Online move a disappointment
It is with great disappointment that I write to you, on learning the news that La Trobe University is considering scrapping on-campus learning for the Bachelor of Arts degree at 'regional' campuses and moving to online delivery.
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A key learning factor in any degree, but especially the arts, is the interaction between other students and the shared experience of student learning gained through different students' perspectives.
Online delivery cannot deliver the same experience. My experience of online learning through the Covid-19 pandemic when, by necessity, La Trobe moved all teaching online was less than adequate.
It can only be for the reasons of cost-cutting, which will hurt our ability to learn and engage with the course material and participate with our peers.
Other news
It will also exacerbate local unemployment problems as already precariously employed academics will no doubt lose their jobs through the consolidation of subjects that will naturally follow from the course restructure.
What is the point of the university if it does not question societies problems and only adds to them? Vice-Chancellor Professor John Dewar is attempting to sell this as providing choice for students.
If he, and the university, were serious about giving us an option they would maintain the arts degree on campus and allow us to study the full complement of subjects the La Trobe student body at the Bundoora campus enjoys and not the subjects they deem appropriate for the regions.
Paul Springer, Walmer
Congratulations to a favourite
What a great testament to the mighty MAINfm being named most outstanding small station in Australia for the third time really is.
It is a unique radio station in many ways - with its high quality, diverse programming - with everything from Yowies to the search for the meaning of life, to its passionate volunteers and staff who deliver radio worthy of the big smoke.
It has elements of the best of RRR and PBS and even the ABC, and draws on and reflects the incredible community that is Castlemaine and surrounds. Congratulations to all involved.
Suzanne Donisthorpe, Castlemaine
Former minister should pay
Mathias Cormann has retired/resigned from Parliament, so why is he able to fly around Europe in a RAAF aircraft in his quest for a new job - the head of the OECD - at a cost of $4000 an hour to the Australian taxpayer.
Firstly, he is no longer an Australian Politician. Secondly, this job he is pursuing is a personal one, not for our country, so let him fund his own travel.
And thirdly, we have 30,000 Australian citizens waiting to come home from overseas, while this freeloader is using an aircraft that could be put to much better use.
It is a disgrace.
Ken Price, Eaglehawk
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