Universities

[BoatieBird]

My place (the big distance learning one ) has seen a massive increase in students numbers this year, 50%+ on a lot of level 1 modules.
It seems that students have decided that if their course is going to be delivered online/remotely then they might as well go with the experts.
I manage a Level 1 module so I can see a busy few months ahead.

 

[Miss-Shelf]

My place (the big distance learning one ) has seen a massive increase in students numbers this year, 50%+ on a lot of level 1 modules.
It seems that students have decided that if their course is going to be delivered online/remotely then they might as well go with the experts.
I manage a Level 1 module so I can see a busy few months ahead.

on one hand a great windfall but on the other hand a lot of extra unplanned work without the people to do it

 

[Miss-Shelf]

cling on to the hybrid model

and call it by silly slogans

as if students can't take regular language to explain when they will and won't be invited on to campus

 

[Pickman's model]

and call it by silly slogans

as if students can't take regular language to explain when they will and won't be invited on to campus

invited on makes it sound like a party. admitted would be better.

 

[Miss-Shelf]

invited on makes it sound like a party. admitted would be better.

They dont have to attend on campus hence being invited. I dont yet know how many intend to stay home and go online

 

[chilango]

Given how quickly schools seem to be spiralling out of control how on earth are Unis going to maintain this pretence that f2f teaching can go ahead? They (we) are fucked now either way.

 

[Pickman's model]

Given how quickly schools seem to be spiralling out of control how on earth are Unis going to maintain this pretence that f2f teaching can go ahead? They (we) are fucked now either way.

I don't know how any f2f teaching or group learning can take place this term. And I think it likely that things like libraries will end up closed again quite quickly. Even under conditions as they are today very few students will see the inside of a library before Xmas.

 

[chilango]

I don't know how any f2f teaching or group learning can take place this term. And I think it likely that things like libraries will end up closed again quite quickly. Even under conditions as they are today very few students will see the inside of a library before Xmas.

I've been in the library every day this week.

The Undergrads arrive en masse this weekend so needed to get stuff out of the way pdq.

I got asked if I minded doing one of the lectures I'm due to give in November f2f. I chuckled silently and said sure why not.

 

[weepiper]

There's a cluster in a hall of residence in Edinburgh. They've been back a week.

Napier University virus cluster probed after cases linked to student flats

NHS Lothian are carrying out contact tracing after a number of positive cases at the Bainfield apartments in <a href="https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/all-about/edinburgh">Edinburgh</a> .

www.google.com

 

[nyxx]

I’m due to restart an MA next week.
Having serious second thoughts for a number of reasons. I’m not sure how valid reason no.4 of “it’s changed to be fully online as of 6 days ago and I think that’s gonna be shit” will be, from the course director’s point of view.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Twitter. #FreeCharlotte

Just sayin’...

 

[SlideshowBob]

St Andrews Uni pretty much back into a "voluntary lockdown" already after some cases emerged.

 

[Pickman's model]

I’m due to restart an MA next week.
Having serious second thoughts for a number of reasons. I’m not sure how valid reason no.4 of “it’s changed to be fully online as of 6 days ago and I think that’s gonna be shit” will be, from the course director’s point of view.

You should be able to get your core reading online but there's no telling when libraries will be open to study in and your library may just be offering a click and collect service ATM. If you want a valid reason to defer I'd say lack of resources available while many libraries not offering interlibrary loans, archives offering limited services, and so many books inaccessible might do

 

[Pickman's model]

I've been in the library every day this week.

The Undergrads arrive en masse this weekend so needed to get stuff out of the way pdq.

I got asked if I minded doing one of the lectures I'm due to give in November f2f. I chuckled silently and said sure why not.

even so social distancing in libs will mean people like you few and far between

 

[chilango]

even so social distancing in libs will mean people like you few and far between

I don't plan on going in again til the Undergrads fuck off again.

 

[nyxx]

You should be able to get your core reading online but there's no telling when libraries will be open to study in and your library may just be offering a click and collect service ATM. If you want a valid reason to defer I'd say lack of resources available while many libraries not offering interlibrary loans, archives offering limited services, and so many books inaccessible might do

Cheers.

It’s a health & social care course with a placement element so I think it’s going to suck big time.

I’ve gone back to feeling resigned to it.

Was really looking forward to the possibility of studying without total chaos in the background. Meh.

 

[Pickman's model]

Cheers.

It’s a health & social care course with a placement element so I think it’s going to suck big time.

I’ve gone back to feeling resigned to it.

Was really looking forward to the possibility of studying without total chaos in the background. Meh.

Has a risk assessment for the placement been shared with you?

 

[nyxx]

Placements start end of October, I don’t even know where they’ll propose I go yet.

 

[LDC]

Placements start end of October, I don’t even know where they’ll propose I go yet.

I'm doing a clinical module this coming semester that's highly practical, and it's now entirely online. Can't imagine it'll be any good.

 

[nyxx]

Actually, I remember now they said we’ll be engaging at the placements according to what the placement providers require. Could mean anything.

 

[Wilf]

A piece here about potential drop out rates and the 'student experience' (I hate that term) being shit - along with financial pressure on students):

UK universities predict record student dropout rate

Fears that young people have ‘lost the discipline of learning’ add to student’s money worries as part-time jobs dry up

www.theguardian.com

I really need to stop thinking about how bad things are going to be but, to be honest, the lack of preparations at my place suggest it will be shit. Complete lack of leadership even at the level of which technologies we will be using to deliver courses - and it's welcome week on Monday. Lots of focus on 'pledges' to students and the whole panoply of managerial shite, much less on what we will actually be doing. Blame culture ahoy when things fall apart.

 

[chilango]

A piece here about potential drop out rates and the 'student experience' (I hate that term) being shit - along with financial pressure on students):

UK universities predict record student dropout rate

Fears that young people have ‘lost the discipline of learning’ add to student’s money worries as part-time jobs dry up

www.theguardian.com

I really need to stop thinking about how bad things are going to be but, to be honest, the lack of preparations at my place suggest it will be shit. Complete lack of leadership even at the level of which technologies we will be using to deliver courses - and it's welcome week on Monday. Lots of focus on 'pledges' to students and the whole panoply of managerial shite, much less on what we will actually be doing. Blame culture ahoy when things fall apart.

That's grim reading.

I'm lucky, even though I've lost two of my p/t jobs and a paid research project I've managed to sort out a couple of other (better as it turns out) bits to fill the gap.

Most won't be that lucky and will be fighting over the scraps with all the newly (and hidden) unemployed.

 

[Wilf]

That's grim reading.

I'm lucky, even though I've lost two of my p/t jobs and a paid research project I've managed to sort out a couple of other (better as it turns out) bits to fill the gap.

Most won't be that lucky and will be fighting over the scraps with all the newly (and hidden) unemployed.

There's an irony in that in a period of job losses and uber-precarity in HE, the (doomed) plan to deliver face to face would require more staff (smaller seminar groups).

 

[Pickman's model]

There's an irony in that in a period of job losses and uber-precarity in HE, the (doomed) plan to deliver face to face would require more staff (smaller seminar groups).

And more rooms.

 

[Wilf]

And more rooms.

Yep, my place is apparently in a scrabble to hire space in local buildings.

 

[chilango]

There's an irony in that in a period of job losses and uber-precarity in HE, the (doomed) plan to deliver face to face would require more staff (smaller seminar groups).

That's where us unpaid PGRs desperate for experience and a foot in the door come in...

 

[Pickman's model]

Yep, my place is apparently in a scrabble to hire space in local buildings.

And do risk assessments, assess their accessibility and ensure signage and so forth for disabled students, make sure everyone knows where they're going...

Plus budgets being smashed

It'll end in tears and hasten rollback to online in best case scenario and more likely closure of unis by reading week

 

[Pickman's model]

That's where us unpaid PGRs desperate for experience and a foot in the door come in...

Most places people are paid for teaching.

 

[chilango]

Most places people are paid for teaching.

Lots of stories of this stopping.

It stopped here a couple of years back.

 

[redsquirrel]

A piece here about potential drop out rates and the 'student experience' (I hate that term) being shit - along with financial pressure on students):

UK universities predict record student dropout rate

Fears that young people have ‘lost the discipline of learning’ add to student’s money worries as part-time jobs dry up

www.theguardian.com

I really need to stop thinking about how bad things are going to be but, to be honest, the lack of preparations at my place suggest it will be shit. Complete lack of leadership even at the level of which technologies we will be using to deliver courses - and it's welcome week on Monday. Lots of focus on 'pledges' to students and the whole panoply of managerial shite, much less on what we will actually be doing. Blame culture ahoy when things fall apart.

This

There's an irony in that in a period of job losses and uber-precarity in HE, the (doomed) plan to deliver face to face would require more staff (smaller seminar groups).

And this