Student response to studying from home overwhelmingly positive
The COVID-19 Online Learning Check-In Survey was recently completed by 7309 students and has shown a positive response to the changed learning environment.
As we’ve all learnt to adapt to our new ‘normal’ in a world under COVID-19 restrictions it’s important to take a moment and recognise the hard work that has gone into ensuring our students continue to receive the quality education they expect at our University.
On Friday 3 April the COVID-19 Online Learning Check-In Survey was sent out to undergraduate, coursework postgraduate and enabling program students to gauge their impressions on the transition to study-from-home. We received responses from 7309 students and the results were overwhelmingly positive.
The results show that students are doing an exceptional job of adapting to the changed learning environment, supported by staff who have done great work with the transition to studying from home.
Students said that they appreciate the increased flexibility and that tutorials are recorded so they can go back over points they did not understand. They also said that they are able to spend their usual commute time on study.
Many students indicated that they appreciated the efforts the University has made to facilitate ongoing learning, and said that they were keen to see some of the changes implemented permanently.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and Vice-President Professor Mark Hoffman said the positive results clearly highlight the hard work that has taken place at our University under very difficult circumstances.
“The results are an indication of the adaptability and resilience of our students and a strong vindication of the hard work undertaken by many staff across the University.”
“It also shows a real commitment to working together as a University to deal with unprecedented circumstances – making a transition such as this does not come from nowhere.”
“We know this is a stressful time for our students, and staff – professional and academic – are here to support the transition in a whole range of ways.”
There is, of course, room for improvement. Students have flagged that they are looking for more clarity in explanations and a better understanding of what to do.
The University will continue to address this feedback and look to ways to make these improvements so that we can get the benefits of these insights while ever we continue to teach and learn remotely.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.