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Higher education

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

Original poster

Online lectures - still

32 replies

BerfyTigot · 18/07/2023 00:35

My child is doing a natural sciences course at Leeds Uni, so does 3 subjects a year.

One of them is biochemistry which has been entirely delivered online! This has put her off this topic completely, whereas before it had been something she was quite interested in.

This is our first experience of uni - does anyone know whether we can claim a refund in fees, or whether it's likely to go on into next year. ( I'm really hoping that someone on here might be something senior at Leeds Uni ). Thanks

OP posts:
Looksgood · 18/07/2023 00:38

It's unusual. I'm not from that university.

But as an approach - don't ask for a refund. Ask about next year and raise a concern.

Original poster
BerfyTigot · 18/07/2023 00:41

Ah ok, thanks very much looksgood

OP posts:
justasking111 · 18/07/2023 00:41

It's normal in Leeds, my DS only had practical work at the studio in person. Some universities have changed permanently in some departments

gavisconismyfriend · 25/07/2023 20:36

Some universities have changed permanently to delivering some modules wholly or partially online. Descriptors for the course will likely indicate this. If they do then there would be no recourse for a refund.

HaveHadKenough · 25/07/2023 20:57

My child has done three years at Leeds and had nothing in person for two years, very little for the third. The website says things are in person but individual staff have all given their own reasons why they don't want to do it.

It's been a huge disappointment and a poor experience for them and they feel misled.

EwwSprouts · 25/07/2023 21:23

This says delivery will be on campus for 2023 so asking for confirmation would be reasonable. https://courses.leeds.ac.uk/202324/3130/biochemistry-bsc

RockGirl · 25/07/2023 21:51

I think if there's documentation stating it would be online then you just need to accept it. However, if the expectation was face to face then they've got a cheek and are not adhering to the Consumer Rights Act. Some RG universities think they can do whatever they want.

JaffavsCookie · 25/07/2023 21:54

It is piss poor, sorry, as a former leeds uni lecturer my apologies, however I no longer know anyone employed there in a position of power ( know the odd senior lecturer etc but this is outside their paygrade)

Original poster
BerfyTigot · 26/07/2023 01:30

It definitely was not "sold" to us as being online, so has been a huge disappointment. She has now chosen her modules for next year and is not going to do Biochemistry.

I'd just like other people to be wary and vote with their feet.

Thanks for all the replies.

OP posts:
Hawkins0001 · 26/07/2023 01:36

I have no expertise but considering it's one module rather than the whole degree then the subject matter is still being taught just not in person. So no difference with regards to the fee.

HaveHadKenough · 26/07/2023 09:08

BerfyTigot · 26/07/2023 01:30

It definitely was not "sold" to us as being online, so has been a huge disappointment. She has now chosen her modules for next year and is not going to do Biochemistry.

I'd just like other people to be wary and vote with their feet.

Thanks for all the replies.

My child had a similar experience there and I didn't receive much sympathy here, was told it's the new normal or they had to toughen up.

I still think it's wrong - my child didn't get the chance to learn in person or to experience going to a room and meeting course mates and the chances to chat to them and get to know them, what's missed is much wider than learning.

I know there were numerous individual and group complaints raised and Leeds' response was very transactional - they appear to feel that if you walk away with a piece of paper saying you have a degree from them that's enough and the years before it don't matter, there was a real put up and shut up attitude off them.

I too would never recommend them, the whole experience has been very disappointing.

I gave other children at university or recently been and their experience has been very different.

Bramshott · 26/07/2023 09:14

Maybe they get higher attendance that way? Not everything online is worse than in person.

GoingToBeLessRubbishAtLife · 26/07/2023 09:56

Look at this Reddit post, Keele University, Life Sciences.

https://www.reddit.com/r/UniUK/comments/159p71j/do_you_guys_still_have_all_online_lectures/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=2&utm_term=1

It’s dreadful, how can the students ask appropriate questions, how can they chat with the person next to them at break about something they didn’t quite understand, I think online should be emergencies only. I’d be querying why, and making a bit of a fuss. Shame them! Ask on their social media pages why this is!

Reddit - Dive into anything

https://www.reddit.com/r/UniUK/comments/159p71j/do_you_guys_still_have_all_online_lectures/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=2&utm_term=1

HaveHadKenough · 26/07/2023 10:25

Bramshott · 26/07/2023 09:14

Maybe they get higher attendance that way? Not everything online is worse than in person.

Point proven!

justasking111 · 26/07/2023 10:35

The online lectures can be watched again and again. BUT it's a very lonely existence for the students

CableTidy · 26/07/2023 11:10

I have a friend who is a professor in a university and they've found a bit of a mix of online is actually beneficial for most students. Lectures being online mean that some students are able to stay at home and / or be able to have a job alongside study. Their university is proactive at ensuring online lectures are supported by optional discussions online

Looksgood · 27/07/2023 03:39

Some students do like online lectures, and they are good for snow days or when lecturers might be genuinely incapacitated, as well as for guest lectures. They can be an excellent choice for a catch-up or feedback session outside usual timetable.

But student funding (except for Open University) is not for routine distance learning outside emergencies like COVID. So unfortunately students who see distance learning as convenient and lobby for this are undermining things for everyone else. Not that it's their fault.

Mix can be good but needs to be carefully balanced. Lecturers should expect to be expected to show up in person.

MarchingFrogs · 27/07/2023 08:49

justasking111 · 26/07/2023 10:35

The online lectures can be watched again and again. BUT it's a very lonely existence for the students

But lecture capture systems were a thing long before March 2020.

JenniferBarkley · 27/07/2023 09:02

Online isn't automatically bad - where it's used intentionally it can be a very positive thing. So for example, students watch an online lecture that introduces a topic and then have more time in person to discuss it, develop their analysis etc. That's a valid pedagogical approach.

If it's just the same old thing but online that we all were forced to pivot to during covid then that's not great. We have ditched recordings entirely in our department as engagement was awful in the year we had live lectures that were recorded "for revision". Students didn't come, rapidly fell behind and then grades were appalling.

First thing to say is hopefully obvious - your DD the one who should be making enquiries, not you. I'd advise her to speak to her tutor and ask the reasoning. Then if she wants to challenge it or get assurances for next year she should speak to her course reps and possibly the student union.

JaffavsCookie · 27/07/2023 12:49

I am embarrassed for Leeds reading the link posted above
“we have created well-being Wednesdays”
what a crock of shit, weds pm off to do sport has been a “thing” at virtually every university at least since the 70s, pretty damn sure it wasn’t a Leeds invention

Oakbeam · 27/07/2023 19:32

The online lectures can be watched again and again. BUT it's a very lonely existence for the students

That rather depends on whether lectures are the only form of teaching. There may be labs and seminars where the students get to interact with other students and staff. Some universities were moving towards online lectures before covid to make more time available for alternative (any potentially more effective) forms of face-to-face teaching.

Oakbeam · 27/07/2023 19:32

and potentially

gegs73 · 28/07/2023 08:15

I’ve just finished a masters as a mature student and agree that online lectures were generally awful especially if that’s all you got. Much much harder to engage and sit still looking at a screen concentrating for hours at a time. No opportunity to interact with class mates. Harder to ask questions and a general feeling of detatchment from the lessons. It was just really soulless. I would never knowingly go into a course with lots of online lectures unless it was OU. I feel sad for young people paying thousands a year and still getting this provision from uni.

AlyssumandHelianthus · 28/07/2023 08:28

I'm a lecturer, not at Leeds though and I think this is really poor form. Very detrimental for student mental health which is already in the gutter. At my RG uni most people had to be back in person this academic year, but there have been a few who negotiated staying online for a range of reasons (autistic so hate eye contact, medically vulnerable, some tried to get out of it because the uni is in London and they moved out during the pandemic). Their modules state that they are online in the course description and are all optional modules.
I'm sorry for your daughter, online lectures are always a poorer experience, however much you work to make them interactive. Also, if students wanted that kind of experience they could have saved themselves a fortune and gone with the OU.

justasking111 · 28/07/2023 08:34

There's one lecturer who went home to NYC at the start of covid. She's continued to teach online even when lockdowns ceased. That's taking the proverbial imo.