HELM ENGAGE #5

From the usual registration woes in February 2020 to empty lecture halls, deserted campuses, hollowed out residences, Covid-19 ushered in digital learning and teaching with an unprecedented speed and breadth. It has impacted learning, teaching, student support and development like no other event in recent history. The alacrity with which it took place has not allowed much space for theorising, or thinking through its impacts.

Reflections on the qualitative experiences and on the learning design, as well as two national studies bare evidence in this regard: the Student Access and Use of Learning Materials (SAULM) report and the CHE-USAf-UFS Staff Experience of, and Perspectives, on Teaching and Learning and its Future (SEP-TLF) Survey. Join us on Thursday, 25 November 2021 (14:00—16:00).

This event offers a platform for early insights into the qualitative experiences, digital learning design and other results of the above national research projects. ENGAGE #5 will enable us to hear from SAIDE’s Siyaphumelela project on their contributions towards the sectors’ readiness in terms of having migrated towards hybrid, blended and digital modes of learning, teaching, development and support.  Dr Alan Amory, Senior Programme Specialist: Learning Technologies, SAIDE will talk on “Learning Design for a Digital University”; Dr Phumeza Kota-Nyati, Dean of Teaching and Learning, NMU will address the lived experience of students and staff; and Prof Francois Strydom, Senior Director: Centre for Teaching and Learning, UFS and Dr Sonja Loots will talk to the outcomes of the SAULM study.

HELM ENGAGE will resume in the new year with another brace of intriguing conversations about both the lacunas and elephants in the halls of higher education.

All information on future events can be found on www.helm.ac.za.
Please join HELM to keep up to date on these and other upcoming ‘thought breaks’.