[LINK] The government's coronavirus modelling

[Tom Worthington]

On 9/4/20 4:23 pm, David Lochrin wrote:

> What do you mean by a "gradual return to the classroom" and ...

Rather than having all students stop online learning at once and return 
to campus on the same day, stagger it over months.

Only a few students would be on campus initially, for only a few classes.

> how would it reduce the risk of infection?

There would be fewer students on campus, allowing for easier social 
distancing, and fewer people to spread infection.

With fewer classes on campus, closing again due to a further outbreak 
becomes a much easier decision. Also it may only be necessary to stop 
some classes, not close the whole campus.

International students could undertake initial classes online in their 
own country, using the same course materials as used by on-campus 
domestic students. This would delay the arrival of these students in 
Australia, reducing the number of students on campus, and allowing more 
time for infection control and prevention measures to be in place.

Professor Brian Schmidt, Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National 
University has asked how universities will be transformed by the COVID19 
emergency. As it happens, in 2014, I proposed international and 
Australian students could learn to work together online. I am now 
helping do that. Rather than treat this as a temporary measure, it could 
be made routine. 
https://blog.highereducationwhisperer.com/2020/04/transforming-australian-university.html


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Tom Worthington, MEd FHEA FACS CP IP3P http://www.tomw.net.au 
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Honorary Lecturer, Computer Science, Australian National University 
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