gomabonshop

感染者数が世界最多となっているアメリカでは、多くの州でロックダウンが実施されており、学校も休校となっている。アメリカでは通常でもオンライン授業を提供している大学も多いが、今回の新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大を受け、早い大学では3月中に全ての学内授業をキャンセルし、オンラインへの切り替えを実施している。

fizkes via Getty Images

Cindy Ord via Getty Images

In the United States, where the number of people infected is the highest in the world, lockdowns are being implemented in many states and schools are closed. Many universities in the United States usually provide online classes, but due to the spread of the new coronavirus, early universities canceled all on-campus classes in March and switched to online. I have.

Mr. Matsubara lives in New York, where infection is spreading in the United States. He is a priest of the Buddha temple at the Rinzai Muneshinji school, and is a visiting lecturer at the faculty of religion at Rhode Island at Brown University. The university teaches once a week about the Rinzai sect in Japan.

Life in New York, where a de facto curfew has been imposed since March 20, has grown nervous and says, "I haven't gone out for the past week."

It was March 8 that Matsubara-san received an email from the university. It was at a time when there were only a few infected people in the United States. However, the email said that the students had to be removed from campus and requested to switch classes online.

"The first week was just a 'request', so I switched as much as I could. My classes had a few days of preparation on Friday, so I switched immediately from that week."

The university has closed the following week and is now preparing for the transition to online classes. Then, there was a week's spring break, and the school resumed on March 30.

Online classes at ZOOM

Matsubara says he had no experience in conducting online classes at college, but says he can do it smoothly.

"The university shared the know-how to switch to online lessons, but rather, they shared their wisdom among fellow professors, such as" It's easy to do this with Zoom. " It has been switched to ease. "

The class is similar to a meeting in Zoom, and time is set, and when Mr. Matsubara logs in and waits, students gather one after another. There are 16 students in the class. He says that he and his students are reflected on the screen, and sometimes the PowerPoint presentations are shown in the class.

Matsubara teaches that Brown University takes over three hours by express train from his New York home. He says that it has become much easier now that commuting has ended, instead of online classes.

Flexibility is important

In addition, as everyone is under stress with the new coronavirus, university classes also need to be flexible.

"That's why it's important to pay attention to the mental health of the students. During the first and last 10 minutes, I listen to and laugh while I'm going. In some families, there are people who can't concentrate on their studies, and for those students, we try to be as flexible as possible by recording lessons. "

In addition to classes, "office hours", where students can consult, were previously set up in the office before classes, but now they can be accepted online flexibly. Students submit assignments and research papers via email. In addition, for such a period, it seems that the required tasks and grades are also flexibly handled.

Students say these online classes are also favorable.

"Everyone seems to be taking classes with peace of mind. I was worried about going to school. It seems like I'm at home. Some people are leaving, so some students may be away on the way. "

fizkes via Getty Images
Image photo
Challenges ...

Matsubara teaches that there are no particular problems at private college classes, but this is not always the case in American universities as a whole, and local media in the United States has pointed out some problems.

The transition to online classes at universities involves technical issues and the presence of an Internet environment.

It's not always easy for an analog professor to do an online lesson right away, and even with support, it can't be accomplished overnight. Students also need to get used to the style of online classes.

Also, some students who had to leave the campus or dormitory where the Internet environment was in place had no Internet or equipment environment to accommodate online classes at home, and some students Some concerns are left behind.

In contrast, some telecommunications companies have announced services such as providing free 60-day Internet access to families with kindergarten to college students and low-income families.

Cindy Ord via Getty Images
In New York, there is a need to practice social distance (keep people away to prevent infection).
For small, middle and high schools

In Japan, many schools have been closed at the request of the government since March at elementary and junior high schools nationwide.

On the other hand, in public schools in the U.S. (between young and high schools) who have taken measures to close schools, online classes have begun early. According to the company, the company provides environmental support to homes that do not have an Internet environment, and if that is not feasible, provides a set of printed issues.

The “connection” needed now

Matsubara's teaching at Brown University has already announced the postponement of the graduation ceremony in May. He says he feels that he needs to be connected during these difficult times.

"Now, there is a need for social distance, that is, physical distance from people to prevent infection. But mental distance is not required. Just looking at it makes me happy. "