Education and learning

[Extract One] Woman: Have you seen the email from Dr Okafor? From next term she's not uploading recordings of her lectures any more. Man: I saw. There's already a petition going round. People are furious. Woman: I can't say the reaction surprises me, but honestly, I think she has a point. Half our year treat the recordings as a substitute for turning up, and then never actually watch them. They just sit in a folder somewhere, making everyone feel reassured. Man: That's a bit sweeping. Some people have jobs, or they're looking after someone at home. For them the recordings aren't a luxury. Woman: Sure, and she did say that anyone with a documented reason can still get access. It's not a blanket ban. Man: Did she? I must have skimmed that bit. Well, that changes things somewhat. I still think she's going about it the wrong way, though. If the lectures were worth attending, people would attend. Taking the recordings away is just treating the symptom. Woman: Maybe. But you can't redesign a whole module halfway through the year. Man: No, but she could at least have asked us why attendance has dropped, rather than deciding on our behalf. That's what really gets to me: nobody was consulted. Woman: Well, the student rep could raise that at the next staff meeting. That seems more useful than a petition. Man: I suppose it would be harder to ignore, anyway.