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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

DD wants a RG Uni that does F2F teaching - which will?

298 replies

mugglewump · 11/08/2021 17:46

My DD is in the process of choosing which universities to apply for and wants Russell Group. After hearing Manchester say that blended learning will continue indefinitely, she has decided that F2F learning is (unsurprisingly) important to her. She is interested in Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle, Nottingham, Bristol, Kings, Cardiff and Southampton and would like to know which of these have declared an intention to return to face to face learning for 2022. If you have a DD or DS at any of these and know the uni's intention in terms of course delivery, can you share it please? She wants to study geography. TIA.

OP posts:
fourminutestosavetheworld · 23/08/2021 12:29

Breakout rooms have not worked very well in dd's experience this year. Usually there are people in the wrong 'room', people who use the opportunity to leave, people who keep their camera/microphone off and render the experience pointless, people who don't contribute anything.

I can see the value of online lectures I guess but seminars, tutorials and small group work needs to be face to face now. For many, this is the only way they'll meet people on their course no matter what staff think to the contrary.

fourminutestosavetheworld · 23/08/2021 12:31

And I'm a teacher so am not unsympathetic. It's been a tough year. But there is no social distancing now. Schools are operating without any restrictions. Most staff are able to protect themselves through vaccination. It's time to get back to normal.

SkinnyMirror · 23/08/2021 12:39

The vast majority of universities are getting back to normal. However, we've learned an awful lot over the last 18 months and it would be remiss of us to stop doing things we know have worked well.
The push to return everything the f2f without any kind of review is just ridiculous

Badbadbunny · 23/08/2021 16:48

@fourminutestosavetheworld

Breakout rooms have not worked very well in dd's experience this year. Usually there are people in the wrong 'room', people who use the opportunity to leave, people who keep their camera/microphone off and render the experience pointless, people who don't contribute anything.

I can see the value of online lectures I guess but seminars, tutorials and small group work needs to be face to face now. For many, this is the only way they'll meet people on their course no matter what staff think to the contrary.

That's my son's experience. He had two group tasks online. There was only him and 1 or 2 others who actually did anything at all, the others remained resolutely silent and didn't participate at all. They all ended up being marked down for the task because it wasn't up to standard, simply because there was too much for just the 2 or 3 of them to do without any input from the others.

At least in person, you can harrass the other members of your team if they go awol. It's too easy for some to "hide" online if they're not interested and not fair to the ones who do their work.

Xenia · 23/08/2021 17:34

I agree with this .."but seminars, tutorials and small group work needs to be face to face now. For many, this is the only way they'll meet people on their course no matter what staff think to the contrary."

Also even basic things like the discipline of getting out of bed and travelling to a lecture, putting your clothes on having that thing to go do is important for students, the walking there, the meeting people, the coffee with a potential friend after. You get none of that stuck in some prison sized bed room 24/7 in university halls.

SkinnyMirror · 23/08/2021 17:38

You get none of that stuck in some prison sized bed room 24/7 in university halls.

But nobody is suggesting this will happen ..... every academic on this thread has said that there will be on campus delivery in some form.

some online content does not translate to all online content and students being locked their rooms. Unless we end up in another lockdown then no university will move absolutely everything online.

Bryonyshcmyony · 23/08/2021 17:39

I can see the value of online lectures I guess but seminars, tutorials and small group work needs to be face to face now. For many, this is the only way they'll meet people on their course no matter what staff think to the contrary

I am amazed that any university staff would think differently.

SkinnyMirror · 23/08/2021 17:41

I can see the value of online lectures I guess but seminars, tutorials and small group work needs to be face to face now. For many, this is the only way they'll meet people on their course no matter what staff think to the contrary.

I don't know any academic who will argue against this.
However, online delivery can be very effective. It's not an either/or situation. This universities who are offering some online content will also be offering on campus teaching too. A blended approach is very effective.

I will people would stop putting words into our mouths and actually read what we're saying. 🙄

SkinnyMirror · 23/08/2021 17:44

@Bryonyshcmyony

I can see the value of online lectures I guess but seminars, tutorials and small group work needs to be face to face now. For many, this is the only way they'll meet people on their course no matter what staff think to the contrary

I am amazed that any university staff would think differently.

We don't!! It's been said a million times on a number of different threads but people just don't want to listen!

As soon as we try to explain that there are merits to online delivery then everything else we say is completely ignored.

Bryonyshcmyony · 23/08/2021 17:44

I will people would stop putting words into our mouths and actually read what we're saying

No university is making it clear, so that's impossible.

The phrase blended learning makes me shiver.

I think universities will face a whole world of shit if they hide behind Covid to make students pay full fees to sit in their rooms most of the day next year.

SkinnyMirror · 23/08/2021 17:49

The phrase blended learning makes me shiver.

Why? Ive been pushing for blended for years but we didn't have the technology. Now we do I have revalidated all of my courses to be delivered this way. My applications have increased massively as a result.

I think universities will face a whole world of shit if they hide behind Covid to make students pay full fees to sit in their rooms most of the day next year

Ffs. For the thousandth time.....Nobody is going to make students do this.

SkinnyMirror · 23/08/2021 17:52

No university is making it clear, so that's impossible.

That's not true. My university has made it perfectly clear how we're teaching. So has my husband's university. And I know we're not the only ones.

But again, don't let that ruin the relentless university bashing.

Bryonyshcmyony · 23/08/2021 17:52

Applications have increased massively from UK undergraduates? Or overseas students

Xenia · 23/08/2021 17:55

My sons start on 6 September and still do not know. I think they are going to check again tonight in case it is now clear.

SkinnyMirror · 23/08/2021 17:55

@Bryonyshcmyony

Applications have increased massively from UK undergraduates? Or overseas students
Uk students. Due to the nature of the course it's not really suitable for international students unless they are planning on working in the uk once they've graduated.

I run a separate, specific course for international students.

SkinnyMirror · 23/08/2021 17:56

@Xenia

My sons start on 6 September and still do not know. I think they are going to check again tonight in case it is now clear.
They really should. There is no reason why a university can't give out this information at this stage.
dreamingbohemian · 23/08/2021 18:17

@Bryonyshcmyony

I will people would stop putting words into our mouths and actually read what we're saying

No university is making it clear, so that's impossible.

The phrase blended learning makes me shiver.

I think universities will face a whole world of shit if they hide behind Covid to make students pay full fees to sit in their rooms most of the day next year.

My university has already told our students that everything is basically going back to normal this year, even large lectures. I can't speak for anyone else but it's not true that all universities are being unhelpful.

If you still haven't heard anything, email your department directly and ask them, and keep asking them. I completely agree universities should know by now what they're doing.

Bryonyshcmyony · 23/08/2021 18:32

I find it incredibly hard to believe that having more of your course online has grown your applications. Perhaps it's just become more popular.

SkinnyMirror · 23/08/2021 18:39

@Bryonyshcmyony

I find it incredibly hard to believe that having more of your course online has grown your applications. Perhaps it's just become more popular.
Wow. You've made that assumption based on next to no knowledge. You don't even know what course it is!! Rather that acknowledge that there are courses that are suited to this approach or that there may be students who will favour blended learning you've decided it's something else entirely- you can't possibly say something positive.

Unfortunately you're wrong. The decision to move to blended approach was based on extensive market and sector research. I guess that doesn't fit your narrative though does it?

Bryonyshcmyony · 23/08/2021 18:43

Unfortunately you're wrong. The decision to move to blended approach was based on extensive market and sector research. I guess that doesn't fit your narrative though does it?

Well as you haven't said which course it is then it's not surprising people are making assumptions? Also you must realise that the vast majority of new undergraduates doing standard degrees do not want anything but the smallest amount of blended learning.

Watapalava · 23/08/2021 18:49

Students need to hit unis where it hurts

If teaching is online why not do the OU and save yourself 1/3 of the feed

Watapalava · 23/08/2021 18:49

Fees

Bryonyshcmyony · 23/08/2021 18:51

@Watapalava

Students need to hit unis where it hurts

If teaching is online why not do the OU and save yourself 1/3 of the feed

I know a couple of kids doing this. Staying at home. They live in big cities though so social and cultural life is easier
Watapalava · 23/08/2021 18:53

I do too

Why pay £9k when you can pay £6k for same product?

SkinnyMirror · 23/08/2021 18:56

@Bryonyshcmyony

Unfortunately you're wrong. The decision to move to blended approach was based on extensive market and sector research. I guess that doesn't fit your narrative though does it?

Well as you haven't said which course it is then it's not surprising people are making assumptions? Also you must realise that the vast majority of new undergraduates doing standard degrees do not want anything but the smallest amount of blended learning.

I fully understand how people choose university courses. It was the topic of my PhD and I have a diploma in strategic marketing in HE. Before becoming an academic I was head of student recruitment and had spent a number of years working in student recruitment teams and have also worked as a careers adviser in schools and colleges....... but please, tell me again how do people choose universities??
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