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Teaching

Face-to-face and online teaching

Timetabling: we need to know your learning status

If you are unable to come onto campus for teaching, we urgently need you to update your Covid learning status so that your teaching timetable can be adjusted.
The Covid Learning Status registration facility in Student Information has been now updated to make a distinction between those who are self-isolating for a short period of time (due to having tested positive for Covid-19, or being in close contact with someone who has tested positive), and those who are absent from face-to-face teaching for a longer period of time (due to shielding because of underlying health conditions, or being unable to travel to the UK/Oxford). These situations are the permitted reasons for not attending on-campus teaching.
The following guide explains how to update your status. If you have received a positive coronavirus test, have symptoms (awaiting a test), or you are self-isolating as a ‘close contact’ or household, please also tell the University using the Coronavirus reporting form so that we can take appropriate action to protect other students and staff.

Timetables and ‘bubbles’

We are not able to take account of students' social bubbles in the allocation of teaching timetables or classes, but have put many social distancing and safety measures in place to ensure that our small-group teaching sessions are conducted in a Covid-secure environment.

Tutorials and 1-2-1 teaching with staff

Your individual meetings and other non-timetabled teaching events with staff will routinely be conducted online rather than in a member of staff’s office.
However, members of staff are able to offer students face-to-face tutorials in teaching spaces when that space can be booked and is suitable for a face-to-face meeting to be conducted safely and within previously published guidelines.

Advice for studying online

The Centre for Academic Development (formerly known as Upgrade Academic Skills Development) has some useful advice and tips on how to study online effectively.
Last semester, we asked students for their feedback on the transition to online learning. Students offered a range of helpful tips for when studying online. These included:

Create a personal study schedule;
Not to be afraid to ask for support from lecturer;
Find or designate a quiet and distraction-free study space;
Allow more time to study or complete assessments than you might think is needed;
Get support from peers;
Keep deadlines in mind and don't forget them;
Submit any work slightly earlier than the deadline in case of any issues.

Information for students

What we’re asking you to do when you attend face-to-face teaching sessions

The University has introduced a number of changes to how face-to-face teaching will operate as part of its Covid-secure measures. These are detailed below.

Food and drink in teaching rooms

Please remember that food and drink are not permitted in any teaching rooms, unless there is a medical need.
You may bring a bottle of water with you.

Arriving at and being in a teaching room

Start times of teaching sessions will vary to enable staff and students to enter nearby rooms at different times. We are asking all students to arrive at the teaching room on time, but not early, to avoid queuing in corridors.

To help maintain social distancing, we are asking students to fill the room by going to the furthest free seat. Likewise, the student nearest the door will leave the room first. Please sit on seats with a green tick to ensure social distancing.

The furniture in the rooms will be positioned to create appropriate distancing between students and must not be re-arranged under any circumstances.

Cleaning stations will be located outside teaching rooms to allow staff and students to collect wipes to clean their desk/work area before and after teaching for their own safety. Rooms will be deep cleaned overnight. High-touch points such as door handles will be cleaned regularly throughout the day.

Please leave promptly at the end of the sessions and do not linger in the corridor so we can maintain social distancing. Kindly keep noise to a minimum when moving around corridors in order to avoid disrupting teaching that is taking place in other rooms around you.

Please remember social distancing and leave a 2m space between you and the lecturer if you wish to talk to them at the end of the teaching session. Be mindful that another class may be due in the room shortly, or the lecturer may have another appointment, and you may need to find another location or time to talk.

Travel time between learning sessions

To allow you at least one hour of travel time between campus-based and online learning sessions, we have adjusted the start times of face-to-face teaching that precedes or follows on from synchronous online events for the same module. This is so you do not have to access online teaching from campus space. If you need to be on campus, catering facilities, the library and other spaces will be open; please remember social distancing while using them.

Check your timetable regularly

We’re asking students not to use a room unless it is timetabled to them. You will need to check your timetable regularly as rooms may change from week to week.

Face coverings

It is now widely accepted that wearing a face covering helps to protect others. For this reason, all students and staff will be required to wear face coverings while indoors on campus (except where there is a valid medical reason). Read the University’s policy on wearing face coverings. Students should read this policy before returning to campus.

Those with exemptions will be asked to wear a free-of-charge sunflower lanyard, which are now available to order from the online shop. Staff will be issued with face visors and some staff will have clear masks to enable lipreading.

Register your attendance

We will be asking you to register your attendance when you arrive at your teaching room, and at other locations across campus, for Test & Trace purposes.

Quick reference

Wear face coverings indoors on campus, including teaching rooms.
Check your timetable regularly.
Follow directional signage and instructional stickers to help maintain social distancing.
Arrive on time for your teaching sessions and fill the room starting furthest from the door.
Collect wipes to clean your desk before and after you use it before you enter teaching rooms.
Check in using the Brookes QR code in teaching rooms.

Oxford Brookes Test and Trace

In order to support the NHS ‘test and trace’ service and help ensure the safety of our staff, students and permitted visitors across our campuses, we are implementing a simple system to track attendance in a number of areas including teaching rooms. Details of this service and how it works can be found on the Test and tace, reporting and self-isolation webpage.

NHS Covid-19 app and NHS QR codes

Certain locations across campus have NHS QR codes, including cafes and social spaces.