ISRRT_COVID-19_book

Educator perspectives on delivery of programs and student impact
Mable Kekana, Hafsa Essop and Kathryn Malherbe
Introduction
Delivery of programs and how this impacted on students during the COVID-19 pandemic is
presented from the perspectives of staff members in the University Department of
Radiography. In this chapter, the focus relates to problems that emanated due to the COVID-
19 lockdown regulations and how these were managed. The era called for urgent decisions
to be made, critical thinking in addressing issues that were raised by the different
stakeholders, some of which were based on fear and confusion. Collaboration and flexibility
became the guiding principles while trying to assure that the academic programs are carried
out fully to allow the completion of the academic year and also ensuring that the quality of
the graduates was not compromised. The chapter further shares some positive learning
outcomes and opportunities that came about during this era.
Embarking on online teaching and learning.
Following on the announcement of the lockdown regulations, educational institutions had to
think deeply and quickly about the academic year. Considering the fact that students in the
health sciences faculty require both theoretical and clinical training, the change to fully online
teaching provided some challenges on how clinical experience and novelty would be
achieved. There was a need for the new batch of graduates to occupy employment positions
in the following year. The staff members were to continue receiving their salaries and hence
were expected to continue with their duties. The students have paid study fees, so if the
academic year did not continue there might have been a need to refund them. There was also
consideration of the pupils who were in the last year in high school. They would need space
in the higher education institution the following year. With lockdown restrictions on, the need
to address the abovementioned concerns grew even stronger, leaving very few options for
the higher education institution.
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