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University News

Important: a new schedule for 2020 and the classes during the spring semester

the body

15^th April 2020

To all teachers

Important: a new schedule for 2020 and the classes during the spring semester

［revised version］

  We have already announced that the beginning of the spring semester in 2020 (originally scheduled on 8th April) would be postponed until 7th May, and Higashi-Matuyama courses would be postponed until 21^st May, in order to avoid the spread of the Coronavirus and to protect the health of all students and staff.

  Further to this measure the university has decided that for the time being all classes should be taught by distance, i.e. without having students on campus. Once the risk of the virus spreading has decreased, we will start regular classes. In the meantime we ask you all for your understanding and cooperation. Here are examples of how you could conduct your classes by distance.

 

1. Please use our university platforms Manaba or DB Portal to upload your teaching materials and handouts. Using these platforms, advise your students on their studies at home,giving assignments and feedback.

  Alternatively you could make use of alternative online measures as outlined below in ① and ②. If you do, please be aware you will have to prepare your materials by yourself. You will also need to take into consideration students’ ability to access the internet, and make sure they will be able to receive your instructions without any problems. The University IT Center will provide necessary information about distance learning for all the teaching staff (there will be an announcement on this later), but the Center will not be able to provide direct one-to-one IT support to teachers on an individual basis.

 

  ①Provide audio and/or visual materials for your students to listen to/watch, and give them assignments and feedback.

  ②Make use of communication tools on the internet such as Google Meet, and others.

 

N.B.

  Please prepare your materials as if for a 90-minute class.

 (a) Send out the materials no later than your teaching day and period. Set the listening/watching for a certain length of time after your class.

 (b) Please prepare your classes as set out in your online syllabus if you can (but you may change the syllabus if you need to).

 (c) Please check your students’ work and give them as much feedback as possible.

 

2．In case of classes that cannot be taught by distance (such as seminar-type classes, or those involving experiments, practice, or sports), after being specified by the relevant faculties, departments, graduate schools, Center for Teacher Training, or International Center, they may be taught in class after the authorization by the University Covid-19 Headquarters, on condition that they are taught in compliance with the following conditions.

  a) Before the class starts, both the teacher and the students should wash their hands and gargle.

  b) Make sure that the teacher and all the students wear masks, and that there should be no private conversations.

  c) Make sure that students occupy not more than 50% of the maximum capacity of the classroom. They should sit with enough space between them, and the classroom should be ventilated every 30 minutes. Please open the windows to let fresh air in.

  d) Activities in which students are in close contact with each other (such as group work) are not allowed.

  e) Keep the number of students as low as possible, e.g. by dividing the classes in halves and teaching each half alternately.

  f）If there are any students who feel unwell, do not let them come to the class. And make sure that such students are not at a disadvantage regarding their attendance.

 

N.B. 

  Even if your classes cannot be taught by distance, please comply with these six conditions, and try to teach them in such a way that students do not have to come to class.

 

3. If it is deemed not sufficient to give credits based on any of these measures described above, the university may consider organizing intensive make-up classes during the summer/winter holidays. However, these extra measures may not be possible, since we do not know whether the spread of the Covid-19 will be over by then. Please try to conduct your classes using distance learning as much as possible.

 

  As the situation develops, there may be further changes and modifications. We will notify you if any further decisions are made.

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