Students urge University of Sunshine Coast to backflip its controversial lecture decision

Students have questioned a decision to replace online and in class uni lectures with “alternative learning materials” by 2022. Have your say in our poll.

University of the Sunshine Coast students have questioned the merits of a decision to replace online and in class lectures with “alternative learning materials” by 2022.

It comes after a radical decision from the University of the Sunshine Coast to scrap lectures from 2022 and replaced with materials such as quizzes and podcasts.

In a message to students about the change, the university stated “traditional style lectures have been demonstrated to have poor learning outcomes”.

The decision was met with anger from the student body after hundreds signed a petition that demanded a backflip.

Students Tehlia Hay, Emily Jackson, Lily Hamilton and Sara Croft were all shocked to hear of the upcoming changes.

All four students said they were puzzled by the decision and would miss the student to teacher interaction.

“Having the lectures online is great because you can listen to them at your own pace and catch up if you need to,” Ms Jackson said.

“Even with the online ones there’s usually time to ask the lecturers questions and have that person to person chat.

“You don’t miss out that way.”

USC students Tehlia Hay, Emily Jackson, Lily Hamilton and Sara Croft said they did not agree with the decision Picture: Matty Holdsworth

Ms Croft said she would miss the ability to have an in class discussion based around the content heard in a lecture.

The four students said the Covid-19 pandemic had already created a wave of issues for them to deal with.

“We would really need more information about what they would replace the lectures with but a podcast doesn’t sound enough,” Ms Jackson said.

Fellow student Danyelle Woods said she saw merits in ditching the face-to-face lectures but not the online format.

“It really depends on the individual, but I prefer the online ones,” Ms Woods said.

USC students Jackson Beckett and Danyelle Woods said they regularly attended the online lectures. Picture: Matty Holdsworth

Jackson Beckett said he found attending lectures in person to be “uncomfortable”.

“Personally, whenever I’ve gone to lectures I’ve found it hard to pay attention,” Mr Beckett said.

“I don’t feel like it’s the right environment for me to learn but I like being able to access them online.”

Concerns were voiced through a petition by psychology students which had gathered more than 600 signatures.

A second petition emerged that had gained more than 60 signatures.

“Many students feel that the introduced interactive platform is a way for less and less teacher contact time,” it read.

“It will eliminate opportunities to ask questions, get a student friendly version of readings and lessen advice from experts in the field aka our lecturers and tutors.”

Dr Denise Wood has come under fire for a controversial lecture decision.

USC Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Denise Wood told The Courier-Mail lecture attendance had been dramatically declining over the past few years, and students would now have access to more “engaging” online learning materials.

“USC remains predominantly a face-to-face on campus learning environment and that’s not changing,” Prof Wood said.

“However over the years learning and teaching has changed, we are now living in a period of contemporary learning and teaching practice.

“Over the last decade, as has the entire sector, we’ve seen a gradual shift from the number of students wanting to come to face-to-face lecturers.

“A decade ago, you would see about 50 per cent attendance by week four, now you’re lucky to see between 20 and 25 per cent.”

Prof Wood said the university would listen to student feedback, with a survey currently underway.