In light of the pandemic, students and professors at the University of Alberta's Campus Saint-Jean (CSJ) are grappling with a new reality this year: the fact that courses are being delivered entirely online.
The fall session began two days ago, but this year you could almost hear the flies falling on the Saint-Jean campus.
Fall 2020 marks a different start to the year than any other.
Photo: Radio-Canada
The entire course CSJ is offered virtually. In the coming months, teachers will pass on their knowledge to students from home.
It will simultaneously be my classroom, my meeting room and my work office
summarizes Samira ElAtia, professor of education and head of graduate studies at the CSJ.
Samira ElAtia, in her new home office.
Photo: Radio-Canada
Keep in touch
Last Friday, the dean of the campus, Pierre-Yves Mocquais, welcomed the hundred new students via a screen. Another virtual meeting with all students and their families took place on Monday.
Although we will not have students on campus, they will remain closely connected to our community virtually and remotely.
Art student Marie-Laure Verrault is nonetheless worried about the turn her life will take as a young university student.
It's getting harder to make friends now
is afraid of the person whose friends are all students CSJ. When I visit, I still feel a bit like I'm in a community, but much less than before
she admits.
Like Ms. ElAtia, the teachers of CSJ, They spent the summer preparing to resume their classes remotely.
It will be different because about half of my students are still afraid of technology and often benefit from that exposure in the classroom so I can explain things to them and show them how to do it
She explains.
Marie-Laure Verrault trusts her ability to adapt to online courses. Even though a technical problem disrupted his first day of distance learning.
The E-Class website, where you can look at your courses and see what you need to do, had too many students on it at the same time, she said. And then the site was no longer functional and no one could do their work
.
Like the approximately 900 students at the Saint-Jean campus, Marie-Laure Verrault is also learning to adapt to her new university life.
Photo: Radio-Canada
Due to the sudden increase in online activity, the university's system experienced some disruptions, but the issues were quickly resolved
says the dean of the campus, Pierre-Yves Mocquais.
To facilitate communication, Samira ElAtia created online documents that she personalized according to her students.
She didn't hesitate to give them her phone number so they could ask her questions and organize individual help sessions more easily.
During this time of change and uncertainty, she hopes to reduce the stress that may affect her students.
Teachers have to give a lot of themselves to the mental health and psychological well-being of students.
The exceptions that prove the rule
Certain educational experiences that still require in-person instruction will be offered on campus, such as educational internships.
The teacher training students are observing all necessary and recommended health measures and precautions and are therefore completing their internships this year within the framework of the agreements made with the respective school authorities.
stated the dean CSJ.
The immersive stay experience in French is also retained. This will be available at the beginning of the year thanks to special temporary accommodation in the university's International House.
clarified Mr. Mocquais.
All residents will be housed on the same floor to form an exclusively French-speaking cohort supported by staff who also speak Molière's language.
I would like to emphasize that this measure is only temporary in nature and does not in any way represent a permanent relocation of residential services to the North Campus.
guarantees Mr. Mocquais.
Pierre-Yves Mocquais, Dean of the Saint-Jean Campus
Photo: Radio-Canada / Sébastien Tanguay
This year, 24 students have registered at the Saint-Jean residence, which usually receives them. An insufficient number to consider a safe reopening of this student accommodation at the beginning of the 2020/2021 school year, the communications department reported CSJ.
She will reopen its doors as soon as the situation ensures the health safety of residents
assured Mr. Mocquais.
The campus is still taking time to decide whether students will physically return to class during the winter session.
With information from Mirna Djukic.