Online Learning: Online Lectures and Recordings
The COVID-19 Pandemic has meant that a lot of instruction has moved online, including lectures. These might be available to you as online lectures delivered live or as recordings that you can choose your own time to view (I think I'd prefer recordings personally). This page is intended to give you some tips to help you make the most of these forms of instruction.
Online Lectures
The technical terms for this is "synchronous" as the lecturing and the listening/note-taking happen at the same time. As they're live, you have to pay attention. We'll split this into things to do before during and after the lecture.
Before
- Get the device on which you're going to watch the lecture ready well before it's due to start. Make sure it's fully charged
- You need to be able to hear what's being said, so make your device's speakers are working or you have access to headphones
- If you need to have a special app or apps on your device to watch or listen, then make sure you have downloaded them and tested that they work. If anything doesn't work, contact your tutor
- If you're taking notes on pen and paper, make sure you have what you need
- Identity where you're going to watch the lecture. Find somewhere suitable where you're not going to be distracted.
- Let family and friends know in advance that you're going to be busy during this time
- If there's any reading or anything else asked of you to do before the lecture, then make sure you do it.
- Think about switching off your phone or putting it on silent. If you're watching on your phone, perhaps you'll want to block notifications during the lecture.
During
- Pay attention. You'd listen if you were in a live class, so this is just the same
- Participate. Ask questions and be prepared to answer questions
- Be patient. There might be the odd connection issue, lagging, the presenter not seeing your raised hand or not answering your question immediately. Don't get frustrated - this is new to you and it's probably new to the presenter too. Cut them some slack and don't get frustrated.
Video platforms often have a "hands up" feature which you can use to show you want to participate. It lets the host show that you wish to say or ask something. Another useful function that many video platforms have is a chat feature. Use this to ask questions or even answer them. However, do bear in mind that if you're using the chat feature a lot, you're probably not paying attention to what is being said.
After
- If the lecture was recorded, then watch it again at a time that suits you.
- Take notes, even if you did during the lecture; being able to pause and stop the recording should help you as you'll be able to go over parts that you didn't quite catch or didn't fully understand the first time around
- Don't file and forget and your notes. Go back to them, look at them, expand them
- If there's anything you're not sure of, contact your tutor. This can't be overstated.
Recordings
The technical term for these is "asynchronous" the lecturing is not happening at the same time as you're listening to it. Many people prefer this to watching something live as you're more in control; you dictate the time and the place where you can watch it. Again, we can separate this into a before, during and after.
Before
- As above, make sure you have everything you need to be able to watch and listen to the recording
- If there's any reading or anything else to be done before hand, make sure you've done it
- Identify a time that works best for you. Some of us are early birds, others are night owls. Make sure you know when you get your best study done and watch recordings during that time.
- Make sure you have a suitable location to watch the recording
- Let your friends and family know that you're going to be busy
- Decide on how you're going to do this
- watch it all the way through
- pause as required
During
- Take notes. You might think about pausing or rewinding to catch something that you missed, or want to finish a note on a topic before carrying on, but it might be better to watch the whole thing and then watch it again for the purpose of taking notes. Figure out what works for you
- If you need a break or get distracted, pause and return to the recording when you're ready
- Use timestamps to identify bits of the recording that you need or want to watch over again (there should be a timer at the bottom of the video screen that will allow you to do this). Use the timestamps in your notes, so you can go back to specific parts of the recording later if you need to.
- Don't answer your own questions - that is don't pause the recording to go away and find the answer to a question that you have. This might break your concentration and the presenter might answer the question later anyway. Take a note of it and look at it at the end of the recording.
After
- Go over your notes. Re-watch the recording to expand your notes and clarify things that you were unsure of
- If there's any kind of chat facility or forum used for the module, then participate. It's a good way of keeping in contact with people. You could even talk about coursework!
- Don't file and forget and your notes. Go back to them, look at them, expand them
- If there's anything you're unsure of, contact your tutor. Again, this cannot be overstated.
