22 O PI N IO N
SIN Vol. 22 Issue 02
How Will People Cope If There Is A Stricter Lockdown Put in Place? By Matthew Geraghty Rising cases and a move to Level Three restrictions makes one wonder- how will students cope with these ever-imposing restrictions? Of course, such measures are very much necessary in order to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the community, but it would be foolish to ignore the ways in which such restrictions will impact the lives of young people. Over the summer months we have got reacquainted with the practice of meeting up with friends for a few drinks at the pub, taking trips to the cinema and even visiting other counties on staycations. When we went through lockdown the first time around there was a ‘we’re all in this together’ mentality. It was the first time ever that any of us had been through such a pandemic or the experience of isolating at home, away from our friends and life at college. However, despite the horrifying tragedy of itrising numbers of people falling sick each day, ever increasing death rates and the inability to hold hands with our grandparents and those closest to us
As Covid-19 cases rise the counties pubs and public amenities have shut once again. Photo: Lovin.ie during a time when nearly all of us were impacted in one way or another- we made the most of things. In hard times it’s the small things that count. Back in March and April, we embraced the grand stretch in the evenings and took to comforting activities such as baking banana bread, watching ‘Tiger King’ and partaking in virtual Zoom quizzes. For those of us lucky enough to just have to stay at home and not work on the frontline in the
health sector, there were even some positives to be found in the situation. Many found an opportunity to reconnect with their family and friends from home who they had had grown apart from. Those few months, allowed for the time and space to re-evaluate how we had been living our lives up until now. Some came to the conclusion that the 9-5 corporate lifestyle wasn’t for them and have continued working from home. However, as a second lockdown edges nearer and nearer and with the winter drawing in, our prospects look fairly bleak. It will soon begin to get dark between four and five., leaving little room for long walks evaluating our current life situations and barbeques under the sun in groups of six. Going into lockdown the first time around people were more willing to stick to the rules as it was the first time any of us had been through this, and community spirit was at an all-time high. Now, however, people know what lockdown entails. Despite the positives outlined above, lockdown largely consists of being stuck in the same house with the same people all day, every day, for weeks
on end. Nearly eight months into the pandemic many have exhausted their Netflix recommendation lists, recipe books, and quiz questions by now. In the event of another lockdown, mental health will have to be at the fore of the conversation. Students and the general population at large will struggle at the prospect of further restrictions. It is imperative to look after yourself during these times. While socialising isn’t exactly encouraged at the moment it is still a crucial component in the lives of young people so where it is safe to do so within the government guidelines see a friend, and if not take advantage of Facetime. Being back in college is an added stress we are also facing at the moment with everything being online until at least Christmas, but rest assured in the knowledge that lecturers are extremely understanding- they are also adjusting to online education. Exercise and diet are crucial to minding oneself and will make you feel better and remember not to let personal hygiene slip. We will get through this and the sesh will be immense on the other side.
Should lecturers have to pass a digital literacy test for providing lectures? By Mareen Breslin By now, everyone is well-acquainted with the notion of working remotely and learning remotely. Since March 2020, third level-education has primarily been taught in online form. This has led to mixed responses from students, educators, and policymakers alike. Many students and teachers have complained of a dampened quality of education, and certainly that of the traditional university experience on campus, calling into question if a discount is in order for students on their fees and housing. Universities have been working hard in the past few months to deal with these unprecedented circumstances due to the pandemic, as well as to ensure the quality of education and standards of learning are upheld, despite Covid-19 limitations. Something that has been suggested to potentially enhance the quality of online learning is a digital literacy test for lecturers and professors. This test could guarantee that lecturers have the aptitude to function digital learning tools, such as Blackboard or Zoom, in order to more effectively present course materials and online lectures to their classes. Many proponents of a designated digital test argue that if students are paying the same rate of fees, tests are a fair way to evaluate and certify that their teachers are proficient enough to sufficiently educate them through the web to the best degree possible. If students are expected to make sacrifices and learn how to navigate online learning, on top of continuing to pay the rate of standard fees, it does not seem like much to suggest that teachers be held to an online performance standard. Digital tools and being savvy with technology have become essential to the very function of education amidst the pandemic. To ask a student to use this digital technology, requires the educator to as well. If an educator is to use it, he or she should be held to at
least a minimum standard of performance and understanding of video presentation, posting course materials, email correspondence, and assortments of digital file distribution as needed by the class and module. Those against any sort of digital literacy test have made claims that it is unfair to older lecturers, who may not be digital denizens. People have stated that it is disadvantageous to ask an older professor to take a test in order to prove a level of adeptness in online teaching, when this has never been an aspect of their lecturing life before, and could discriminate against them for something out of their control. This is in contrast to many students, who tend to be in a younger demographic at large. However, everyone, regardless of their age, has been forced to take on new skills which are out of their control in recent times. It is paramount to delivering high quality online learning that the person in charge of teaching understands how to use the tools at their disposal. The test could also be seen as an opportunity for learning. Universities and institutions could provide lessons for teachers who might not know the ins and outs of digital education to get them up to speed. After undergoing these lessons, it could then be required for them to take the base line digital literacy test to move forward to online learning. These are challenging times for everyone, particularly students and educators. A digital literacy test could bring about reassurance to students that their education is being held to the highest standards. It could also ensure that professors are knowledgeable in how they are using the online tools in order to best teach students. This would also be beneficial to teachers because it could open a window for them to better understand digital education and broaden their own skillsets. It would be a positive thing for all parties, especially within the growing concern that the entire academic year is likely to be, at the very least, a hybrid experience.
