Return to university

[SouthCoastShell]

I've just watched all of Boris's announcement and he doesn't mention when students can return to university. Does anyone know when students are allowed to return?

@DelBocaVista

Couldn't live lectures to a smaller cohort be streamed to the rest?

How would that be fair? We have to offer all students the same otherwise they would (rightly) complain.

We are planning. As I've already mentioned I have three different versions of my timetabled planned. Which one gets delivered is out of my hands.
We are still waiting for the government to tell us what we can do. We are frustrated by the situation too!

I meant so that those who preferred online could opt for it, and those who wanted live teaching would take turns so the lecture hall/seminar class isn't crowded. Better than being locked behind a screen all day every day.

@DelBocaVista

And why can't you tell the government this is what we plan

Why couldn't schools dictate to the government about how they wanted to operate?
Why can't pubs/shops/hairdressers tell the government how they want to operate?

It doesn't work like that!!

You lobby the government, that's what all the other types of businesses/organisations have done and it's why some businesses have been treated differently to others. With politics, it's the people who shout loudest who get what they want (or close to). I've not heard much from the staff/lecturers' unions about wanting to return to normal!

@Cowbells I meant so that those who preferred online could opt for it, and those who wanted live teaching would take turns so the lecture hall/seminar class isn't crowded. Better than being locked behind a screen all day every day.

Exactly, there are options that need to be explored. I read one lecturer saying that they can't do F2F in September because some of their overseas students may not get back into the country in time. Sorry, but that's just tough on them. You have to go with what's best for the majority.

I meant so that those who preferred online could opt for it, and those who wanted live teaching would take turns so the lecture hall/seminar class isn't crowded. Better than being locked behind a screen all day every day.

So I'm expected to deliver live on campus then deliver the same session again online? The technology doesn't allow for both simultaneously and it ends up being pretty shit as online content is modified to work better online - we don't just throw these things together!!

Where in my already full timetable am in supposed to find time to deliver all my sessions at least twice??

@DelBocaVista the technology does exist because I teach remotely and in person every day, and record the lessons too. Use Teams, it's free with Microsoft packages. V v simple. Problem solved.

One lesson, in timetabled hour, in person, on line for those at home (share screen option v simple) and recorded for later use. Been a daily occurrence in all schools since Sept.

[quote mumsneedwine]@DelBocaVista the technology does exist because I teach remotely and in person every day, and record the lessons too. Use Teams, it's free with Microsoft packages. V v simple. Problem solved.[/quote]
We are using teams. Teaching simultaneously does not work, not with my subject where we have a significant amount of practical work and group work. It works fine for lectures but not seminars.

The practical work needs to be modified to be delivered online and also to be delivered in a socially distanced way f2f. I know my subject and I know what works but feel free to continue to tell me how to do my job .....

@mumsneedwine

One lesson, in timetabled hour, in person, on line for those at home (share screen option v simple) and recorded for later use. Been a daily occurrence in all schools since Sept.

Do you mean to sound so patronising? I've been delivering online course for years. I know what works with my subject. My lectures are 3 hours long and are adapted for either f2f, socially distanced teaching or online.

@DelBocaVista so if it's a practical subject why are the students not back in. Government have said that's ok to do ??? No SD required for that - I know as my own DDs are attending practicals now with masks. I am now v confused as to what is going on at Universities.

Oh a lbd teaching on schools and teaching at a university is very different. I know because I've done both.

@DelBocaVista and none of this was aimed at you. I am talking about my DDs experiences and as far as I know you don't teach them. Sounds like you've tried to make it work - many others haven't.

[quote mumsneedwine]@DelBocaVista so if it's a practical subject why are the students not back in. Government have said that's ok to do ??? No SD required for that - I know as my own DDs are attending practicals now with masks. I am now v confused as to what is going on at Universities.[/quote]
Because it doesn't meet the government's definition of a practical subject. According to them the practical elements can be delivered online. Which they can and I've been doing that for years. It's just I deliver them in a slightly different way when I'm online compared to f2f.

@DelBocaVista and me. Used to lecture but ended up back in school. I find it pretty much the same for lectures/lessons. Although I had less toilet requests at the Uni.

[quote mumsneedwine]@DelBocaVista and me. Used to lecture but ended up back in school. I find it pretty much the same for lectures/lessons. Although I had less toilet requests at the Uni. [/quote]
Depends who and what you're teaching I guess. 🤷🏼‍♀️

@DelBocaVista It's a mess. Let's agree on that, I feel my kids have been sold short, you're fed up of being criticised for doing your job the best you can (& as a teacher I really know how that feels !).
Thank you for what you have done. I wish you could show others how to do it wellZ

[quote mumsneedwine]@DelBocaVista It's a mess. Let's agree on that, I feel my kids have been sold short, you're fed up of being criticised for doing your job the best you can (& as a teacher I really know how that feels !).
Thank you for what you have done. I wish you could show others how to do it wellZ[/quote]
Thank you.
It is a mess but there are lots of us trying to make it work!

@DelBocaVista

I meant so that those who preferred online could opt for it, and those who wanted live teaching would take turns so the lecture hall/seminar class isn't crowded. Better than being locked behind a screen all day every day.

So I'm expected to deliver live on campus then deliver the same session again online? The technology doesn't allow for both simultaneously and it ends up being pretty shit as online content is modified to work better online - we don't just throw these things together!!

Where in my already full timetable am in supposed to find time to deliver all my sessions at least twice??

I wasn't suggesting you deliver it twice. Once, screened live, as I said, which students who aren't there can watch live or later.

It's not ideal but none of it's ideal. I'm teaching a three hour class today in a subject that thrives by being F2F. Zoom just doesn't work for it, but it's better than nothing and the students opt to learn this way rather than have sessions cancelled. (Adult Ed not uni.)

Once, screened live, as I said, which students who aren't there can watch live or later.

That works for lectures but not if it involves any practical, group work or discussion. It's better to have them all together even if that means online. For my subject anyway 🤷🏼‍♀️

We have just entered the second round of voluntary redundancies of the pandemic.

My application form is already filled in and signed. It's being submitted at one minute past midnight on Monday morning.

I've had enough.

Get signing and sharing ladies (and gentlemen)
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/577166

@Nettleskeins

As time goes on, surely all students who want to go back should make full use of the "struggling to study at home" exemption. What worked for a while isnt working now, you dont have to have a mental health condition or live in a small space with no proper internet to apply this "test". It isnt really to do with online lectures but being ON CAMPUS or near, to be part of the social experience.

I agree with you. It's not just the uni degree, it's the "softer ' skills, growing confidence, wider friendships, articulacy, tolerance, motivation, possibly... these are so important and I would feel that they are part of the "formative years". I could cry, I really could, for the dearth of these skills that could mean the difference between a life of confidence, motivation and the poverty thereof;

Some students (not at DS's university) have been asked to provide a letter from a GP as medical evidence if they're requesting permission to return under the mental health criterion. As if NHS primary care didn't already have enough on their plate!

@DelBocaVista

I meant so that those who preferred online could opt for it, and those who wanted live teaching would take turns so the lecture hall/seminar class isn't crowded. Better than being locked behind a screen all day every day.

So I'm expected to deliver live on campus then deliver the same session again online? The technology doesn't allow for both simultaneously and it ends up being pretty shit as online content is modified to work better online - we don't just throw these things together!!

Where in my already full timetable am in supposed to find time to deliver all my sessions at least twice??

I get you; my DD, 24, teaches French and Mandarin in a girls grammar, and she has to do just that. It's brutally punishing. I wonder if she will continue, she only got to do half of her PGCE before lockdown. She's imaginative and inspiring but how long before exhaustion and depletion sets in?

[quote SeasonFinale]Get signing and sharing ladies (and gentlemen)
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/577166[/quote]
Signed

Thanks for sharing

I’ve also written to MP to try and get some focus on this mess