[LINK] A Plea for Courses and Conferences to Remain Online Post-Pandemic

[Tom Worthington]

I had a great time at the IEEE Tech Education 2019 conference in 
Jogjakarta. But I think I will be Zooming to the 2021 event:

> It is a pleasure to invite you to IEEE TALE 2021. The conference will
> be held from December 5th to 8th, 2021 on Central China Normal
> University (CCNU) campus, *Wuhan*, China. http://tale2021.org/cfp.html

I suggest those planning higher education and professional courses, as 
well as academic and professional conferences, retain an online option 
even after the COVID-19 pandemic is over. Universities, and most 
conference organizers, were able to quickly switch to online delivery 
last year.

Many universities and conferences are now planning to offer hybrid mode. 
This will allow for those who can't get to the venue to participate 
online and for where the venue is closed by COVID-19. However, some 
conferences are dropping the online option this year and universities 
might do the same with courses, when restrictions on travel are lifted. 
But I suggest this will prevent many people from taking part. Given that 
the online option has been shown to be feasible, removing it is 
unethical, and in some cases, may be unlawful.

ps: My 2019 talk was about teaching ANU students in a new purpose built 
flat floor classroom at ANU. Little did I know I was going to have to 
abandon this a few months later. Fortunately I had planned an online 
option for this contingency: 
https://blog.highereducationwhisperer.com/2014/08/teaching-students-to-work-together.html


-- 
Tom Worthington, MEd FHEA FACS CP IP3P http://www.tomw.net.au 
+61(0)419496150
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Honorary Lecturer, Computer Science, Australian National University 
https://cecs.anu.edu.au/research/profile/tom-worthington