The case for adopting flexibility in universities
Why elasticity is necessary for schools and universities to thrive in the future.
As cases of COVID-19 began to proliferate in the United States, schools, colleges, and universities had to act fast to ensure continuity of learning. Many chose quick fixes and temporary solutions to keep everyone connected and equip both students and faculty to teach and learn at a distance.
Renee Patton, a former high school teacher and Cisco’s Global Director of Education and Healthcare, watched the education system deal with such rapid change in a short period of time. To meet the needs of today and to thrive in an unclear future, Patton says educational institutions must learn to be flexible. That flexibility lies not only in where students will be physically located, but also in how courses will be taught, technology used, and degrees earned. It’s a digital transformation unlike anything we’ve seen, but one necessary to define the future of education.
In this time of dramatic change, we have an opportunity to ensure equity of access and effectively prepare our students to be active, successful participants in whatever jobs the future might hold. Patton gives us some advice on how schools, colleges, and universities can achieve a positive vision for the future.
Plan for multiple scenarios
The first step is realizing that we cannot see into the future — we do not know when students will return to classrooms and campuses. To plan, we must consider a range of possibilities to make sure that we are prepared, regardless of what happens.
“For higher education, envision your university in the future. What kind of a university do you want to be? How will you differentiate yourself?” says Patton, “For example, you might need to repurpose classrooms or reconfigure dorm rooms to allow for one vs. two people per room. You might have to re-envision student advising, extra-curricular activities, and faculty preparedness. What are all the different scenarios that might happen? Once you determine the scenarios, you can begin planning and consider the cost and potential return of each, and how you will develop and manifest your programs for the fall.”
There are several different COVID-related scenarios to think through when it comes to planning. Will you be ready to open in the fall, and if you do open, how do you ensure social distancing and the health and well-being of students? If schools open, what do you do if there’s a second wave of infections? How do you create environments where learning can occur, regardless of where students are physically located?
See also: Cultivating culture and collaboration with video conferencing
It is also important to think about what may be transformed permanently. As Patton said, perhaps it could mean schools will permanently deliver hybrid learning, where students join courses remotely or in-person, with appropriate physical distancing measures.
The act of scenario planning doesn’t hinge on whether or not the scenarios will actually come to fruition. It’s all about the ability to prepare today for the possibilities of tomorrow and to reduce risk of future outbreaks.
Patton addresses the fact that every university will be unique in their back-to-school approach. Schools must adhere to the guidance of local government officials and try to address “new norms” like physical distancing, contact tracing, and mask wearing. If a class requires a lab, for example, students once accommodated in one lab session may now have to break into two sessions — one that attends on Mondays and Wednesdays, and another on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Read more over at The Network.
