DISTANCE TEACHING. How do we take advantage of the extensive range of existing experience from distance teaching? Sahlgrenska Academy has appointed a faculty-wide reference group, where representatives for all the degree programs share suggestions and insights from online courses. “I think we will be surprised by how much we can actually do with new technologies,” says Axle Wolf, deputy head of the Institute of Health and Care Sciences.
The group has opened a GU box, where teachers can get ideas and test different types of material.
“It’s all about give and take,” explains Axel Wolf, who is heading up the work. “Everyone can contribute, not least our students, with suggestions and ideas. By sharing with everyone, we also gain an understanding of where employees and students are in their use of digital tools, something that is naturally very valuable for continued efforts.”
At the same time as all instruction is taking place through distance teaching, clinical and workplace placements are relatively intact, so far.
“In collaboration with the medical care and dental care services, we are trying to maintain clinical and workplace placements as far as possible. But these will naturally be impacted as the medical care service is now shifting to emergency-only care and therefore many workplace placements simply will not be operational. When it comes to the dental service, there can also be a lack of patients because of cancellations. Our hope is that instruction and examination can continue even if certain things have to be delayed. We are prioritizing last semester students in the professional programs. It is naturally of great importance, both to us and the medical care and dental care services, that these students graduate.”
The necessary priorities of the medical service determine placements and other clinical-based instruction at this point, according to Vice Dean Silvana Naredi. “We have daily contact with the medical service and adjust to their needs. About two weeks ago, Sahlgrenska Academy began meeting regularly with the country’s other medical faculties. We are also working with Chalmers. We have to learn from each other; there’s no point in reinventing the wheel.”
Naredi emphasizes that it is important to note that everyone is stepping up, from teachers, course coordinators and program coordinators to the institutes and the faculty. “One manager does not have the answer to every question. Instead, each person has to weigh the directives and goals from the Public Health Agency, and then together we have to develop as wise of guidelines as we can, all focused on reducing the infection rate in the country.”
Axel Wolf points out that Zoom and Canvas are two excellent tools that allow us to do a lot. “The Pedagogical Development and Interactive Learning unit (PIL) has created a page with suggestions on simplifying distance work. It offers help for both beginners and those who have more experience, including Zoom cafés, seminars and other useful information.”
TEXT: EVA LUNDGREN / GU JOURNALEN
More information about distance teaching: https://pil.gu.se.
