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1/ THREAD ON FACE-TO-FACE TEACHING
The debate around face-to-face teaching in UK #HigherEd escalated yesterday when @ucu warned it 'could spark a #Covid avalanche' and UK universities could be the 'care homes of a second wave'.
#EpiTwitter #COVID19 #SarsCoV2
The debate around face-to-face teaching in UK #HigherEd escalated yesterday when @ucu warned it 'could spark a #Covid avalanche' and UK universities could be the 'care homes of a second wave'.
#EpiTwitter #COVID19 #SarsCoV2
2/ THREAD ON FACE-TO-FACE TEACHING
We know (younger) students are at a MUCH lower risk of death from #COVID19. And we know masks can be remarkably effective at reducing disease spread. So, on the face of it, the idea of universities being the next care homes seems alarmist.
We know (younger) students are at a MUCH lower risk of death from #COVID19. And we know masks can be remarkably effective at reducing disease spread. So, on the face of it, the idea of universities being the next care homes seems alarmist.
3/ THREAD ON FACE-TO-FACE TEACHING
Meanwhile, university managers claim they've been working hard to make campuses safe, adding ventilation and developing testing protocols. They naturally want to provide the best possible experience to their fee-paying students.
Meanwhile, university managers claim they've been working hard to make campuses safe, adding ventilation and developing testing protocols. They naturally want to provide the best possible experience to their fee-paying students.
4/ THREAD ON FACE-TO-FACE TEACHING
For many, the debate about #HigherEd teaching runs parallel to the reopening of primary and secondary schools. And with those being opened this week, it may seem strange to take a different approach with older students.
For many, the debate about #HigherEd teaching runs parallel to the reopening of primary and secondary schools. And with those being opened this week, it may seem strange to take a different approach with older students.
5/ THREAD ON FACE-TO-FACE TEACHING
But if the #COVID19 pandemic has had one positive effect it's to underline some of the key principles of Epidemiology: 1) it depends 2) context is everything 3) empirical evidence matters!
But if the #COVID19 pandemic has had one positive effect it's to underline some of the key principles of Epidemiology: 1) it depends 2) context is everything 3) empirical evidence matters!
6/ THREAD ON FACE-TO-FACE TEACHING
#HigherEd is NOT like primary or secondary school and universities are NOT like care homes. In some ways the risks are much smaller, and in some ways they are also much greater!
#HigherEd is NOT like primary or secondary school and universities are NOT like care homes. In some ways the risks are much smaller, and in some ways they are also much greater!
7/ THREAD ON FACE-TO-FACE TEACHING
For example, while students have a very low risk of death from #COVID19 themselves, they are a formidable vector for infectious disease transmission. They don't all come from the same area, they don't all sit in single classes.
For example, while students have a very low risk of death from #COVID19 themselves, they are a formidable vector for infectious disease transmission. They don't all come from the same area, they don't all sit in single classes.
8/ THREAD ON FACE-TO-FACE TEACHING
#HigherEd students come together from all around the world to sit different classes, live in different halls, go shopping, eating, partying, and generally mixing. Not just with each other, but with staff, non-student friends and family.
#HigherEd students come together from all around the world to sit different classes, live in different halls, go shopping, eating, partying, and generally mixing. Not just with each other, but with staff, non-student friends and family.
9/ THREAD ON FACE-TO-FACE TEACHING
While (younger) students may have a lower risk of death from #COVID19, their behaviours make them more likely to contract #SarsCoV2. Since they're also more likely to become asymptomatic carriers; this makes the spread much harder to control.
While (younger) students may have a lower risk of death from #COVID19, their behaviours make them more likely to contract #SarsCoV2. Since they're also more likely to become asymptomatic carriers; this makes the spread much harder to control.
10/ THREAD ON FACE-TO-FACE TEACHING
So while there's no risk of universities becoming the next 'care homes', because students aren't a 'captive' population at high risk of death, there's a high risk they become a deadly catalyst for disease spread to the population as a whole
So while there's no risk of universities becoming the next 'care homes', because students aren't a 'captive' population at high risk of death, there's a high risk they become a deadly catalyst for disease spread to the population as a whole
11/ THREAD ON FACE-TO-FACE TEACHING
In fact, I'm not sure you could design a more effective way of seeding a second wave of #COVID19 than inviting hundreds of thousand of students to return to face-to-face teaching. In fact, I'm stunned this is even being considered!
In fact, I'm not sure you could design a more effective way of seeding a second wave of #COVID19 than inviting hundreds of thousand of students to return to face-to-face teaching. In fact, I'm stunned this is even being considered!
12/ THREAD ON FACE-TO-FACE TEACHING
As ever with #COVID19 the warnings are already there to see. Just look over the Atlantic at the USA, where many campuses have opened, promising face-to-face teaching and promptly had to close due to local spikes.
As ever with #COVID19 the warnings are already there to see. Just look over the Atlantic at the USA, where many campuses have opened, promising face-to-face teaching and promptly had to close due to local spikes.
13/ THREAD ON FACE-TO-FACE TEACHING
Students might think they want face-to-face teaching, but American students have *not* appreciated being so dramatically uprooted, only to have it all called off within a matter of days/weeks.
Students might think they want face-to-face teaching, but American students have *not* appreciated being so dramatically uprooted, only to have it all called off within a matter of days/weeks.
14/ THREAD ON FACE-TO-FACE TEACHING
But never mind the inconvenience. #COVID19 kills and (appears to) cause long-term morbidity. (Young) students might be OK. But not older or vulnerable staff. And not the wider community.
But never mind the inconvenience. #COVID19 kills and (appears to) cause long-term morbidity. (Young) students might be OK. But not older or vulnerable staff. And not the wider community.
15/ THREAD ON FACE-TO-FACE TEACHING
#HigherEd institutions like to remind us of their wider impact on society. Unless they take social responsibility for their contribution to the spread of #COVID19, I fear that impact could be a wave of avoidable death.
#SARSCOV2 #EpiTwitter
#HigherEd institutions like to remind us of their wider impact on society. Unless they take social responsibility for their contribution to the spread of #COVID19, I fear that impact could be a wave of avoidable death.
#SARSCOV2 #EpiTwitter
