"I am positively surprised at how quickly all the lecturers have adapted to the new situation"
20.03.2020 | Anna Ettlin
As Director of Studies, Professor Ueli Maurer is responsible for teaching at the Department of Computer Science. When ETH Zurich discontinued all classroom teaching on March 16, he, too, was faced with the challenge of ensuring that the department’s more than 1'000 Bachelor's and Master's students could continue their studies.
Professor Maurer, what is the current situation in teaching?
Lectures and exercises have moved online. I am not aware of any major problems. I am very positively surprised at how quickly all the lecturers have adapted to the new situation. Their conduct is very professional and solution-oriented. We will certainly still see problems, but with pragmatism, we will solve them.
How do our professors and the Senior Scientists Focus Teaching deal with the situation?
A lively exchange of experiences was immediately established among all lecturers. Everyone is helping each other out with tips.
What are the biggest challenges in switching to online operations?
I think the biggest challenge is to provide students with an overall package that is still clearly defined and therefore also testable in a fair way. After all, the lecture is only one component of a course, along with written materials (e.g. scripts, papers), presentations, and exercises and sample solutions. Online teaching requires new didactic concepts that work even when interaction is limited. I expect all of us to gain new experiences that we can also incorporate into future teaching. It is my hope that the virus could prove to be a game changer in many areas, as it demands new creativity and makes us aware of the vulnerability of our society and economy.
Is the Department of Computer Science better equipped for online teaching than other departments?
We certainly have a slightly greater affinity for IT than some other departments, but that's not the crucial factor. In my view, the other departments are also doing a good job.
Where do we go from here?
It is important for our Rector, Sarah Springman, to lead this process, so the departments should refrain from inventing their own rules. I expect the shutdown to be effective as a measure so that no further steps are necessary. It is of utmost importance that we can conduct the examinations in a fair and legally sound framework. This will require even more detailed specifications from the Rector.
When can we expect to have more information about the exams?
The Rector has already communicated the first regulations. I think that most aspects of the examinations will be defined within two to three weeks.
Will further communication about teaching be handled by the department or will it come directly from ETH Zurich?
As I already mentioned, as much as possible should come directly from the Rectorate. Departments must avoid inventing their own rules, unless very specific questions are involved.
«Instead of travelling from conference to conference, there is time for deep reflection.»Prof. Ueli Maurer
What are the students and the lecturers most concerned about?
I imagine that social isolation will be a major problem for many, especially after several weeks of home office. Many students will find it difficult to study at home all day in a disciplined manner; this is more difficult than studying in a group at ETH. Once the lecturers have mastered the transition, they will be happy to have more time for research, because so many meetings and conferences are cancelled. Instead of travelling from conference to conference, there will be time for deep reflection.
Do you have any tips for the students?
Connect and learn together remotely. You could also keep a diary during this unusual time, in which you self-critically document how you spend your time and what interests you in particular.
Who at D-INFK can answer questions about teaching?
If you have any problems, please contact our study administration. However, please understand that the response times are longer, as everyone has to adapt to the new situation. In case of problems, as Director of Studies, I will make very pragmatic decisions.
How do you personally deal with the unfamiliar situation? Do you work from home? Have you already had to record lectures?
As the attached picture shows, I also work from home. I still have a lot of pending matters to deal with, but I'm looking forward to a period with more time for research. After all, the weekend is now just like normal working days, because you can't go out. For now, I have handed over my lecture "Cryptographic Protocols" to my co-lecturer Martin Hirt. I myself have only experimented a little bit with the tools for lecture recording. But I am looking forward to get back to teaching and to benefit from the experiences of my colleagues.
How do you perceive ETH in this crisis?
As highly professional. People often expect very quick answers, but in such a situation you need calm, wise decisions and clear communication. We have seen all of this from ETH Zurich. Hectic or rash decisions have fortunately been avoided.