Following our introductory blog titled “Covid-19 (Coronavirus) and the Life Science Industry” blog. Wenite will begin to demonstrate some of the popular views that have been circulating from our audience and research documented online. The following blog focuses on The Impact of COVID-19 on Students currently studying at University.
“There is no defined learning timetable anymore and let's not get started with online recordings! Learning isn’t the same anymore; I can’t ask questions in real time during these recordings, and when I do send an email with questions, there are no structured timings with replies – which is frustrating!”.
- An Undergraduate Student, April 2020.
There must be millions of students worldwide that are feeling neglected at this moment, but is anyone listening to them? Are we aware of these inner feelings that students are experiencing right now? It seems that students are becoming more aware of the structure the university learning system provides; which has unfortunately fallen flat.
As much as remote studying is resolving the current “learning issues”, students are still craving that face-2-face dialogue either between:
the student : the lecturer
or the student : student peers
It really is all part of the learning curve; as we all naturally learn off each other.
But as much as reality is sinking into students that are not benefitting from the current structure of things, what can be done to make a difference? This is the best time for students to learn the importance of time management without the external predefined framework provided by the university. Time management may seem like a skill that is easy to incorporate but when it comes down to actually actioning time management in our day to day lives it is important to understand the definition in order to understand what needs to be done next.
Dictionary Definition: Time Management
“the ability to use one’s time effectively or productively…”
If we are to break this up; it is the use of “one’s time”, “effectively or productively”. That means that the choice of going to university and attending your lectures is a good use of “your” time management and sometimes this can be overlooked as something that is not within our power. If you are happy to not go to your lectures, then you already know that you have to plan your “time” (time management) to catch up on what you have missed. Now that the framework of having physical lectures has been removed, it is now the responsibility of the student to create a function/process that can substitute this framework to work with the current situation we are facing.
Yes, this is easier said than done, but having an understanding of how hard it is to transition this skill into reality; it would be useful for you to take advantage of the resources around and learn how to implement time management into your daily routine. Here are a few tips to help you get started (in no particular order):
Plan your day in advance
Start your day with a checklist
Take adequate rest and sleep
Focus on one task at a time
Prioritise!! Start with your important tasks first
Accept your mistakes and move on.
It is also important to speak out to someone on how you’re currently feeling so you don’t get sucked up by anxiety and lose yourself. This is also the best time to make use of the student counselling and mental health service provided by your institutions and understand that they are not there to judge but to listen to your concerns which can and will only benefit you in the long run. As we are all aware, some things are better out than in.
