Physically Distanced Learning
The UCT Framework for Teaching and Learning 2022
In 2022, UCT will continue with Physically Distanced Learning (PDL) adopting a low-density campus model which makes use of on-campus, in person and online teaching.
Key features:
Low Density campus
- Promote student access to campus for Eduroam and study spaces.
- Small group teaching and learning. No in-person large class (over 50) lectures.
- Obligatory health protocols (daily health screening, wearing a mask, sanitising, social distancing) when entering campus
Increased contact with students
- All programmes to plan for their students to receive some in-person contact instruction on campus, when possible
- For large classes or lecture style content, pre-record for online, and use in-person sessions for active learning (the ‘flipped classroom’ approach). This refers to changing the use of the 45-minute in-person lecture period for active engagements by:
- Pre-recording and uploading lectures on Vula
- Requiring students to work through prescribed content such as lectures, reading or other content, before coming onto campus for an in-person session
- Designing in-person sessions for small group engagements around practical experiences, tutorial discussions, and any other activities
Agile and resilient course design
You will be able to set-up a flexible, blended model of learning and teaching for your course to reduce the impact of sudden changes to individual or group access to campus because of ongoing Covid-19 infections.
Identify the key elements of your course (lecture content, tutorials, labs, practicals, studios) and consider which of these elements should be fully online, and which elements would be suited to small group in-person learning.
Explore the different ways that you can 'blend' the learning experience
- Develop your course’s “resilience profile”. Here, resilience involves a plan to move all aspects of your course to a fully online mode. For outlines of plans use these example models to help you
- Set up and communicate the plans for how to switch from in-person to online synchronous learning (MS Teams or Zoom) if required to, and back again, so that you reduce stress on yourself and your students from the outset
- Keep track of student engagements with the online course site (using site stats and analytics and your tutor network) to help identify students who are not accessing the learning materials
Explore CILT Support & Services
CILT offers a range of practical support and learning design services. Our practical support services can help you implement and troubleshoot issues with specific Vula tools. Our learning design services help you think about the design of your course, talk through teaching challenges, and advise about the use of Vula for effective learning. There are a number of options depending on whether you prefer to consult relevant documentation, talk to a helpful colleague or join a group of colleagues grappling with similar issues.
CILT service websites:
