{"id":1202,"date":"2021-03-31T09:00:48","date_gmt":"2021-03-31T09:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mgt.dept.shef.ac.uk\/undergraduate\/?p=1202"},"modified":"2021-03-29T15:05:46","modified_gmt":"2021-03-29T15:05:46","slug":"online-learning-a-new-reality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/mgt.dept.shef.ac.uk\/undergraduate\/online-learning-a-new-reality\/","title":{"rendered":"Online learning – a new reality?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>By\u00a0Frankie Paterson, BA Business Management with Employment Experience<\/p>\n

Reflecting back on 2020, I can confidently say it was a year of surprise, personal development and of course, the unexpected. By Christmas 2019 I had completed half of my placement year <\/span>\u2013<\/span> one of the best opportunities I\u2019ve had at university. Little did I know the world was about to undergo a complete change. Fortunately, I was equipped to tackle this environment because I was already working from home twice a week. Coming back to university would be a breeze, I thought.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s fair to say, I underestimated how challenging it would be to sit at a laptop for five days a week. However, there was plenty going on to keep me motivated and determined throughout this period, like going for a walk around Crookes Valley or Western Park with my friends. We usually do this twice or even three times a week to make sure we\u2019re getting out of the house and hitting those 10,000 daily steps! It\u2019s also nice to support small businesses here in Sheffield by buying a coffee and cake while we\u2019re out.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I am adapting to online learning and have found many things easier. Online lectures give me the opportunity to pause, stop and reflect on what has been discussed. I feel I absorb a lot more information because my notes are detailed and meaningful. Normally, I\u2019m frantically scribbling down the lecture slides and trying to listen to the lecturer at the same time. Now I can sit in the comfort of my bedroom and go through the material at my own pace.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Organising my day has become more manageable too. On the Business Management course, I have around 8-12 hours of classes per week so I\u2019m able to participate in other activities. For example, I have various part time jobs through the university to provide some extra income. Therefore, I can commit to working half a day for a virtual applicant open day or have video calls with my mentees who need support with their placement search.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

My work placement has taught me a very valuable lesson \u2013 use your Google calendar. With my university schedule I tend to create the next day\u2019s \u2018to do\u2019 list, then set times for when I will work on tasks. I\u2019ve found this keeps my motivation up as studying from home is a new concept for everyone. So, I would usually have a lecture scheduled on my timetable with the building and lecture theatre number. This is a lot different now as lectures are pre-recorded and uploaded to our university account for us to watch in our own time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In terms of meeting people, I was worried about returning to university after a year on placement, especially as some of my friends had graduated. But It\u2019s been refreshing to see societies hosting events online. Every Tuesday evening, I attend Sheffield\u2019s Zumba classes to let off some steam! The only difference is learning the moves over Zoom, rather than in a studio. The Management Society had a great initiative to get people together virtually: \u2018Tea for 2\u2019 is a monthly pairing for two people on my course to chat over a cup of tea to get to know one another. It\u2019s been brilliant to make new friends and feel less isolated during these times.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some ways I\u2019ve adjusted to online learning and kept motivated over the last year:<\/span><\/p>\n