Universities: Multimodal teaching and learning stays

Students walking out from Durban University of Technology.

The Durban University of Technology has assembled an array of resources and tools to facilitate and support its students.

Even though universities have been allowed to increase their on-campus student populations up to 66%, some will not resume contact teaching and learning just yet.

In a recent media briefing, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Dr Blade Nzimande announced that universities would be permitted to open their campus doors for two-thirds of their students. 

However, a few universities have continued with multi-modal teaching and learning instead.

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One of these is the University of Pretoria. It’s decision is based on data from a survey that indicated the vast majority of lecturers and students had managed to move relatively seamlessly into the remote online teaching and learning mode.

This was because the university had already decided way back in 2015 to start transitioning to a hybrid approach to teaching and learning.

According to IOL, students who still require access to laboratories and other on-campus facilities to complete their courses would be prioritised to return to campus, after being granted permission from their respective faculties.

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The Tshwane University of Technology last week welcomed its first group of returning students. It consists of postgraduate, B Tech, advanced diploma, final-year diploma, professional degree and Honours students.

The Durban University of Technology has assembled an array of resources and tools to facilitate and support its students. It has also taken the necessary steps to keep multimodal teaching and learning in place.

This also will assist lecturers transition from face-to-face to remote teaching, as part of the university’s academic programme continuity plans during the Covid-19 lockdown.