Sask. Polytech to modify how it delivers education this fall

The television was showing a serial/ soap program

based on life in an early 20th Century resource town in Ontario.

The Bad Guy has just been caught and was on his way to a larger city and jail when Yours Truly wondered if he would get time off from jail for good behaviour.

Then I blurted to my partner and wife: “Are we going to get time off for good behaviour

Saskatchewan Polytechnic will take a two-pronged approach to how it delivers education this fall in light of the pandemic and the fact physical distancing will likely still be in place.

Starting in September, the institution will provide a combination of online/distance instruction and limited in-person courses where needed to ensure students who require hands-on experiences to complete their programs can get it. The polytechnic believes this approach will give students the best opportunity for academic success during the changing environment of a global pandemic.

Sask. Polytech is responsible for the health of its students and staff, and as part of the provincial government’s reopen plan, the school will manage the number of students on its campus, explained Has Malik, vice-president of academics and provost.

The Ministry of Health gave the polytechnic permission to allow limited in-person gatherings for students who need to use shops or laboratories. The educational institution began that approach this week to ensure students could complete their programs. Malik noted this approach has been successful so far.

“We’re using that same method for our fall planning … ,” he said. “We’re planning for students to come in in a very structured manner and take the learning in a face-to-face modality.”

To ensure the polytechnic could meet physical distancing requirements, it looked at the layout of each lab or shop to determine how students could work more than two metres apart. It also decided to install signs on every campus to indicate from this COVID lockdown?” She didn’t answer, apparently preferring to concentrate on the show.

The idea of time off from the lockdown for good behaviour appealed to me, as I’m sure it does for most of us, tired as we are of being restricted to our homes for almost two-and-one-half months. Regular grocery shopping has become a tense chore with worry: did I go down the one-way aisle the right way? Did someone infected touch that apple? Is that masked person across protecting me from their symptoms?

In our chosen grocery store the one-way aisles are opposite the route we usually take, causing me to miss some items and requiring frequent retracing of steps. the direction in which students should move.

Similarly, the school is co-ordinating with faculty to ensure each has a designated time for classroom bathroom breaks, along with a designated washroom. Each floor and wing in each building on the four campuses will have specific bathrooms to use; classrooms will have designated entry and exit points; and some classes will start at different times. When the pandemic struck in mid-March, Sask. Polytech acted quickly to move classes online — it did this in four days — and shut down its campuses to ensure there was nothing hands-on, Malik said. Staff and teachers also worked diligently to make the transition online smooth. “It’s gone really well,” he continued. “More than 90 per cent of classes are now delivered online or remotely. It’s been a resounding success.”

Even before the pandemic hit, though, some classes already had an online component or were already delivered online. Malik noted the school was able to capitalize on that experience when moving more courses onto the internet. While moving online has been a success, the school still faced some challenges. One challenge, Malik explained, was how some students and faculty found it difficult to move online so late in the semester when courses were already being delivered in-person.

“At the same time, we’re really heartened and encouraged by the fact everyone is determined and dedicated to succeed,” he continued.

While education might look different in the fall, Sask. Polytech will continue to enhance learning, Malik said. The quality of its education and value of its credentials will remain the same; it will work with industry partners to develop and update curriculum; and it will ensure students have an enriched educational experience. “We will do the best we can to maintain our high standards,” he added, “and also to ensure we are following the chief health officer’s guidelines (on physical distancing) … .”

These are just tiny inconsequential matters blown out of proportion by the lockdown.

I miss the fun of being with my partner on these shopping trips.

Because of age and underlying medical causes I was to be the stay-at-home member during the lockdown until someone ran a red light and hit her car on one of those grocery runs. She still suffers from deep soft tissue injuries.

Having grown up on a farm in the middle of nowhere and having been an only child for years, Yours Truly always thought there was no concern in being alone. Now being alone in the midst of thousands has become a depressing matter of concern.

I miss a whole lot of little things from coffee/ice cream with friends, tedious regular lab tests, social events like the meat draws at the Legion, meeting friends over Friday night supper.

Thank Heavens for the technology that allows us to connect so easily.

A benefit off the lockdown has been establishing connections with a second cousin in South Africa whom I had not seen in 30 years.

South Africa’s lockdown is stiffer than in Canada. He tells me they are allowed one trip daily outside the home for groceries or medications.

Military constantly patrol the streets. Anyone caught breaking the lockdown rules faces six months in a South African jail, which is not a nice place. Liquor stores are closed in South Africa, leading to a resurgence of home-brewed pineapple beer and bootlegging of real beer.

Hearing about that situation removed some of the depression about our lockdown. We have it pretty good by comparison.

The limited re-opening is a partial substitute for time off for good behaviour. Once we fully re-open there should be a rush of people to take part in all activities. Just two hitches: Who will have money to spend and how many businesses will be left to take our cash?

Stay safe and keep two metres apart.

Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@ sasktel.net