online learning

A New Virtual Approach to Learning at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus

COVID-19 Safety Measures, Algonquin College, Pembroke Campus

There has never been a start to a school year like the one we are experiencing this fall at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus. The campus is eerily quiet as few students are in the building, most are receiving their training in a virtual learning environment where faculty have adapted the way they teach course content in this pandemic adjusted world we are living in.

Enrolments are in fact strong, approaching 1,000 students in the 19 full-time programs that are being offered at the campus. Many programs were waitlisted as they filled up during the summer months, a strong indicator that students did not put their lives on hold and followed through with their commitment to obtain post-secondary credentials.

Online class

Like the students, most college employees are working from home. Over the past few months, both faculty and student support staff have done a remarkable job creating virtual support systems to help students succeed. The creativity, ingenuity and perseverance of the college staff have been inspiring, and through this pandemic, much has been learned about how technology can enable enhanced learning for students.

Of course, there are some things that can not be taught online, and so safety mitigation plans have been put in place to allow students in specialized classes to come on campus or participate in field trips. Examples include carpentry shop classes or outdoor skills training for Arborist students who need to learn the art of tree climbing.

Outdoor Adventure Naturalist, Algonquin College, Pembroke CampusThe College has imposed strict safety guidelines such as the requirement that masks be worn on campus, that all students and employees complete an online health and safety COVID-19 course and that faculty take student attendance. Additional measures such as enhanced cleaning, the removal of furniture to ensure physical distancing and the closure of some common spaces with a shift to more virtual services have also been foundational in the college’s approach to keeping its students and staff safe.

A walk through the campus this fall is a very different experience. Gone is the buzz of excitement that comes with the start of a school year where orientation activities bring students together. That’s been replaced by virtual learning and social spaces using technology like Zoom, but through this unprecedented situation, students, faculty and staff are adjusting, understanding we may be in this situation for a while.

Former New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra often left people confused with his creative sayings, but this one seems to hit the mark. “No one goes there nowadays, it’s too crowded.” People are trying to stay within their social bubbles, trying to stay safe, but also trying to live as normal a life as possible. Making personal connections has never been more difficult.

Across the nation, post-secondary schools have had to adjust to this new reality. Higher education will remember 2020 as a year of disruption, however, history may show that the pandemic was also a transformational time for the sector. Never before have colleges pivoted so quickly and intentionally, keeping the focus on student success and academic instruction.

Berra would say, “If you see a fork in the road, take it.” Colleges have certainly done this, and while many students and employees long for the day when classes return to traditional classrooms, the pandemic has made it necessary to shift the way education is delivered. Students still have a timetable and still receive lessons from their faculty while spending time together in scheduled classes, but the bricks and mortar has been replaced by a computer screen. 2020 is certainly a new world.

Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs

Algonquin College Responds to COVID-19 Pandemic

It happened quickly, but students at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus are now completing their winter term online. The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented situation for the entire world, and as countries responded by enforcing physical distancing, it prompted post-secondary institutions to move curriculum that would normally be taught in classrooms, labs and in the workplace to an online format.

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Starting on Monday, March 23, students who were accustomed to attending classes on campus were now engaging from their homes. The College knew this would be a big adjustment for both teachers and students, and so a variety of supports were put in place to support both parties. Faculty who had extensive experience teaching online rallied to support their colleagues and the College’s information technology and academic support teams put together a “super team” of trainers who introduced new online learning tools and best practices to ensure teachers were in the best position to deliver their classes virtually.

Across the College, teams of employees brainstormed and then put into action fresh ideas to build a toolbox of resources to support students. A great example is a learning kit portal that shares resources on how to succeed in online classes. There are videos on topics such as time management, studying and test-taking and delivering presentations. Another section puts students in contact with the College’s student support lab where they can set up virtual meetings with academic coaches who can help them better understand subject material in areas such as English, Math and Science.

The College uses Zoom technology to allow its faculty to deliver lectures and presentations to student remotely. The learning kit portal provides step-by-step directions to students on how to navigate their way through Zoom so they are comfortable using it. There’s also a Student Services User Guide that puts students in contact with the right college staff member who can help them, whether that is an academic advisor, a counsellor or a financial aid officer.

Online Classroom

It hasn’t been an easy transition moving from a face-to-face educational model to an online campus in such a short period of time, but given the circumstances, there was no choice and there was limited time to make the transition. It’s been a learning experience for everyone, but our students and faculty deserve a lot of credit for their patience and willingness to adjust during a very difficult time.

For example, the College understands that with elementary and secondary schools closed, many college students have children at home as do some teachers. This sometimes leads to unexpected interruptions from younger family members or even pets. There’s an appreciation that life is happening in real-time for everyone and that the uncertainty of the pandemic is concerning for all. For that reason, the College is working very hard to be flexible and supportive of students as they navigate their way through what is a completely new learning environment for some of them.

Algonquin College, Pembroke Campus

It will be some time before the Waterfront Campus re-opens to students for in-person classes, but out of this crisis will come many new opportunities for the College to better serve its learners. Developing a learner-driven plan that customizes the experience of students has been a priority for the College, and moving to an online platform of instruction, will certainly help generate new ideas of what the future student learning experience could look like. It’s an exciting concept, but a dialogue that will have to wait a bit longer as the College prioritizes its commitment to help students complete their academic term.

In the meantime, Algonquin College will continue to aspire to its mission to transform hopes and dreams into lifelong success. The College is just doing it in a different way, while also looking forward to a return to regular college operations when it is safe to do so. Be safe and be well.

Jamie Bramburger is the Manager of Community and Student Affairs at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus. You can reach Jamie at brambuj@algonquincollege.com