Some Things Just Aren’t Adding Up…
It’s the fourth week of class. I’m sure you’ve already sent a collection of messages to classmates wondering if you did the correct reading assignment, or if they too have been unsuccessful in finding the syllabus.
Every professor has their own way of organizing their canvas page. Some are very coherent - everything is easy to find and manage. Others are still learning how to navigate their class being completely online. Distance learning might have put some students in their prime, but for a number of us, things just aren't adding up. Change can be hard; altering the way most of us have been taught our whole lives is quite the learning curve (pun intended). Infiltrating your own system for organization and checking in with your peers is uber important this year! This could include having a planner, using google calendar, or even just creating a list of “things to do” on your desk.
For many students, especially in communication-related fields, online discussions don’t fit the vibe we’re used to. Class discussions with peers are way different inside a classroom than out of it. Great discussions require you to read the room, understand how to effectively communicate with each other and they can potentially turn into meaningful, proactive conversations. These days, they go something like, “Reply to the discussion question with your answer. Once finished, reply to two other students.”
Situations like this can possibly put us at a disadvantage, including not receiving the full potential of our education. Resilience seems to be the best characteristic one can have this year, so starting to brainstorm ways to be productive and to encourage yourself may be helpful. Although this can seem frustrating, finding a bright-side is possible for every unfavorable scenario.
COVID has mandated millions of students to master the art of learning outside of the classroom, rightfully so. We’ve even launched the promising idea that e-learning takes LESS time to actually learn MORE efficiently, which helps students retain information easier. This poses the question, will e-learning eventually take over school programs post-pandemic as well?
As students having a bit more time on your hands, it makes it easier to fit in things that you’ve wanted to be involved in before. This could include roller skating, starting a job, or even a school organization. What better time to pick up an extra-curricular and make your day a little more interesting.
One of the biggest reasons why students get involved in student organizations is because they want to network, gain industry information and get to know their peers on a different level! This helps with building a great environment where you can interact and collaborate with peers about different methods to the current madness. If it’s offered online, why not?
Of course, there are a handful of more things to say about the way online classes have been going, and I’m sure everyone had their own version of the story. Moral of the story: find a way to make the best of any unfortunate situation you are in (even if it involves a little muscle work).
