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Dear university administrators,
I know that you are breathing a sigh of endorphin-fuelled relief of having “survived” the emergency shift to remote teaching. But, I gotta break it to ya. 1/10
I know that you are breathing a sigh of endorphin-fuelled relief of having “survived” the emergency shift to remote teaching. But, I gotta break it to ya. 1/10
Please stop what you are thinking - you know it, I know it. You are thinking that a summer of remote zoom teaching, and into the fall of 2020, and possibly 2021 is just fine. It isn’t. Here’s why. 2/10
Your incoming first year/freshman students this fall are struggling to stay motivated to graduate from high school. I got one at home (kid #2), & it’s not pretty. These kids are wired to need their friends, and in a very physical way. The are strung out. 3/10
I have heard admins saying “Well, they will still pay their tuition dollars since what else will these high school kids do if they can’t work?” -> crazy talk, and it misses the point. What if they are too demoralized to succeed? 4/10
Expecting 18-year olds to be able to handle a demanding academic schedule with mediocre zoom lectures, in the basement of their parent’s house, is going to lead to widespread dropping out. Go & talk to these kids. 5/10
Without the social dynamism of university, they will wallow. 6/10 https://twitter.com/loleen_berdahl/status/1252219184341278720">https://twitter.com/loleen_be...
So the message is this - emergency remote teaching is just not going to cut it for this demographic. I know you want the tuition 
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💰" title="Money bag" aria-label="Emoji: Money bag"> without spending on proper online teaching resources, but that’s unethical. 7/10
Why not follow the @AlexUsherHESA suggestion & collaborate with other universities? The alternative is a mass mental health crisis & failing a year’s worth of students. 8/10
You hold the power to support quality online learning & at least try. You will come out of this with a portfolio of quality online teaching materials, and you will also be able to point to these materials when....9/10
...your health authority does not allow in-person classes in fall of 2020. Many students-to-be will bail at this point as more jobs will open up. But, some might be motivated to try IF you have prepared. Thanks for reading. 10/10
