Teaching report: Establishment of standing committee (long term) or working group (medium term) or task-and-finish group (short term) to establish best practice in the facilitation of DL/online/remote students carrying out practical education

This is for presentation to the FLT committee. The Covid-19 pandemic has brought practical/laboratory education into focus because this is the one mode that cannot easily be translated for DL/online/remote students. Regardless of the post-pandemic HE, Strathclyde still has a vision which involves increasing numbers of DL/online/remote students. However, how should such students engage in laboratory/practical education? This paper proposes a way forward. The overall aim is for ALL teaching staff (both current and future) to have the knowledge and skills to be able to "translate" current practical activities – and to "create" new practical activities suitable for online/DL delivery. The distinction between "creation" and "translation" is important – the former opens up a whole new world of opportunities not considered previously. There should be support systems in place to provide training and advice to teaching staff from all faculties and all departments. There should be resources that also allow those staff who feel able to carry out this translation more independently. For those staff that feel less confident about this translation and creation, they should at least know where to go for advice and support. Duplication of effort should be avoided by identifying common aspects of delivery across the four faculties and the associated departments.