has just cancelled through canvas as well...

I'm a lecturer and I'm both over 60 and asthmatic. My worry has been that I would be in contact with a lot of students in their 20s I work in a very large building so more than just the students I teach personally who could well be infected so mildly that they don't realise.

Yes we can work online. I had a big Skype meeting today discussing converting exams into coursework and tutorials into self-study exercises. Not at all ideal but needs must.

I am fortunate that I will be paid for working from home, but I am part-time with a consultancy job that cannot be done remotely, so I will probably have to withdraw from that soon.

The speculation is that the university will close entirely by the end of the week, but how closed is closed is not yet clear (eg will the library stay open, will admin staff stay in). I was told by colleagues who had gone in that in any event students were voting with their feet and, although my particular students had a non-attendance day, there were very few to be seen around the building.

Our uni's been like a ghost town for a couple of weeks now - the strikes didn't help attendance. Think uni wanted to keep going and the students got a petition up and kicked up a stink about it - particularly the older students with family at more risk and they've had to cave in.

@historyrocks me too - senior management finally realised what was happening and I'm now scrabbling to learn new packages and figure out online options. Realistically the students and my group had started (a) going home and (b) putting stuff online anyway (because we are all a lot smarter than senior management- though admittedly that's a very low bar)

@Pentium85

Sunderland?

I feel like it's been coming for the last couple of weeks to be honest. I'm relieved in one sense because the atmosphere has been tense and worried for a while. ☹️

I'm just waiting to see what's going on with work.

@questionablemouse

Yes! Surprised it’s taken this long as Newcastle/Durham/Teeside/Northumbria have already shut.

Doubt they will have many people going in to use the library

I agree. Was hardly anyone in today.

One of my lecturers is off with flu like symptoms which is a bit worrying too ☹️