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NEWS
Staff and students have embraced the new way of teaching and learning, and are receiving continual support with this from the Centre for Teaching and Learning, University Management Committee, the Covid-19 task team and IT, among others.
Empowering all students
Although remote learning is an online experience for most students, the NWU has gone to great lengths to ensure that learning also continues for students who currently do not have access to technology. This entails distributing learning material and resources to students in remote areas. (See second text box in the left column.)
Academic and support services staff alike are working tirelessly to ensure that all students have the opportunity to complete the 2020 academic year successfully.
Adjusting to the new normal
As with all things new, the NWU community has had to address the many challenges brought about by technical and other difficulties.
The Centre for Teaching and Learning has implemented various channels to reach out to lecturers to offer assistance, training and advice.
Lending a helping hand
In this way, they address concerns pertaining to eFundi support, support for distance education students and support for staff needing to use electronic media to facilitate learning online or via the distance modality. This support has included webinars, telephonic and video assistance, as well as print material.
As remote learning gains ground at the NWU, the university has seen thousands of students working simultaneously on the eFundi learning platform, setting new usage records as students continue their education.
NWU embarks on remote learning
The coronavirus pandemic has changed more than just day-to-day life. It has also had a profound impact on education.
The face of education globally, and also in South Africa, will never be the same now that remote learning, which includes online and distance learning, is becoming the norm. The NWU & U took a look at how the university is using remote learning to continue its academic activities.
Helping our students to connect
With the motto “we will leave no-one behind” the NWU has so far spent R19,6 million on purchasing 3 534 laptops, and an additional R2,3 million on monthly data packages for qualifying students.
This connectivity initiative was the result of a survey conducted among NWU students. A large number indicated a dire need for devices and access to data.
As of 23 June, close to 1 700 laptops had already been successfully hand-delivered to students. At least 23 267 students have already benefited from data provided to them, with some having received data more than once.
The figure for data packages is expected to decrease, as students returning to campuses will use Wi-Fi connectivity on the campuses.
Prof Robert Balfour
“Our priority throughout the Covid-19 crisis has been to support students to continue their studies through the modalities best suited to these extraordinary circumstances,” says Prof Robert Balfour, deputy vice-chancellor for teaching and learning.
“Similarly, when it comes to our staff, the university’s planning efforts have focused on keeping safe and empowering business continuity from their home environments.”
IT: braving the unknown
The NWU’s Information and Technology (IT) Department went to great lengths to prepare the university for online learning.
IT director Boeta Pretorius says although they were already steadily on their way towards finalising a digital strategy to keep pace with the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the shift to online learning forced them to accelerate their digital journey.
“We will not move backwards now,” he says. “We have learned that digital transformation will touch business models, culture, clients, operating models and technology. NOW is the time to put the foot on the accelerator and not on the brake.”
Here are a few interesting facts:
- The number of students using our online learning platform eFundi each day has at least doubled.
- Lecturers have loaded about three terabytes of content on eFundi since the lockdown started.
- During the last six months of 2019, there were 4 943 Vidyo video conference connections, compared to the 5 470 connections on Vidyo during the first 16 days of the lockdown. “Although we do not have data on connections made via other programmes, it is safe to say that hundreds of virtual meetings take place every day,” adds Boeta.
Lockdown starts
26 March
Learning in the
time of Covid-19
Click here to see the time line demonstrating our journey towards remote learning.
CONTENTS