My first blog

We started online learning before the Easter break using Skype. It was an interesting format and worked pretty well for lectures when group work and discussion wasn’t required. However, when we separated off into groups, it meant that our tutors couldn’t interact with us as well and so after the other course reps and I discussed with our level leader, there was a decision made to move to a platform that could facilitate and encourage participation and small group discussion better.
We moved entirely onto Microsoft Teams after the Easter break which all Leeds Beckett students have free access to. This platform allowed us to separate off into smaller groups for discussion and for tutors to come into those chats and check our understanding which was really helpful.
After breaking off into smaller groups, we would join back to a larger group and share what we had discussed. This worked really well for our course and encouraged people to discuss things with each other and then feedback later as they’d already had a chance to voice opinions and so I think a lot of us felt a lot more confident sharing our ideas after that way of working.
We did also have our videos off, it wasn’t compulsory to be on camera, so if you did feel like going to a lecture in your PJs then now is the time to do it! Also, for the most part, we would have our microphones muted whilst the lecturer was speaking and then would unmute for the discussion which allowed for lectures to not be interrupted by background noise and helped with the flow of the lecture. It’s really important to remember that online classes mean that where you live becomes a workplace as well as home space too. This can make it difficult to separate uni time from relaxation time and so it’s good to create a space where you work and keep work to that place. Ideally, this would be a room you don’t sleep or relax in, but this can be challenging as a university student as communal areas are shared and so most of the time you’re working in your room. It can still be massively helpful to designate a desk or section of the room as the work area. This way, when it’s time to relax, moving out of that area and onto your bed or into a communal area will be considered a different space that you associate with socialising and not work. Definitely try and avoid going to lectures from your bed as this could eventually lead to struggles with sleep as your brain will start to associate your bed with work not sleep.