The UOW Learning Co-op is here to help. We have done the work for you and come up with the best ways to make the most of remote delivery and ensure you stay connected to the University and your fellow students, even as you practice social distancing.
You're not alone in this. UOW has moved essential support services for students to an online model to assist in the transition towards remote learning. UOW student Caitlin chats (physically distant of course!) with Professor Julia Coyle who manages student learning, and student support, asking the questions students want answers to.
If you have any questions about the above or would like some further advice, please feel free to contact a Peer Coach via the LiveChat on the website.
We are always happy to help students navigate university and the new world of remote delivery.
With change can come stress, so it is especially important to look after yourself during this time. Ensure you are getting a good night’s sleep, taking the time to exercise and get some fresh air, and eating well every day.
For immediate assistance in a crisis, visit the the Crisis Support Services website for the UOW Crisis Support Numbers.
If you need help, UOW has a full range of support services available to all students, including counselling and Student Support Advisors. Please view the UOW Support Services for more information.
You can also receive support and help through:
Even with large social gatherings being advised against for the time being, it is still important to maintain relationships. Why not pick up the phone and have a chat or a Facetime session with a friend? The beauty of technology and social media is we aren’t completely isolated from each other. We can stay connected, even while being apart.
It is important to have a clean, designated study area which is conducive to work. Try to leave your bed for sleeping and choose an area where you are comfortable and which will be good for your posture.
Keep your desk clean from distracting clutter and try not to have anything in view that will make you stressed while you are trying to study.
If possible, try to sit somewhere with a window open or an outside view – natural light is best
Work on organising a reliable internet connection to have at home. This will be important in order to access all your learning materials remotely and avoiding stress later in the session.
UOW provides a range of IT support services for students. There is a range of knowledge management articles and IT Support FAQs that students can access any time.
Students can also contact our IT department with any specific questions.
Keep an eye on your Moodle site to find out how your subject coordinator will be delivering material.
If there are online classes or assessments, make sure to login and know how to access them before the scheduled time.
This way it will reduce stress of trying to work it out on the day.
It can be easy to fall behind in your studies when there are no set times for classes, but it is important to make sure you keep up with the work.
Research has shown that sticking to a routine is good for us and helps us to achieve more.
Why not set yourself a study timetable to stick to for the remainder of session? The time you would have spent in class, you can set aside to do the work for that subject at home. This should keep you on track to keep up with your studies.
You will thank yourself later in the session when exams come around.
Many academics will be using online platforms such as WebEx to run live sessions. This will enable them to further explain concepts, keep track of attendance, and for students to be able to ask questions.
In order to get the most from these sessions, it is important to watch any pre-recorded lectures and complete (or attempt) any activities asked of you before the “live” sessions. This will enable you to identify any gaps in your knowledge, formulate questions to ask, and consolidate your learning in that area.
Set yourself goals each day or week of things you would like to get done in order to hit your study targets. For example, you may want to write summaries for each of your subjects each week.
Give yourself a reward when you achieve these goals, and do something that makes you happy, like a relaxing bubble bath, watching an episode of your favourite TV show, or calling a friend.
Why not create a list of rewards for yourself that you can use? By setting these goals and rewards early on, it will help keep you motivated over the coming weeks.
We have a number of helpful resources right at your fingertips to help you ace your studies. We have information on types of assessments, effective studying, referencing, and many more helpful topics.
These resources are available 24/7 at on the UOW Learning Co-Op website.
Peer Academic Coaches are also available on campus and online via the LiveChat tab on the right of the Learning Co-Op website.
It can be hard studying alone. Not having other students to bounce ideas off can be difficult, especially if you don’t understand the content.
Try to keep in touch with your peers through online platforms such as Moodle forums, WebEx Teams, or Skype.
If you are in a subject supported by PASS, these sessions will now be running online and would be great to use to stay up with the content and connect with your peers.
Find what works for you.
Just because you aren’t seeing them in class, it doesn’t mean your academics aren’t available to help you.
Use your online Moodle forums to ask questions and clarify content.
If it is a personal issue, email your subject co-ordinator directly. Their email address will be in your subject outline.