It’s the end of Welcome Week, and I have just taken part in a series of online events to support new students joining Edinburgh.
As a student who has experience of online learning, I was asked to join an online student panel for a series of drop-in sessions for new students who may not be used to online learning (and may not have anticipated they would be learning this way when they applied).
We were all asked to provide our tips for new students, based on what we have learnt ourselves from our experiences. I knew that I could rely on everyone else to give specific study advice, so I felt I was able to offer something more holistic. Here it is:
- Be the bravest version of yourself.
Be the first to post to a thread with your answer; ask a question in a discussion; post an idea and ask for feedback. It can be much easier to do this than in a face-to-face class, and once you have broken the ice it makes it easier for everyone else to get involved too.
- Remember you are not the student you used to be.
Whatever worked in the past, give yourself the opportunity to try new approaches. Always made notes the same way? Why not try a new method. Thought you were hopeless at presentations? Find someone who can give you advice and feedback so you can improve.
- Familiarise yourself with the advice offered and take it!
It’s usually been written by those with a pretty good idea of what works and what doesn’t for students on your programme.
Is this specifically aimed at online learning? Well, there is little related to online learning that does not relate to learning in general. It is definitely related to those starting something new (new programme, new way of studying…) and it’s the advice I endeavour to follow myself.
