Two things are likely to be the results when a new policy or innovation is adopted—which is failure or success. It is not even the results that matter, it is the bravery to take and adopt new challenges that is commendable.
Ever since the University of Ibadan announced that it will fully embrace virtual learning—at least for the first semester of this academic session, there were applauses and scorns from community members as to how this initiate which has become a thing of necessary-since the country is not free from the Covid-19 Pandemic—will be effective. While we think it is a brilliant idea the university is going digital, we also find it displeasing that academic activities have not commenced fully for the past three weeks. And that the university has not released an official statement as to what is going on.
When we asked some students what their concerns as regards virtual learning, many of them argued that the university is ill-equipped to enable this kind of learning which is not only costly on the part of the management but also financing-draining on the part of the students. However, we know how ineffective first trials may sometimes be— especially in this case the university going virtual—we also believe that first trials that have been planned effectively and effectively will yield favourable results.
If it were not for the Pandemic, the university might not have considered virtual lectures. Most universities in the federation won’t have. Perhaps, their excessive romance for the analog or traditional method of teaching has possibly blinded them towards exploring the potential of digital learning. But we won’t blame them wholly. We know universities’ visions and missions can only be translated into reality by the Federal Government’s intervention, especially in terms of funds.
As the university still works on its virtual learning, has the question of how students will maximise learning been carefully and considerately considered? If this question has not been answered to a satisfactory extent, then it is right to say the virtual learning will be a mockery of “real learning.” It is a thing for the university to receive national accolades for sustaining its virtual learning programme; it is another thing is the students achieve their full learning potential in this novel way of learning.
We are in the fourth week of resumption and lectures have not started fully, is this a tell-tale sign that something is wrong somewhere. Or should we just allow the old saying of “If it must be from UI, it must, out of necessity, be of outstanding quality” to calm our nerves down?
We are aware that the University’s Emergency Remote Teaching Committee (UIERTC) has organised webinars to update the students on virtual learning, and allaying their fears of failure. It has also gone ahead, according to reports, to ensure that the students will be provided with data for the maximisation of virtual learning. While these are welcome ideas, the lectures are taking too long to commence! Lectures that have commenced, according to reports, are done on Telegram and WhatsApp—we don’t think this is the total package of virtual learning the university has for the students.
Since the university’s management has said no students should be on campus—emphasising that lectures should be taken from home, we need to remind of something: students will need to access the library to facilitate learning purposes. Will the books in the library be uploaded online so the students can use them from their comfort zones?
When lectures start, we hope the lecturers will be as interactive with the students as they would in physical classes. We also hope they will be lenient to the students during online tests and quizzes as proposed especially when there is poor service that possibly hinders the students’ participation. The main goal of teaching is the dissemination of knowledge, we hope this goal will be achieved during virtual learning as well.
The students too should be ready for the virtual lectures. We know some are still in shock that a “whole UI” is embracing virtual lectures. We advise them not the live in denial or in the firm attestation that the university will soon retract its decision and embrace physical learning even in the ravaging effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Virtual learning is the new normal and the students should be able to embrace this. They should be prepared as the university opens a new chapter of learning. And the sooner the better for them. The students should be ready to make extensive research to earn excellent grades, especially the fresh student who don’t have complete orientation of how the university system works.
All eyes are on the university. The students as well are ready to learn. This is the fourth week of resumption, let lectures commence in earnest!
One Comment on “UI’s virtual learning; loading… still loading…”