The digital age of the higher education sector
In recent years, digital learning has become one of the most prevalent ways that people receive education. For example, in between 2007 and 2019, the percentage of people that said they had completed an online education course rose from 4% to 19% in the UK. In light of COVID-19 and the subsequent closure of places of education, teaching was forced to be delivered remotely, and has since remained somewhat online. This blog post will predominantly focus on The University of Manchester.
The use of Zoom
The main challenge faced by the education sector during the pandemic was how to deliver lecture content to university students across the country. Students still flocked to university campuses after living for the previous year in lockdown and cooped up at home. However upon arrival were only promised a blended learning approach, meaning there would be a combination of both online and in-person lectures. This, following the rise in COVID-19 cases, quickly became a 100% online structure. In order to combat this, zoom lectures were introduced where a lecturer would deliver a class to hundreds of students over an internet call.
Online lessons
Alongside zoom calls, power-points were utilised, and in the same way that they are delivered face to face, were published online to students. The monotony and depersonalisation of online presentations was recognised by the university and the use of “SoftChalk” learning was introduced. This enabled lecturers to deliver content in a structured way that resembled a normal lesson. The site incorporates recorded lectures with interactive elements such as revision quizzes. This helped to engage students a little more than simple power-points and when a zoom lesson was not possible.
Podcasts
Now that in person, face to face lectures have returned to campuses, students can attend university as usual. However the hangover from the pandemic means that some students still live and work remotely. On top of this, the virus is still prevalent which means that students may miss scheduled classes due to illness. The online video portal is not a new feature to university education however has become ever more important in today’s climate. Lectures are recorded and the audio is uploaded as a podcast for those students that did not attend. This enables pupils for whatever reason they may have missed it, to catch up on essential learning.
Online drop-in sessions
Online discussion boards have been a really useful way of asking questions and getting an answer quickly without having to email professors. It also means that you can see course-mates questions and answers to avoid asking the same question twice. In order for students to connect with teachers in a less formal way that discussion boards, online drop in/q+a sessions were introduced. This meant that you could get an answer face to face (through an online medium) in real time which is not only extremely helpful but is also reassuring in the sense that you can get to your lecturer a little. This also serves as an opportunity for lectures to save time by working remotely.
Digital features
Without the face to face element of teaching to act as a constant source of course updates and information, the university used an online noticeboard system to make students aware of all announcements including important deadlines and changes to timetables. Automated emails are used alongside this from course leader to also remind students of due dates. I kind of miss using a paper diary to record my homework, I still do, but in this digital age when it’s quicker to view the work planner you have made for you online- paper notes seem futile. Duo factor authentification is a safer login service that has been recently introduced and as safe as i know feel that my university course log-in won’t be hacked, I’m quite disappointed that I must now carry my phone with me everywhere.
Laptop and Ipad hire
In the main library of the university, laptops and Ipad are both available to students to borrow for the day. This is a really important way for everybody to access the tools they need to learn. As well as providing for those that don’t have the technology of their own, it also means that it’s not necessary to have come from home and prepared, and if you feel like an impromptu visit to the library coming back from the northern quarter, you can.
Online counselling service
Mental health issues during the pandemic were at an all time high. There was a massive surge in use of online mental health services such as such as “patient-to-clinician platforms, digitally-enabled treatments, mental health and wellbeing apps, financial services providers, chatbots and social support networks” as stated on the university website.
Digital Society
Even the presence of digital society module, delivered online, addresses the current use of digital technologies’ presence in students’ everyday lives and a shift towards online learning.
