Questions That Must be Asked and Ideally Answered – Hybrid Learning
Written by Matt Campbell
Thumbnail Photo by Avery Evans on Unsplash
This article was written before SMUSA edited their website to include even less information on this topic. Some of the information referenced in this article is no longer available
Why is SMUSA advocating for a universal hybrid learning model? Why is there little in the way of substantial explanation offered regarding this request? Is this request based on truly practical considerations, or does it spring primarily from abstract appeals to virtue? Have they once paused to consider how this would affect the operation of the university? The only explanation for these questions is the SMUSA declaration itself; “Lastly, COVID-19 has and will continue to impact vulnerable populations even as restrictions lift. That’s why we believe that, regardless of the University’s intentions for Winter 2022, all courses should be made available to students online, so that any student who studies at Saint Mary’s University can continue to study at home if that is their safest option.”
SMUSA claims that their advocacy for a hybrid learning model is to make students feel safe while attending their classes. The first question to ask is “why would a hybrid learning model make students feel safe?” The answer seems to lie in ongoing worries over COVID-19, mainly among the University executives, administrators, and SMUSA itself. SMUSA claims that this structural upheaval will allow students to attend class in whatever location they feel most comfortable. However, this has the consequence of completely eradicating any shred of discipline or rigor in the university by allowing students to decide not to come to campus for what may be trivial reasons. Many people who are already not inclined to show up in person on a regular basis may be scarcely more inclined to keep up with lecture material when offered online. It must also be noted that most students do not seem to be very concerned with the COVID-19 anymore. Most students appear to wear masks only when necessary and remove them as soon as possible, not to mention wearing them around their neck rather than their face. SMUSA also says that hybrid learning is more flexible for students who may experience unforeseen circumstances which prevent their in-person attendance, not accounting for the fact that many circumstances that would make in-person attendance difficult would also prevent attendance online.
What this seems to amount to is a focus away from standards of discipline and academic rigor, in favor of catering to the impulsive feelings of some students. Sometimes it seems as if universities are now investing more effort in the convenience and experiences of students, rather than the quality of their academics. Granted, there are students who are justified in being wary of the spread of illness for serious medical reasons. But these cases are statistically few and would not dictate the universal need for a hybrid learning model. If students have a genuine medical need to avoid crowds, they could register in a remote section of a class or ask for a specific accommodation (that in itself, although a potential compromise, should not be abused).
Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash
I have discussed this issue for some time with various people, including professors. Most of these individuals raise the same concern: It’s almost guaranteed that students would feel less compelled to attend on-campus classes if they were being recorded for later review. If one can attend a class online, the inconvenience of the daily commute to the South end of Halifax is no longer necessary. Living at home myself, I would certainly be tempted to opt for remote attendance if I was tired or if the weather was poor, despite being opposed to this proposition. This only shows the temptation of hybrid learning. We have already seen this in what few classes have been hybrid; if there is no expectation for students to attend on campus, the majority simply will not attend, especially if the class is scheduled at an odd hour or if the weather is particularly foul. If this is to be the case, why should professors be expected to brave the outdoors only to appear before a quarter of the class on a regular basis? Professors would likely just resort to an entirely online format instead.
While many may not take issue with low lecture attendance, they may fail to see the unintended consequences that results from fewer students commuting to campus. For instance, if the incentive to come to campus was greatly diminished, socialization among students would decrease, particularly in person. Activities and events on campus would also see a reduction in attendance, due to there being fewer students present on campus overall. Perhaps most alarming of all is the loss of incentive for people to move into residence. The benefit of having students come from out of town to study at Saint Mary’s and utilize their knowledge and talents is deeply important to the reputation and survival of the institution. If there isn’t any real incentive to attend on campus classes, why would you spend large sums of money to live there? However, most telling of SMUSA’s short-sightedness is the fact that their role will be greatly undermined if a universal hybrid approach is adopted. If fewer students are living in residence, the demand for hospitality services provided largely by SMUSA will decrease. Similarly, it’s likely that many societies may not continue operating, and it’s likely that fewer new societies will be created.
SMUSA’s elected members and bureaucracy appears to be unique in its ability to undermine its own future influence, as this is not the typical course for elected bodies or bureaucracies. The lack of foresight from SMUSA regarding their proposal is very telling. It shows a lack of nuanced consideration for a multitude of variables that could impede their work. Not only is this self-defeating, but it is also costly. Worst of all, it is disruptive to the learning process of many students, due to a lack of classroom discipline inherent in online learning. Is it not possible to accommodate genuine need for remote learning on a case by case basis? This would be much more reasonable and straightforward. But doing so would appear far less “impactful”. Thus, it seems that SMUSA prioritizes their public relations appeal rather than understanding the importance of doing things right.