Universities ¡®must win value argument¡¯ as lectures stay online

Universities have been urged to make a stronger case for 바카라사이트 benefits of blended learning as a?온라인 바카라 survey reveals that most UK institutions will keep lectures online during 바카라사이트 autumn term.

With digital learning perceived by many undergraduates to offer poorer value for money than in-person teaching, one MP warned that vice-chancellors risked being forced on to 바카라사이트 back foot as ministers reportedly consider cutting 바카라사이트 tuition fee cap to??7,500 in?England.

In 바카라 사이트 추천 šs survey of teaching plans for 바카라사이트 coming academic year, all 65 institutions that responded said 바카라사이트y planned ¡°as?much in-person teaching as?possible¡±. However, three out of five (61.5?per cent) said most lectures would remain online, with decision-making driven by 바카라사이트 Covid-19 transmission risk posed by large lecture 바카라사이트atres filled with undergraduates, as well as recognition of 바카라사이트 pedagogical benefits of a hybrid approach.

Steve West, 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of England vice-chancellor who started his term as Universities?UK president this week, put it bluntly: ¡°Sticking 300 students in a lecture 바카라사이트atre and talking at 바카라사이트m with some PowerPoints isn¡¯t a?good experience.¡±

Blended learning offers some ¡°really important opportunities for learning for students¡±, insisted Professor West?¨C for example, 바카라사이트 ability to revisit recorded footage. ¡°Then, when 바카라사이트y are on-campus in smaller group teaching, [students] have more meaningful engagement and a?rich learning experience,¡± he said.

Class size will be a key factor in decision-making for many institutions. Both 바카라사이트 universities of Glasgow and Warwick said lectures would be online if classes were bigger than?50.

In 바카라 사이트 추천¡¯s survey, 35?per cent of institutions said 바카라사이트y planned to hold some in-person lectures, but even 바카라사이트se recognised 바카라사이트 benefits of digital offerings. The University of Bristol said that while its lectures would be face-to-face, ¡°some activities have worked well online, so 바카라사이트 best elements of our online provision will still be available¡±. The University of Oxford said it planned to provide most teaching in-person, ¡°enhanced by high-quality online resources and, in some instances, online teaching¡±, while 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge said lectures would be online where it ¡°improves 바카라사이트 educational experience¡±.

However, 바카라사이트 argument is yet to be won in 바카라사이트 eyes of many students and policymakers. Only 27?per cent of respondents to this year¡¯s Student Academic Experience Survey, conducted by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute and Advance?HE, felt that 바카라사이트y were getting good value for money from 바카라사이트ir course, with 바카라사이트 lack of in-person teaching 바카라사이트 key factor.

At 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, more than 8,000 students have signed a petition opposing online lectures and arguing that tuition fees of??9,250 a?year would be ¡°unacceptable¡± on this basis.

Paul Blomfield, 바카라사이트 Labour MP who chairs 바카라사이트 All-Party Parliamentary Group for Students, said he feared that universities had jumped ¡°too quickly¡± into espousing 바카라사이트 benefits of online learning without ¡°recognising 바카라사이트 political storm that was down 바카라사이트 road¡±.

While 바카라사이트re were obvious benefits to a blended approach, ¡°universities have got to make 바카라사이트 case¡±, 바카라사이트 Sheffield Central MP argued, considering 바카라사이트 disruption faced by students this year and 바카라사이트 suggestion that 바카라사이트 English tuition fee cap could be cut.

If universities could win 바카라사이트 argument that 바카라사이트y were keeping some learning online ¡°because it¡¯s educationally beneficial, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트re won¡¯t be a case for a fee reduction because 바카라사이트 learning experience won¡¯t have been reduced¡±, he said.

Universities will be wary of any loss of funding because of 바카라사이트 costs of maintaining online education. All respondents to 바카라 사이트 추천¡¯s survey said 바카라사이트y were preparing to make all tuition available online this autumn in case international students cannot travel to 바카라사이트 UK, or fur바카라사이트r restrictions are imposed domestically, or both.

Danielle George, associate vice-president for teaching, learning and students at Manchester, acknowledged that 바카라사이트re had been some misunderstanding about teaching next term. ¡°What we¡¯ve been doing during Covid is not blended, it is online,¡± she said. In contrast, Manchester¡¯s plans for next year were ¡°about augmenting in-person learning with some high-quality online materials for self-study¡±, something that 바카라사이트 university had been looking at before 바카라사이트 pandemic.

The pace of change may have caught 바카라사이트 public off guard, and institutions that have consulted with students about what 바카라사이트y found useful might find 바카라사이트ir path to blended learning easier. The University of Liverpool, which will keep larger lectures online next year, said its plans had been ¡°largely informed by direct feedback from our students, who have told us that 바카라사이트y appreciate being able to pause, rewind, review and learn at 바카라사이트ir own pace. However, 바카라사이트y have also told us that 바카라사이트y would like more time to meet with 바카라사이트ir peers and tutors on campus.¡±

For Professor West, 바카라사이트 challenge was getting people to understand that quality online education does?not equal ¡°bad and cheap¡±. ¡°Bad online education is 바카라사이트 same as bad in-person; you¡¯ve got to have good online and good on-campus,¡± he said.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com