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In an effort to salvage the academic year amid the coronavirus pandemic, universities across SA are preparing to switch to remote online learning.
Wits University said its lecturers had spent the past few weeks adapting the academic programme to go online from April 20, mainly via the university’s learning management systems.
“We are acutely aware of the anxiety and uncertainty that online teaching and learning presents for both our colleagues and students. The world as we know it is in flux and it will take our collective courage, dexterity and commitment to fend off the effects of this pandemic and to adapt to new ways of teaching and learning,” said vice-chancellor Prof Adam Habib.Rhodes University will do the same – gradually introducing online teaching and learning, starting on April 20.
“This has been preceded by four weeks of training and preparation by academics to deliver their courses and facilitate learning on online platforms,” said vice-chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela.
A Rhodes University master’s candidate and teaching assistant – who asked not to be named – highlighted the importance of institutions to understand the dynamics and lived realities of their students as much as possible. He commended the universities on their efforts thus far.Our main focus really needs to be on those students who do not have access to the necessary resources needed for this type of teaching and learning,” he said.
In his capacity as a teaching assistant, he said he had spoken to students who were concerned about their ability to perform to their potential, given their circumstances.
“I definitely foresee students feeling demotivated and ultimately failing. I can only hope that extra support is going to be given to these students in this regard,” he said.