This University Just Started Exclusively Online Lectures: Here's How It Went

They're moving away from face-to-face learning.

It's safe to say that the coronavirus pandemic has had a significant impact on the way we go about our daily lives. People are practicing social distancing as much as possible, and many businesses are encouraging staff to work remotely to prevent transmission. 

While Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has insisted that schools will remain open for the foreseeable future, universities around the country are gearing up to move lectures and classes online. 

Australia is still keeping schools open.

My university is slowly switching to online classes, but is still running classes for the most part.

I ended up just taking the day off and tuning into one online class. I have more to gain from doing that.

— MBgov1133 (@MBgov1133) March 18, 2020

As of today, Western Australia's Curtin University has moved all lectures online, advising students to stay at home, with all assessments held online. 

Curtin's Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry said in a statement that the uni had reached the decision following government and medical advice.

The university is also having a tuition-free week starting from Monday 23 March to prepare for the transition. 

As Chemical Engineering student Lauren Dean tells Student Edge, she believes the uni has made the right decision, and there are actually some positives to studying online. 

"I live quite far from uni, so it's beneficial to have lessons online," she says. 

"I probably wouldn't die from coronavirus, but I could pass it onto someone who could. So based on that, minimising the spread by having lectures online is a good idea." 

As Lauren explains, students will be able to watch the lectures live or play them back later, while for tutorials and workshops, they will be able to interact through a forum.

why has the rest of the world shut down uni and school and australia is just like: you’ll be fine just wash ur hands 🥰

— khayla (@boooboothefooI) March 15, 2020

In saying that, other students believe technical difficulties might impact their studies. Bachelor of Science student Matthew Oosthuizen says a lot of lectures are too interactive to be held online. 

"It's definitely an appropriate move, but it's going to make the semester difficult," he says. 

"You can't get the same benefit as face-to-face interactions." 

At this stage, it's unclear what plans the uni has for labs and practical workshops.

Australia still continuing with school, uni, etc. is causing me psychological & motivation issues because I can’t focus on study or look ahead at upcoming deadlines while I live with the knowledge that things could shut down at any minute pic.twitter.com/wuJuex7YRo

— Jessica Kiss (@sleepyfrenchfry) March 13, 2020

Curtin University is not the only institution that's preparing to move their classes online. The University of Notre Dame has already announced that all lectures, tutorials, and labs for its nursing and midwifery students would be delivered online from Monday. 

Additionally, Edith Cowan University is also moving towards online teaching and flexible learning arrangements, while the University of Sydney is in the process of moving all its classes online. 

Header Image: skynesher / E+ via Getty Images