On 22/5/20 10:24 am, Bernard Robertson-Dunn wrote:
Some students, especially those doing an MBA, where networking is a
vital part of the course are starting to demand re-reimbursement of
course fees. ...
Cambridge University does not appear to be alone with students asking
for a refund, when they found themselves studying online, rather than in
the hallowed halls.
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/mar/25/hundreds-thousands-uk-students-call-tuition-fee-refunds
However, Cambridge University is only suspending mass lectures, which
are not particularly useful for networking (or much else). It is
expected students will be able to attend small group teaching, where the
magic of Oxbridge is supposed to happen.
Even online there are ways to help students to network. One commonly
used icebreaker is to have students form small groups to find out about
each other. They then introduce each other to the whole class. Students
can then be guided to work together.
For those with good social skills, this can seem a very trivial and
artificial. However, I was once enrolled in a course, face to face,
where I never met *anyone*. I went to the lectures, listened to the
lecturer, and went home. There was no get-to-know-you: the lecturer
lectured and we were supposed to listen, no questions, no discussion.
Icebreakers can be done online, where video conference system puts
participants into small groups for a set period. Online text forums can
also be used. This was done last weekend for the ANZDF logistics
hackerthon, where teams were formed using Slack.
It will be interesting to see to what extent such icebreaker exercises
can be held face to face, while maintaining social distancing. The
Canberra Innovation Network (CBRIN) had very successful First Wednesday
Connect events with hundreds of people crammed in. These events have
moved online. But when they can again be held in person will it work, if
everyone has to keep their distance in a mostly empty room?
On my last visit to Cambridge I dropped in on their business faculty
(where the MBAs are) and talked to the equivalent of CBRIN. One insight
was that most students *do not participate* in networking activities if
they are not required to. They tend to only turn up shortly before they
graduate, when they realize they might need to network to get a job.
--
Tom Worthington, MEd FHEA FACS CP IP3P http://www.tomw.net.au
+61(0)419496150
TomW Communications Pty Ltd. PO Box 13, Belconnen ACT 2617, Australia
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Prof. Standards Legislation
Honorary Lecturer, Computer Science, Australian National University
https://cecs.anu.edu.au/research/profile/tom-worthington
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