The University of Cambridge has announced that all lectures will be offered online for the academic year beginning in October 2020. Other UK universities are expected to adopt similar policies, adopting a format which blends online learning with more traditional teaching.
The announcement has disappointed and worried students, who are concerned about the potentially poor quality of their educational experiences and lack of opportunity to socialise on campus.
Over the past few months, universities have had to scramble to move courses online. In some cases this has resulted in unsatisfactory student experiences and has exacerbated negative perceptions of online learning.
Online university courses may not be able to replicate the experience of on-campus social life. But in terms of teaching, well-designed online learning can be more satisfactory than sitting in a large lecture theatre. Now is a good moment for universities to think about how online learning can enhance, rather than substitute for, face-to-face teaching.
Read the full article on TheConversation.
