08.10.2020
The information is current for October 8, for further changes see info on the website.
Dr. Vasily Makolov, Head of the Educational and Methodological Department of the RSUH, spoke about how the organization of the educational process would change in the coming days due to coronavirus infection. The main feature is the mixed format of the classes. The transfer of teachers aged 65 and above as well as those from the risk group to the remote format provides for them implementing academic disciplines online. The quality of education will not decline.
Vasily Ivanovich, how many teachers have expressed a desire to work remotely?
This figure is constantly changing. In accordance with the Decrees of the Mayor of Moscow, the share of workers transferred to a remote mode of work ought to be 30%.
When is the transfer to the remote format planned?
This work is being carried out in stages and the current stage began October 5.
For teachers, the difficulty of transferring to the distance format is that the schedule is designed not only for teachers of the 65+ age group, it is the schedule that all other teachers have to follow. Therefore, it was decided that the students remain in the classroom where the lecture is broadcast remotely. A proctor will also be present. We have also begun training students to work as digital volunteers.
Is the student obliged to stay on the territory of the University or can they listen to a lecture from elsewhere?
You can listen and be remotely present from anywhere. As of October 5, all classrooms (except for computer labs) are open.
Students can join the electronic session from home unless he/she needs to be at the RSUH that day.
How many and which students will these changes affect?
Online classes concern almost all divisions of the RSUH to a greater or lesser extent, depending on the number of teachers from the risk group. In accordance with the order of the RSUH, intramural students cannot have fewer than two face-to-face days a week.
What is especially difficult as regards frequent format changes?
The main difficulty is associated with the schedule. About 1 thousand academic groups study at RSUH (full-time and part-time). The academic load is usually distributed in such a way that one teacher will teach classes at different faculties. So it is almost impossible to make the schedule in which some school days are covered only by the teachers from the risk group teach, and other days are reserved for the rest of the teachers.
Will the academic load be reviewed?
We do not plan to revise the workload this academic year.
Do the changes affect the quality of the educational process?
Obviously, the change of formats should not reduce the quality of education. Online classes this year have been supplemented by the preparation of teaching materials and assignments by teachers to be uploaded to the RSUH website. This is intended primarily for foreign students who could not come to Russia and have to study remotely. In addition, an audio broadcast of lectures is organized, they can be accessed on https://radio.rggu.ru.
So the students will have to display greater independence?
Independence is expected in any academic format. Up to half of the time allocated for mastering the educational program falls on independent work. The number and amount of face-to-face lessons does not decrease. The transfer of knowledge and interaction with the teacher will be just carried out through digital technologies. But, I repeat, this does not affect the final indicator, the number of hours allocated for mastering the program, and the credits. Also, this does not contradict the requirements of legislative and regulatory documents in force in the field of higher education. Almost all federal state educational standards allow the use of e-learning and distance learning technologies.
Will the students be taking the finals according to the usual grading systems?
The student evaluation system is approved by the Regulations on the current monitoring of progress. At the same time, one can expect that at the consulting sessions students will be asking more questions, requiring help in terms of additional information
