Replace with "rich online learning activities"?
According to The Guardian (Australian version), in a notice sent to lecturers and staff last week, the University of Adelaide - part of the Group of Eight leading Australian universities (Go8) - said that "most students" will not come to lecture halls to listen to lectures (live lectures in lecture halls) from 2026. Lectures will gradually be replaced by "rich online learning activities".
In Australia, in a week, a subject usually has one lecture (students come to the lecture hall to listen to the professor) and one tutorial (divided into many small groups at different times so that students have the opportunity to discuss in more depth and the professor answers questions).
The announcement was made after the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia merged to form Adelaide University. The new University of Adelaide will enroll students from 2026.
Specifically, the announcement from the University of Adelaide wrote: "Rich online learning activities will provide the same amount of knowledge as traditional lectures in the lecture hall and will form a common basis for online learning, providing a consistent experience for students. Online teaching activities take advantage of high-quality digital resources and students can participate anytime, anywhere."
The Guardian quoted Dr Andrew Miller, representative of the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) in South Australia, as saying that staff and lecturers were upset with the new university’s plan because they had not been fully consulted. Mr Miller added: “We are calling on the University of Adelaide to change this plan.”
In response, Professor Joanne Cys, head of curriculum development at the new University of Adelaide, explained that online learning would not be the “main mode of learning”, noting that the university had seen a decline in the number of students attending lectures.
“Online learning activities will support flexibility and access to more engaging teaching methods that are more relevant to today's students,” Professor Cys shared.
However, Dr Alison Barnes, president of the NTEU, said the move to online learning would accelerate what she called the “de-university” process, affecting students’ experience of university life.
“What is rich online learning? Removing the human element from teaching? This is completely contrary to the nature of academia, which is the pillar of university training institutions,” Ms. Barnes shared.
The University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia merged to form Adelaide University. The new University of Adelaide will enroll students from 2026.
PHOTO: UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE
School announces balance between online and in-person learning
Speaking to Thanh Nien Newspaper, a spokesperson for the University of Adelaide said the move to online learning is to meet the flexible learning needs of “modern students”.
The school emphasizes that lectures are only part of the training program and the school still organizes other direct activities such as tutorials, practice, seminars, workshops... for students to have the opportunity to come to school to exchange and learn.
According to the spokesperson, combining multiple teaching and learning methods benefits both teachers and students. Because students today want to study while working or taking care of their families.
Meanwhile, having more time allows lecturers to provide higher-quality learning experiences for students. “Each subject will have its own training program and the adjustment will take about 10 years to complete. Another reality is that many Australian universities give students the choice of online or face-to-face learning, and university leaders have seen a steady decline in the number of people coming to study face-to-face, meaning students prefer online learning,” he said.
“We invest in technology to create videos, podcasts and modular resources instead of classroom lectures. Learners can still interact with friends and lecturers through these activities,” the spokesperson shared.
According to the representative of the University of Adelaide, online learning does not affect the quality of learning, because classroom lectures are only passive learning activities, sitting in the lecture hall or listening to lectures at home are equally effective. "The University of Adelaide will continue to meet the needs of contemporary learners so that they can achieve their learning goals while balancing other activities in their personal lives," said a spokesperson of the University of Adelaide.
Not only Adelaide University, in 2021, Curtin University (Australia) faced fierce opposition from students after proposing to eliminate all live lectures and replace them with three 15-minute videos per week. Later, the school and students reached a compromise, according to The Guardian, according to which the school provides "in-person learning opportunities combined with online learning when necessary".
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dh-uc-gay-tranh-cai-voi-ke-hoch-chuyen-gio-hoc-o-giang-duong-sang-truc-tuyen-185240918134628589.htm
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