Transition to Online Learning by Monique Barrett, B.Sc. Psychology (Pursuing)
The creeping enthusiasm that usually accompanies the dawn of a new day, has recently plummeted to the dreary depths of despair as students settle in for another day of online learning. A catalyst for a major revolution in the daily operations of individuals, the coronavirus has spared no aspect of human life from its unforeseen and brutal consequences of societal change. No longer can we live spontaneous and dynamic lives where we succumb to our whims and are free to break the shackles of routine if we please. Now, every action involves deliberate and intricate planning to minimize our risk of exposure to COVID-19. As students, we are privy to the first-hand experience of drastic change that has occurred within society. As evident in the decision of most schools to transition to an online modality of teaching for the current semester. Consequently, many of us are left stranded to battle with feelings of isolation, unpreparedness, and hopelessness as we try to navigate through this unprecedented period. The annoyance that accompanies modem rebooting to quell unstable WIFI connections is of no comparison to the constant pleas of "Miss, can you hear me?" or "Sir, can you repeat?", from students who are bonded by their mutual struggle to attain a quality education. The challenges of preparing for exams and completing relevant coursework have multiplied tenfold given the limited online interaction periods we now have with lecturers. While face-to-face interactions have become a thing of the past, for many, what replaces it is a slew of confusion as a result of the loss of tactile learning methods. For those who considered UWI a haven for social interaction, interpersonal, and professional development. These have been hampered due to the stringent protocols that have been implemented in the form of social distancing and cancellation of all on-campus events. Though social media provides an alternative avenue of communication, there is a looming sense of impersonality that plagues group chats and could never replace the smiling faces of students and faculty across the campus.
While the prospects of returning to a "preCOVID19" sense of normalcy seem dismal at this point we must learn to cope and restructure our lives to accommodate the reality of our daily situations. It is time to embrace our symbolic meaning as UWI Pelicans uplift our spirits to rise to this new challenge. There are a plethora of strategies that are especially useful in engaging with online learning platforms: 1. Carve out a home workspace. Home can be a distracting area, as this is largely a place of comfort, and if you are not used to working from home the lack of focus can become jarring. Having a dedicated workspace where you can tune out the outside world and tap into your tasks effectively and efficiently, can improve efforts to remain focused. 2. Create schedules and to-do lists that can be edited as you complete tasks. These may serve as motivation and make insurmountable tasks seem achievable simply because you are getting through them. List all the things to be done within a task, that way, you can rest assured that you are completing all the components of each task.
3. Use videos and other supplemental materials. This might provide more perspective, engagement, and clarity in complex topics. 4. Try to remain connected and engaged with lecturers and classmates. As best as possible, become an active participant in classes and group chats. Seek out clarification in moments of uncertainty and take advantage of university resources and lecturers during office hours via email. 5. Remain motivated and do not procrastinate. Adopt self-regulating tactics or reach out to other classmates to act as accountability partners to ensure that you remain on task. Being proactive with schoolwork can reduce future anxiety and manage deadlines. 6. Pay close attention to when your body is telling you to take a break. Schedule sufficient breaks to avoid the risk of overworking yourself. If at any point you experience feelings that are posing a significant challenge to your accomplishment of goals, reach out to a trusted advisor or mental health professional for assistance. UWIHELPS (phone number: (876) 294-0042) and the University Counselling Centre are forums dedicated to assisting students in times of difficulty.