Reflection 4: Remote vs In-person education

For my final reflection, I borrow inspiration not only from my microteaching experience, but from my whole experience of remote learning for the Theories, Polices and Practices unit.

As a starting point, without trying to be a sycophant (had to Google that word), I would like to state that my experience was surprisingly good. Especially as a parent, commuter and with a full time job, the flexibility of remote learning was key. Let me list some of the reasons: adaptability on schedules, the saving of up to £60 for a train ticket, option to review the recordings when I couldn’t attend for child sickness. To this I should add that Carys and Rachel made it as interactive as possible, and the attendants were always willing to actively participate and contribute from their disciplines or experience.

This whole positive view clashes with my usual reticence towards online learning. The reasons are quite straightforward from anyone’s experience during COVID pandemics: community fragmentation, lack of engagement, cameras off, students going for a coffee or watching Youtube during the class. All of these created some sense that online learning is missing something that is unique to in-person, and I agree.

However, I think we might have overly traumatised from COVID remote learning, and it might be time to start thinking whether we have developed, as humanity, some new know-how on how to properly combine in-person with online learning.

I would like to tackle this thought from the point of view of what are things that still ill need the in-person modality, from my experience in the PGCert and also with my students.

• Improvisative, theatrical, performative activities. These are activities that require a deep involvement with the here and now. Online modes tend to put us apart, build walls. Therefore, whenever we are asking students to engage with such activities, we need them in person.
• Hands-on, crafts, building. It could be argued that we could learn how to sew, carve, or any other, by watching Youtube tutorials. However, the craft mastering is highly embodied, and therefore being in person allows much more enhanced observation and imitation, and the subsequent skill development.
• Community building activities. From my experiences, because of the openness of this activities, it is always preferable to be in person. Community building happens not only through a conversation or text chat, it uses the space (go for a coffee?), it embeds in the physical context (meet you in the park?), and it uses its surrounding to make sense of the same experience.
• Technical or Laboratories work. This is a more or less obvious one. We need workshops and labs for specialist’s developments. Not only because of the machinery, but because of the knowledge trasfer that happens there (technicians, other students, workshop activities).

This list is not exhaustive, but it is clear enough in leaving space for remote online activities as well: group or individual reflections, tutorials, digital tools teaching, brainstormings, theory-based lectures, among many others.