Students should, where possible, be grouped into “Learning Groups” that are the same for all their teaching activities. These groups will be of approximately 14 students, but sizes should be optimised for room capacity, course size, learning & teaching approaches, and course content.
- This is beneficial from a timetabling and space perspective.
- This is likely to work well with core modules, but not electives, so should be easier to implement at L4 rather than higher levels.
- TORS and Timetable will provide a timetable optimising the use of specialist space for the respective departments to use as a basis for their planning. Activity in specialist space will be in 4 hour blocks with a gap between groups for cleaning (which could be doubled to 8 hours for one group of students). Delivering all 4 hours on campus teaching wholly in specialist spaces may exceed available capacity. Consideration should be given to delivering a mix of specialist and classroom-based learning to achieve the minimum of 4 hours on campus experience.
- In exceptional circumstances, where social distancing can’t be achieved in specialist space, relevant PPE will be provided.
- From a student experience perspective this measure may help build communities, strengthen social norms which support engagement, provide a basis for peer support and peer learning experiences, and could provide the basis for working on group projects that cross several modules.