Uni During Lockdown: How are Students Coping?
By Jossie Warnant
As we move into the tail-end of the semester, USyd students might finally be getting the hang of learning online. From participating in Zoom tutorials, struggling to find motivation and sometimes attending class in pyjamas, online learning has certainly provided challenges and opportunities for students. Pulp sat down with some USyd students (over zoom of course) to find out what they love and hate about learning online.
A recurring theme was the difficulty students faced in finding motivation to complete assignments, respond to discussion boards and watch lectures.
“I think I’m finding it really hard to stay motivated in terms of doing all my work on time,” says fourth year Media and Communications student, Kiara Magnussen.
This lack of motivation coupled with distractions at home can make it hard to get work done.
“I think attending zoom tutorials is helping but I think I’m getting really distracted especially with my family at home,” she says.
Students are also missing being able to interact with their lecturers and tutors, to aid in their learning. This is a vital part of learning, with students saying that not being comfortable participating in Zooms and missing out on group discussions has made their learning experience more difficult.
“For me the way I learn best is hearing a lecturer speak and sort of interacting, so it’s been hard trying to understand concepts on my own,” says Emelie Watkins, fourth year Media and Communications student.
“It just feels a bit like floundering in the dark,” she says.
Practical work has also become more challenging, as students no longer have access to university equipment on campus.
“In a way I was kind of relying on using equipment from the uni...so that is a bit of a challenge because you have to source your own equipment obviously,” says Watkins.
Students have also raised concerns about completing exams online using online exam service ProcterU. The online exam service allows offshore proctors to access information and data on student computers.
Fourth year International and Global Studies student, Courtney Leanne Daley, says that she is concerned with “the fact that it is not a university hired staff member...but a third-party and a complete stranger, I’m just not comfortable with that personally.”
First years are also struggling with both adjusting to the learning at university and transitioning to online learning.
“I did find it quite a bit tricky at first as I was just getting used to the routine of going to university and once I finally got familiar with it, for it to all be taken away by the virus was a bit upsetting,” says first year Secondary Education and Arts student, Aisha Shah.
But it’s not all doom and gloom, with some students saying that they are enjoying the additional time they have to do their studies.
“I spend about four hours a day driving so yeah just removing that two hours a day in traffic in the morning, saving the petrol and saving the environment, that’s actually been really good,” says Watkins.
Students are also enjoying the ability to have more flexibility in their studies by being able to choose when they attend their lectures and tutorials and when they complete their work.
“I do actually enjoy the flexibility, so I can wake up late and watch my lectures in my own time and I guess I do enjoy the fact that you don’t have to wake up as early,” says Shah.
Whilst the first semester back at uni has been difficult so far, it’s important to remember not to put too much pressure on yourself to be productive all the time.
“I think you have to kind of remind yourself that it’s ok not to be productive and that this is a situation going on in the world that is really hard on everyone,” says Magnussen.
And don’t forget, if you are struggling there is support available. Here are some helpful resources:
USyd mental wellbeing support line
Call 1300 474 065 (accessible within Australia)
Text 0488 884 429 (for sms chat option)
eheadspace
https://headspace.org.au/eheadspace/
1800 650 890