policy & reform campusreview . com . au
Thriving , not just surviving
Educators , the ‘ digital convicts ’ of COVID-19 .
By Greg Whateley
There is general consensus that
Prensky ( 2001 ) 1 was correct in his view that there are digital natives and digital immigrants – and that such personas would impact on future notions of learning and subsequently teaching . I hasten to add that there is a third category – digital convicts . And I suggest this relates more to teachers than students . There may even be a case to argue that ‘ older ’ teachers are the convicts while younger teachers are the immigrants .
THE COVID EFFECT Like all education providers , UBSS was abruptly faced with the need to shift from face-to-face teaching to a purely online model . Operating on a trimester model , this need arose for us in Week 9 of Trimester 1 .
With no online class delivery established at the time , our teaching staff were the epitome of digital convicts – suddenly transported to an unfamiliar cyberland by government decree in a bid to safeguard the wider populace .
The risks of this sudden pivot were not unsubstantial :
• students falling behind in their studies
• educators falling behind on the course schedule
• technology problems
• cost imposts of new software / technology acquisition , and
• reputational damage to the school as a whole .
Then there was , of course , the elephant in the room – the uncertainty as to how COVID would spread within Australia and how long remote learning would be necessary .
OUR APPROACH For us , we determined that teaching would best be delivered with teachers ‘ broadcasting ’ classes from our premises , rather than being based remotely and delivering classes through the likes of Zoom .
While doing so incurred considerable expense in the acquisition of cameras , monitors and software at short notice , it meant that educators could have full IT / AV on-site support . Additionally , doing so minimised disruption for our educators , enabling them to continue working from familiar surroundings and to an established routine .
To facilitate this new approach , UBSS made a significant investment by way of providing an intensive training program on utilising digital tools and delivering classes remotely during a ‘ pivot week ’, at full pay .
We also implemented a ‘ buddy ’ initiative , whereby teachers were paired with fulltime support staff to help them navigate their way around cyberland .
Then off the school went to finish the trimester .
Following the initial lockdown , attempts at returning to campus were thwarted with coronavirus flare-ups in NSW and Victoria . As such , lessons continue to be delivered remotely .
STUDENTS MORE ENGAGED Forefront in the minds of students and educators alike was the ability to maintain teaching standards , having implemented such a rapid-response adaptation to the COVID situation .
In the case of UBSS , metrics demonstrate the experience has – somewhat surprisingly – delivered significant benefits for all involved with minimal detractions :
• Student attendance at scheduled classes actually increased from 70 per cent to 80 per cent .
• The number of students sitting examinations also rose ( up 3 per cent to 84 per cent ).
• The school maintained its impressive aggregate student feedback result of 4.2 out of a possible 5 , based on 1,200 + responses ( above the 78 per cent rating of all Australian NUHEIs in 2019 2 ).
• Similar results were achieved on staff feedback , with trimester 2 returning an aggregate score of 4.2 ( down only slightly on the 4.4 score of the pre- COVID trimester 3 2019 ).
• Educators have been upskilled in course delivery and remote learning , skills which can be utilised on an ongoing basis to reach new students and compensate for unplanned absences .
DIGITAL CONVICTION The COVID situation has delivered substantial lessons for the tertiary education sector . Yet none more so than the adaptability of our teaching professionals . We now know there is considerable potential to expand into offshore markets as well as domestic students online , especially crucial given the $ 3 billion + hit 3 that border closures have had on foreign student numbers .
Navigating their way through the online landscape as digital convicts has not been easy , especially when required at such short notice . But educators have demonstrated not only that such a shift is possible , but that it can in fact deliver positive learning and business outcomes .
And for that , our teachers deserve full marks . ■
For references visit www . campusreview . com . au .
Emeritus Professor Greg Whateley is currently the executive dean at Universal Business School Sydney ( UBSS ) and an executive director at Group Colleges Australia ( GCA ).
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