Here at ICMP, we’ve been working to ensure we can successfully deliver our full suite of programmes, whatever the current coronavirus situation, in a range of flexible ways – in other words, as ‘blended learning’.
This means your education can involve elements of both face-to-face and online learning across a range of different forms – from lectures, tutorials, seminars and practical performance and production workshops, to business mentorship scenarios, online discussions, student-led presentations and self-directed learning.
This approach helps us strike the right balance between giving you more space on site by allowing for social distancing, offering flexible online learning for those who can’t make it to campus, and letting you use our music facilities for personal study and practice in a sensible manner.
ICMP’s blended learning strategy involves:
- Blended orientation – new students can attend a blended induction and orientation experience, allowing interaction with peers and tutors, both in person and remotely.
- Face-to-face learning – students can expect to attend classes or workshops at our Kilburn or Queen's Park campus at least two days a week, although exact details will depend on your course and timetable. Your days on site will focus on the more practical, creative and interactive aspects of your programme, such as performance workshops and studio-based work. Once it’s safe to do so, we plan for everyone to be back on campus three days a week as usual.
- Small class sizes – due to social distancing, classes will be timetabled to ensure your learning experience will be rewarding and safe, with 1-meter-plus distancing in almost all teaching spaces.
- Online interactive learning – the remainder of your contact hours will be delivered online, in the form of interactive group sessions on Microsoft Teams. This learning will be supported by a range of resources and supporting materials on our virtual learning platform, Canvas. We'll be following our usual student-centred approach, so you can expect plenty of breakout activity and collaborative learning!
- Assessments – we intend to deliver all face-to-face assessments as planned. Receiving feedback is always a valuable experience for performers, so face-to-face sessions are optimal in this context. But where it’s practical to do so – like submitting essays and recordings – you’ll do this online.
- Regular access to facilities – our doors will be open, as usual throughout term time, from 9am to 11pm on weekdays and 10am to 10pm at weekends, so you can use our rooms outside of timetabled lessons for personal practice, with social distancing measures in place. Please note that access may be temporarily impacted if we’re forced to move between the stages of our Four-Stage Plan.
- 1:1 support – this is a crucial element of academic life at ICMP and access to it remains unchanged. You can expect 1:1 support to be provided entirely online if you need it, largely via Microsoft Teams video calls. Weekly bookable appointments will be available with your Programme Leader, Deputy Programme Leader and tutors. You’re also welcome to contact these staff members with any pressing questions via email. Module leaders will also offer drop-in sessions – especially in the lead-up to assignment deadlines. All Level 6 and Level 7 students will receive 1:1 supervision across a range of modules.
Ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of all our students, staff and visitors is hugely important to all at ICMP. Having blended learning in place allows us to deliver our usual high-quality, enriched learning experience. It may look a little different, but we continue to commit to inclusivity and diversity, and will fully support you to achieve your learning outcomes – regardless of any external restrictions.
If you’d like to know more, please read our Coronavirus FAQs. We’re looking forward to seeing you all in September!