{"id":155,"date":"2024-03-27T19:32:08","date_gmt":"2024-03-27T19:32:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/presidentreport.biu.ac.il\/?p=155"},"modified":"2024-05-24T06:27:03","modified_gmt":"2024-05-24T06:27:03","slug":"learning-in-wartime","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/presidentreport.biu.ac.il\/index.php\/2024\/03\/27\/learning-in-wartime\/","title":{"rendered":"Learning In wartime"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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University War-Related Initiatives<\/h5>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Learning\u00a0in Wartime<\/strong><\/h3>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Through the expert recommendations of nine task forces, each addressing a different challenge related to wartime learning and teaching, Bar-Ilan ensured that all students returning from battle\u2014and all community members coping with loss and uncertainty\u2014received both a hero\u2019s welcome back to campus and the academic, emotional, and financial support needed to overcome and succeed.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Learning\u00a0in Wartime Committees<\/strong><\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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\n \n Academic Calendar <\/span>\n\n \n <\/span> \n <\/use><\/svg><\/em>\n <\/span>\n <\/span> <\/span>\n \n \n <\/span>\n <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n
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\n \n Intergroup Relations <\/span>\n\n \n <\/span> \n <\/use><\/svg><\/em>\n <\/span>\n <\/span> <\/span>\n \n \n <\/span>\n <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n
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\n \n Emotional Support <\/span>\n\n \n <\/span> \n <\/use><\/svg><\/em>\n <\/span>\n <\/span> <\/span>\n \n \n <\/span>\n <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n
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\n \n Teaching & Learning <\/span>\n\n \n <\/span> \n <\/use><\/svg><\/em>\n <\/span>\n <\/span> <\/span>\n \n \n <\/span>\n <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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\n \n Grading & Exams <\/span>\n\n \n <\/span> \n <\/use><\/svg><\/em>\n <\/span>\n <\/span> <\/span>\n \n \n <\/span>\n <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n
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\n \n Student Retention <\/span>\n\n \n <\/span> \n <\/use><\/svg><\/em>\n <\/span>\n <\/span> <\/span>\n \n \n <\/span>\n <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n
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\n \n Student Recruitment <\/span>\n\n \n <\/span> \n <\/use><\/svg><\/em>\n <\/span>\n <\/span> <\/span>\n \n \n <\/span>\n <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n
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\n \n Financial Challenges <\/span>\n\n \n <\/span> \n <\/use><\/svg><\/em>\n <\/span>\n <\/span> <\/span>\n \n \n <\/span>\n <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n
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\n \n Resilience <\/span>\n\n \n <\/span> \n <\/use><\/svg><\/em>\n <\/span>\n <\/span> <\/span>\n \n \n <\/span>\n <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Adjusting Sights<\/h3>
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During his weekly meeting with department heads to advise on wartime teaching, Vice Rector Prof. \u00a0Arie Reich heard a story that underscores the challenges\u2014and opportunities\u2014that Israeli universities now face. \u201cOne dean related that a student joined his engineering course via Zoom from inside a tank in the Gaza Strip. He started to ask a question, then excused himself suddenly, and the class heard what sounded like rapid gunfire. Then, he turned the camera back on and continued with his question.\u201d Reich adds, smiling, \u201cIf I hadn\u2019t heard this myself from the lecturer, I\u2019d never have believed that hybrid learning could look like this.\u201d<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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\n Vice Rector Prof. Arie Reich <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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\u201cPeople are amazed by what the University has done for us,\u201d one student wrote to Reich.\u00a0\u201cYou\u2019ve truly lifted our spirits. From all of us combat soldiers at Bar-Ilan, and there are so many\u2014thank you.\u201d<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Yet, as Reich knows well, for most of the 25 percent of Bar-Ilan students called up for duty since the start of the war, the real challenge was how to return to their studies\u2014not only from an academic perspective, but also emotionally and financially, as well. To ease their transition, and to build a sensitive and resilient community on campus to support them on their journey, Reich spearheaded Bar-Ilan\u2019s initiative to adapt teaching and learning to wartime.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nicknamed the \u201cEducation War Room,\u201d the initiative saw the establishment of nine challenge-based committees. Within just weeks of October 7th, each committee proposed actionable recommendations for ensuring that soldier-students\u2014and reservist faculty, evacuees, and others affected directly by the war\u2014would have the help they required, whether in keeping up with their studies, despite the known difficulties in concentration, or paying their tuition and living expenses without help from a side job. (\u201cThe shortened semester was so intense, it wouldn\u2019t be possible to work as well, which is where we came in with waived payments and assistance from Bar-Ilan\u2019s fundraising campaign,\u201d Reich explains). Another committee worked on alternative bases for grading and exams, and still another on creating a safe and tolerant campus atmosphere. And as feedback from students showed, their efforts were not only effective, but deeply heartwarming, too.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople are amazed by what the University has done for us,\u201d one student wrote to Reich. \u201cYou\u2019ve truly lifted our spirits. From all of us combat soldiers at Bar-Ilan, and there are so many\u2014thank you.\u201d<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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\"How Great to Have You Home\"<\/h3>
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The day before reservists returned to campus for the second, staggered opening of Bar-Ilan\u2019s academic year, the University held a welcome event to express its gratitude for their service. Titled \u201cHow Great to Have You Home,\u201d the 700-strong event included lunch, speeches from University leadership, and much-deserved thank-you gifts.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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