18% of Japanese universities remain mostly remote due to pandemic

Given the option, most teachers this semester elected NOT to return to face to face teaching. Having had first semester to get used to it, there was no way they were going to let slip the chance to continue. It may sound cruel to say it, but the pressing need students had for teachers to assist them in a return to semi normality, hadn’t a snowball’s chance in hell versus the savings in commutation time, shortened or pared back to fortnightly Zoom lessons, and on demand uploads for multiple classes that took all of 30 minutes to prepare and required minimal feedback. Schools vastly underestimated how many teachers would avail themselves of what was clearly seen as a get out of jail free pass.

I had to read this several times to understand it, but 35% of the surveyed were mainly online in the summer and 18% were still mainly online going into autumn. I thought the numbers would have been higher. It sounds like some big ones have gone mostly online.

Well, the unis I teach at are all different in their approach. In many cases, departments are left to decide which classes to do online live via Zoom, which to do on demand, and which to do face to face. It leaves teachers in a real strange place, with such a variety of methods to prepare and deliver. One school even allows students the option of either participating in person or participating via Zoom. This is nuts. We also get policy changes and the like on a weekly basis. One week in person, the next week via Zoom due to a covid case somewhere in the neighborhood, etc.

My preference is to teach live, the way we did last year. The human contact element works both ways. My students need me, need each other, and I need them too. This cannot be replicated using technology. Perhaps that is the one lesson that people are learning above all others- there is no substitute for simple human interaction.

That is true, expat. The commuting is where the students are probably most at risk. I have kids who spend 3 or 4 hours a day commuting! Once on campus, it is easier for them to take precautions. But again, human nature is strong. They have a natural or instinctive desire to be close to others, to communicate, to share things. Unless the staff spends all day playing policeman to enforce social distancing both in and out of the classroom, it is inevitable that the students will congregate and communicate.

The reason classes are continuing online is because of social distancing issues within classrooms and on campus. It’s simply impossible to socially distance in EVERY classroom that is needed. Team that with students meeting friends outside lessons, commuting and so forth, plus the fact that you have students coming from abroad plus teachers/ professors from abroad, it’s simply impossible to make it work right not. Just one infection would close the Uni and how would such international students go home. It’s simply impossible to manage at the moment.

That said, I agree fees should be reduced. Also, students also have the option to bow out and return/ start uni when this is more under control or finished with.

This article misses the point, How many first year University students have given up their dreams because of the online classes and left University altogether. Also how many students are experiencing mental health problems. The Universities have not done enough, sending students units , with, share your ideas with a partner or work in a group, the students are working in isolation with crazy deadlines for returning their online work. This isn't how students around the world imagined, how after 12 years of public or private education, studying hard to get into University, to be sat in front of a computer for hours mostly in isolation. The technology is available for teachers to hold their classes live online and communicate directly with their students, why haven't the Universities done this , they are still charging the full fees for their courses. My comments are as a father who has watched what has happened to his son during this lockdown, and I sympathize with students and parents who are going through similar experiences