Digitalisation on a New Level: RSU Students’ Experience Studying at Home

Posted date: 26 May 2020

Gusto the dachshund takes every opportunity to compete with the laptop and curl up in its owner’s lap, 5th year medical student at R?ga Stradi?š University (RSU), Lauma Gulbe. The puppy was adopted from a shelter and is the biggest (although very pleasant) obstacle to studying from home during the emergency situation, according to Lauma. The University has taken care of the rest – materials on the e-studies platform, Zoom lectures, classes, tests, problem-solving online with faculty management and even additional tools for coping with stress, says Lauma. Her experience is supported by the first results of the RSU survey that 2,071 students participated in.

To look out for the health and safety of its students, academic staff and administration, RSU switched to remote studies already on 11 March, before the national emergency situation was declared. Previously, lectures and classes that had been recorded by lecturers on Panopto were watched on average 250 – 300 hours a day. After the national state of emergency, this curve increased dramatically. Over the last weeks, 8,685 virtual classes and consultations have been held, and more than 2,000 new video materials have been created for students. These are not only lectures, but also simulation technologies and demonstrations of various manipulations. All in all, the activity in the RSU e-studies environment has increased from 50,000 activities a day in February to 150,000 activities a day in April.

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GSP Admin