US UNIVERSITIES TRANSFER TO ONLINE LEARNING FOR CORONAVIRUS'S PURPOSE

A woman sits on the Columbia University campus, Monday, March 9, 2020, in New York. Colleges across the country, including Columbia, are closing campuses with plans to continue teaching online. (Photo AP / Mark Lenni

More than 200 American colleges and universities from California to New York have turned to online classes to stop the spread of the new coronavirus. Additionally, schools postpone their study abroad programs to protect their students.

The University of Washington became the first major US university to deliver online classes to 50,000 students. President Ana Mari Cauce said, Starting from Monday, March 9, classes will no longer meet face to face. She said the decision was made because of the continued spread of COVID-19 in the region and with the advice of public health officials. At least 25 people have died from COVID-19, a disease caused by the new coronavirus, in the state of Washington. Most of the dead were from a nursing home near Seattle.

Michael Drake, President of Ohio State University, Michael Drake, told his 68,000 students that the school is suspending live instruction, membership and other similar classes and moving to virtual instruction, which is in effect. immediately and at least Monday, March 30.

Harvard President Lawrence Bacow announced that the school will begin teaching online to all classes on March 23, the first day of classes after spring break. The goal, he says, is to avoid students spending time together.

In the state of New Jersey, classes are canceled at Rutgers University until March 22, and will then move online. The university asks students to leave the school as soon as possible.

With the latest announcements, more than 200 US colleges and universities have canceled classes directly or moved them online to avoid the spread of the new coronavirus. Schools include major schools such as Stanford University in California, Princeton University in New Jersey, New York University, Rice University in Texas and University of California, Berkeley. Smaller universities that cancel live classes include Amherst College in Massachusetts, Skidmore College and Touro College in New York, Rowan University in New Jersey and Everette Community College in Washington State.

Bryan Alexander of Georgetown University in Washington D.C. is tracking efforts to turn class instruction online. He said in an email to VOA, Campuses are rather worried about the safety of the people, about the population infecting others and being sued. With the number of cases increasing, he believes that many universities will turn their classes online, especially in the areas most affected by the virus.

Cancel study abroad program

The US Department of Education has made it easier for universities to redirect online instruction. A March 5 announcement said the department is providing broad approval for organizations to use online technologies to assist students on an interim basis.

It also requires universities to help students in study abroad programs that have been canceled because of the spread of the coronavirus.

The University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania canceled all study abroad programs in France, Germany and Spain because of Islamic health and safety.

One of the students affected was Matthew Biederman. He told VOA, classes were supposed to begin, but Pitt informed me last Tuesday that I have to go back to the states for the week. He added, `` I'm currently socially isolated for two weeks as I try to plan how to recover my lost semester. The university has promised to help him find new classes or other study programs for the summer.

Other universities, including Villanova University, Syracuse University and New York University, have withdrawn their students from their programs in Italy. The University of Colorado, Boulder, suspended its programs in China and South Korea. The coronavirus just started in China and has spread to many people in Korea.

Alexander, a professor at Georgetown University, believes that this experience can motivate more universities to develop online education. However, he warns that might not happen if the student has poor online experience, or if the coronavirus turns into another flu strain.

Susan Mackay-Kallis teaches communications at Villanova University. One of the results of the COVID-19 virus, she agrees, will be that it will speed up universities to prepare for online teaching and learning.

However, Mackay-Kallis believes that online learning will never replace an experience for students who can live in another culture, be able to meet students from around the world, speak one language. another, eating a different dish and generally having an immersive educational experience.

I'm Mario Ritter.

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