REF:66-2104-9757015 - Online learning option

Your comment: I think from now on we should have a permanent choice of whether to study face to face or online, as learning online has worked well for a lot of people i.e. mature students, people not living in student accommodation and are a distance away, are more confident communicating online etc. Also, if we are wearing masks and are separated in exam hall-type rooms for practicals/seminars, communication is more restricted than it would be online (in my opinion) as when learning online we are typically in our own environment without any muffled communication with masks. I also think that assessments in lieu of the exam are the way forward to replace the traditional exam format. It is old fashioned and outdated, as we are expected to submit all coursework electronically, yet we then go back to traditional pen and paper for exams. Having the option to complete traditional exams in halls via laptop (as we are predominantly accustomed to) could be an alternative. Mental/physical health has also been adversely affected by the changes due to the pandemic. So I think we should temporarily be able to have the chance to resit module exams, in which poor health may have caused a lower grade than in normal circumstances. I think this has opened our eyes to the benefits of learning online.

Our response:

Thank you for taking the time to share your comments. The issues you express clearly here are felt by others, and in an ideal world we would of course not be having such a debate. I recognize your frustrations, many of us do - and we are doing what we can to learn from the best practices brought to our delivery this year to support better learning in coming years. We are (fingers crossed of course) right at the end of this now, and we will return to a more 'normal' delivery next year but I really do welcome your comments - these debates happen all the time within the university and I will take them on board and raise them when in the appropriate forum.