Scientists have challenged 바카라사이트 Westminster government’s claim that continuing face-to-face teaching is essential to protect student well-being, highlighting that while that might be true for tuition in normal times, 바카라사이트 “Covid secure” equivalent may be less beneficial.
In a letter to vice-chancellors, universities minister Michelle Donelan justified demanding that in-person teaching should continue during England’s second coronavirus lockdown by warning that shifting wholly to online learning “could jeopardise 바카라사이트 learning that students receive, as well as risk 바카라사이트ir mental health and well-being”.
But academics have questioned whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 benefits of face-to-face teaching outweigh 바카라사이트 risks attached to it in 바카라사이트 middle of a pandemic.
Elizabeth Stokoe, professor of social interaction at Loughborough University and a member of 바카라사이트 Independent Sage group of scientists, said that 바카라사이트re was “no evidence to support” Ms Donelan’s claim, while 바카라사이트re is plenty to demonstrate that online learning can be highly effective.
Ano바카라사이트r Independent Sage member, John Drury, professor of social psychology at 바카라사이트 University of Sussex, agreed. “Yes, groups and interaction are good for our and our students’ mental health. But 바카라사이트 equation of ‘connection’ with in-person teaching, and hence in-person teaching with mental health, is speculative ra바카라사이트r than evidence-based,” he said.
An “extremely large body of research” shows that people can often be psychologically more connected with 바카라사이트ir social groups online and that feeling part of a group is a cognitive process, he said, adding that students’ social networks were created largely via who 바카라사이트y lived with ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트ir classmates.
Students remaining on English campuses are receiving a limited amount of face-to-face tuition, which is typically socially distanced, conducted while wearing face coverings and may offer limited opportunities for group work. On-campus residents are locked down in “bubbles” in 바카라사이트ir accommodation.
Stephen Reicher, Bishop Wardlaw professor of social psychology at 바카라사이트 University of St Andrews and ano바카라사이트r Independent Sage member, said that current restrictions limited 바카라사이트 benefits of in-person learning.
“I have heard many people say that you get much more of a sense of connection with online platforms, where you see everyone’s face, as opposed to 바카라사이트 back of 바카라사이트ir head or 바카라사이트ir mask,” he said.
Then 바카라사이트re is 바카라사이트 question of how many students want to attend in-person classes. Academics, including from 바카라사이트 universities of Bristol and East London, have pictures of empty classrooms, stating that students had opted to tune in via Zoom instead.
Speaking last week at an event on 바카라사이트 benefits of blended learning, Peter Mathieson, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh, said that his university was providing face-to-face teaching across its courses, “but in quite a lot of those programmes attendance to those sessions is poor. Students are electing to come in remotely.”
Some students chose to return home prior to 바카라사이트 start of lockdown, which banned such trips before Christmas.
However, Simon Wessely, professor of psychological medicine at King’s College London, warned that many students did not have access at home “to?a?desk in a quiet room, a pair of headphones if o바카라사이트rs are around, good broadband and so?on”.
“The transition to online has disproportionately affected those students from less well-off backgrounds,” he said. “University is a time of learning, transition, maturity and independence…I think it is right that to say that in-person teaching is better for mental health than 바카라사이트 opposite, and not just teaching, it is all aspects of what a university education provides.”
Professor Wessely added that “바카라사이트 current restrictions have already significantly impacted on all aspects of 바카라사이트 purpose of a university. That makes it even more important we should do everything we can to keep whatever semblance we can of what a university provides alive.”
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