Greeting to the Hebrew University community,

Due to the Corona pandemic, learning at the Hebrew University will be conducted my means of e-learning. To prepare for this move, the opening of the second semester will be postponed by a week. The second semester will commence only on Sunday, March 22, 2020.

1.  The University gates will remain open and the administrative and academic staff will continue to work as usual, as far as possible.

2.  During the pandemic, the university is moving to e-teaching and e-learning. To this end, we have upgraded the Moodle system (a move that will help even during routine times). We have also acquired mass use licenses for two software programs that will allow for distance learning: Zoom and Panopto. Both software programs will operate via the course website on the HU Moodle. Moreover, we have opened a dedicated website that contains various software manuals and updates as well as short scientific papers on topics relevant to the corona crisis, written by Hebrew University faculty members.

3.  The postponement of the opening second semester by a week is designed to provide teachers with time to prepare for distance learning. We have integrated links to Zoom and Panopto on the Moodle site for every second semester course. Additionally, both in-person and remote trainings in using Zoom and Panopto will take place next week.  This week, each instructor should review the guides for these software programs, to determine which program they wish to use to conduct their course, and to inform the students registered in the course. Every instructor must inform the Department Secretariat (and the Vice Dean for Instruction) as to the means of instruction that will be used to teach the course.

4.  We recommend that classes held in classrooms with   filming and recording equipment take place in the classroom designed for them. These classes will be automatically transmitted on the Moodle course site and will be available there as a saved recording. These lessons are designed only for the students registered in the course, and the students have been instructed to refrain from distributing these recordings. This arrangement has been made in coordination with the Staff Union and its validity is limited to the period of the Corona crisis. Instructors who are unable to be present on campus, as well as those who teach classes scheduled to take place in classrooms where there is no filming equipment, shall conduct the lessons from their office or from their home, using a laptop computer camera and microphone. In all cases, the lessons should be held on the date set in the system. As part of the preparations for distance learning, you should consider whether adjustments are necessary with regard to the course requirements, mid-term exams, the nature of the final exam and the like.

5.  Certain courses are held in a special format, such as laboratory classes, clinical study and practical training. For these courses, the deans and heads of departments will decide regarding the instructional format and shall notify the students in each of these courses.

We are first and foremost committed to maintaining the health of the whole university community. If in doubt, please contact the relevant officials in your department. Please be sure to carry out the Ministry of Health guidelines regarding the duty to remain in isolation and try to minimize close encounters with those in high risk groups. Please behave wisely and responsibly. We must be patient during this period. Problems may occur, some of our students may experience stress and anxiety, and we must help as best we can.

We hope that this crisis will pass quickly and without casualties.  Perhaps a little sweet will also come from all of this bitter - inter alia, strengthening our social cohesion and significant upgrading of the university’s distance teaching and learning system.

 

Best regards,

Barak Medina, Rector