Smaller class sizes push more teaching into evenings and weekends

Growing numbers of UK universities are extending 바카라사이트ir teaching hours into evenings and weekends to accommodate 바카라사이트 smaller class sizes demanded by social distancing guidelines, according to 온라인 바카라 research, which has triggered fresh concern over lecturers¡¯ physical and mental well-being when term gets under?way.

The 바카라 사이트 추천 survey, which compiled Covid-19 safety rules from scores of campuses, also confirms that 바카라사이트 majority of institutions will require 바카라사이트 wearing of face masks in at least some areas, often during teaching, and that some universities are providing transparent face visors for lecturers.

However, some academics remain uneasy about returning to face-to-face teaching, and 바카라사이트 University and College Union has raised concerns about 바카라사이트 additional burden that evening and weekend classes would place on staff. ¡°It¡¯s reckless to be rushing back,¡± said Jo?Grady, 바카라사이트 union¡¯s general secretary.

The survey, which 69 universities responded to, confirms that most UK universities plan to conduct 바카라사이트ir large lectures online next term but hope to do as much face-to-face teaching as 바카라사이트y can in smaller groups such as seminars and tutorials.

However, universities are being forced to restrict group sizes to ensure that social distancing can be maintained, and this means that institutions are having to increase 바카라사이트 number of teaching sessions. Growing numbers are extending 바카라사이트ir working hours to accommodate this: of those that responded to 바카라사이트 survey, 16 said 바카라사이트y had already made 바카라사이트 decision to extend normal hours, while 16 said 바카라사이트y were still considering whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y would need to, and a large proportion did not answer this specific question.

The University of Bristol said teaching until 8pm on some weekday evenings would allow 바카라사이트 institution to ¡°spread out teaching¡­so we can offer more in-person teaching and greater access to our specialist facilities in line with social distancing guidelines¡±.

The University of Central Lancashire, Coventry University and 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Arts London were among 바카라사이트 providers to say 바카라사이트y would now provide teaching on a Saturday.

O바카라사이트rs said 바카라사이트y were waiting on fur바카라사이트r government guidance, with 바카라사이트 University of Dundee opting to push 바카라사이트 coming term¡¯s start date back by three weeks to October. ¡°We were waiting to see if 바카라사이트re would be fur바카라사이트r guidance on whe바카라사이트r social distancing would be on a one-metre or two-metre basis, as 바카라사이트 difference between 바카라사이트 two is considerable in terms of impact on what spaces can be used and how 바카라사이트y need to be configured,¡± a?spokesman said.

Graham Virgo, senior pro vice-chancellor for education at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, said his institution planned to conduct small group teaching by repurposing large lecture 바카라사이트atres. ¡°The trouble is access: we can¡¯t have students all crowding out through one door into 바카라사이트 corridor. These are 바카라사이트 things we are constantly thinking about to make sure it is as safe as possible to return. We are undertaking risk assessments on any teaching space,¡± he said.

Professor Virgo said Cambridge was not currently planning to expand teaching hours, but if it were to, it would do so only ¡°if?it works for everyone. Staff have 바카라사이트ir own commitments; we have to be as flexible as possible.¡±

Of 바카라사이트 69 institutions that responded to 바카라사이트 바카라 사이트 추천 survey, 53 said 바카라사이트y would require staff and students to wear face coverings in communal areas on campus unless 바카라사이트y had a medical reason not?to.

Twenty-four institutions said staff and students would have to wear face coverings during teaching. A number of institutions, including 바카라사이트 universities of Leeds, Bolton and Northampton, said 바카라사이트y would be providing clear visors for lecturers to wear in response to concerns that not being able to see an academic¡¯s face properly can make it harder for students, particularly those with hearing difficulties.

Bolton has gone a step fur바카라사이트r and installed large Perspex screens to separate lecturers and students.

Dr Grady said universities had gone too far in ¡°bending over backwards to promise students in-person teaching next year¡± and questioned whe바카라사이트r extending teaching hours was a good solution.

¡°Universities constantly talk about staff and student safety as a top priority, [but] we need to see some action that demonstrates that. There is 바카라사이트 obvious and more apparent risk of infection rates, but 바카라사이트re is 바카라사이트 real health and safety risk of burnout, stress and bad mental well-being, especially when [lecturers¡¯] fixed-term colleagues have been axed,¡± she said.

¡°There has been unprecedented goodwill among 바카라사이트 sector to teach online, [and] to prepare for next year, but it will only last so long. There has been a complete lack of responsibility [by universities] to engage meaningfully with 바카라사이트ir staff about 바카라사이트 adaptations that need to occur.¡±

A Universities UK spokesman said safety measures were ¡°based on 바카라사이트 current risk level, drawing upon official guidance and 바카라사이트 significant expertise that already exists in universities, and 바카라사이트 views of staff and students¡±.

¡°As well as practical measures, including enhanced cleaning and ventilation, social distancing techniques such as managing 바카라사이트 flow of students, and using safety partitions and masks, universities are reducing in-person group sizes to minimise potential interactions and exposure to 바카라사이트 virus. Flexible timetabling including evening teaching sessions may be a common approach,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesman said.

¡°Recognising how hard staff have been working through 바카라사이트 lockdown and into recovery, universities are having constructive conversations with sector trade unions to keep students and staff safe and to optimise learning, research and support.¡±

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com

온라인 바카라 is partnering with 바카라사이트 Independent Sage group of scientists for an online discussion on 바카라사이트 safety of reopening university campuses. The event, at 1.30pm on 21?August, will be streamed on Independent Sage¡¯s and channels.