I am currently putting together online seminars for our summer semester (April–July). So far this has taken at least two or three times as long as preparing "normal" classes, with learning outcomes unlikely to be similar at all. I'm not a fan.
But I dread universities reopening.
But I dread universities reopening.
I work at a campus university where students are near each other constantly.
Many of them commute. Many share apartments.
Many live in close quarters in campus housing.
Many still live at home, some with parents or other family members who may be high risk.
Many of them commute. Many share apartments.
Many live in close quarters in campus housing.
Many still live at home, some with parents or other family members who may be high risk.
Many professors commute. Often from hours and hours away on public transportation, like myself.
Everyone eats at a few crowded cafeterias.
There is one bar on campus, one fast food joint, one bakery.
Everyone eats at a few crowded cafeterias.
There is one bar on campus, one fast food joint, one bakery.
If you tried to design the optimal way for a virus like this to spread far and wide, you couldn't do better.
And that's just one school.
And that's just one school.
This doesn't mean we shouldn't try to reopen the parts of universities and colleges that simply can't work with online-only classes.
But very likely, even a reopened uni won't look like it does during a regular semester for a while.
But very likely, even a reopened uni won't look like it does during a regular semester for a while.
A lot of the push for going back to "normality" seems to stem from a fundamental assumption that once it arrives, it will be very similar to what we had before.
But the "new normal" will be just that: new. We can hope it will be close to the old normal, but there's no guarantee.
But the "new normal" will be just that: new. We can hope it will be close to the old normal, but there's no guarantee.
Just think of the single small suggestion that Dr. Fauci has made in the US: stop shaking hands. Don't do it ever again.
It's a minor, minor alteration of behavior compared to so many others imaginable.
But even such a small change would mean a very different world.
It's a minor, minor alteration of behavior compared to so many others imaginable.
But even such a small change would mean a very different world.
