Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an enormous and unprecedented effect on higher education. Perhaps most notably, the virus catalysed a speedy movement to online delivery in response to the range of mandatory physical restrictions to campuses and classrooms around the world. To that end, this article discusses the online self-access student support options that were implemented at a mid-size public Australian university during March and April 2020. Drawing upon reflections from three student support leaders at the institution, it explores the rapid development and deployment of three new initiatives: self-access resources and videos for preparing to learn online, videoconference appointment options with learning advisers and librarians, and peer-to-peer virtual guides to online learning. It also comments on the implications of these programs for future practice, including the personally observed criticality of student feedback on accessible short video guides, flexible online individual support options and avenues for connecting with peers for technical support. Through this exploration and reflection, this article contributes to the new emerging body of literature on student support during the outbreak of COVID-19.
Highlights
The COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the most significant global events of the 21st century, causing fundamental shifts in the ways people use technology and maintain social connections during times of mandatory self-isolation
Student barriers to online learning already existed in normal circumstances (Kelly, 2020; Muilenburg & Berge, 2005), yet trends in employment and technological access brought about by COVID-19 only increased these barriers for many students
Context: Institutional Profile and its COVID-19 Response The three initiatives explored in this article were developed at Edith Cowan University (ECU), a mid-size public university based in Western Australia
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the most significant global events of the 21st century, causing fundamental shifts in the ways people use technology and maintain social connections during times of mandatory self-isolation. These three initiatives include new self-access resources and videos for preparing to learn online, videoconference appointment options with learning advisers and librarians, and peer-to-peer virtual guides to online learning. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the creation of three key new ECU support options: selfaccess resources and videos for preparing to learn online, videoconference appointments with learning advisers and librarians, and virtual peer support for online learning.
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