According to departmental chair and lecturer at Stellenbosch University’s Drama Department, Mareli Pretorius, only staff who engage in physical teaching or whose duties directly link to either maintaining the building or serve as support for the physical classes are allowed back in the building. PHOTO: Isaac Ndlovu.
Due to restrictions on physical contact, as well as practising social distancing to prevent the spread of Covid-19, Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Drama Department has had to rethink its approach to physical classes in order to continue with its courses.
This was according to dr Mareli Pretorius, the departmental chair and lecturer at SU’s Drama Department. Students from that department were included in the group of students invited by SU to return to campus when lockdown regulations were eased to level 3.
According to Pretorius, not returning to physical classes would have prevented drama students from completing this year’s academic year.
“Within the online teaching format, immediate feedback and continued progress were hampered by the non-synchronous teaching model that we followed,” said Pretorius.
However, being able to have physical classes again, means that essential content can still be assessed, Pretorius said.
Upon students returning to physical classes, Stellenbosch University’s Drama Department gave visors to their pupils. “During the second term online teaching, we had to shift completely to solo exploration by students in the different practical components of the two subjects,” said Mareli Pretorius. PHOTO: Isaac Ndlovu.
Estelle Olivier, physical theatre and movement lecturer at SU’s Drama Department, explained that due to her class being a practical class, the course approach had to be redesigned to cancel out any physical contact work.
“Physical contact involving touching was a big part of our curriculum,” said Olivier.
Rather, this semester’s focus has shifted to focusing more on activities that can be done by distance, she said.
“As an alternative, we’ve experimented with voice notes, instructions on papers, as well as tutorial videos,” said Oliver.
One of the physical changes included a three-by-three metre spacing between students, as well as a block assigned for them to move around in.
According to Micaleb Lawrence, a current second-year drama student, SU’s Drama Department has had an incredible support system for students.
According to Micaleb Lawrence, a second-year drama student, the annual student theatre festival, Premiere Festival, is an opportunity for students to showcase their work, was cancelled due to Covid-19. Departmental productions were also cancelled, due to Covid-19. PHOTO: Isaac Ndlovu.
The first semester’s online classes were adjusted so that both students and lecturers found it easier to get through the semester without anyone falling behind, said Lawrence.
“We were given weekly tasks to complete by sending in a video or voice recordings. Lecturers also taught us and monitored our progress on video calls to ensure that we were ready for our first semester exams,” said Lawrence.
The department has cancelled any co-curricular activities, departmental productions, or initiatives, such as the annual student theatre festival Premiere Festival, said Pretorius.