Faculty perspectives: Words of encouragement for Golden Hawks

You've made it through half an academic year virtually, Golden Hawks! You've all done really well on adapting to this new learning environment.

During fall 2020, we reached out to some Laurier peer support leaders to offer their advice on how they adapted to the virtual learning transition. This term, some of our faculty members would like to offer you some encouragement and advice on how to finish off the 2020/21 academic year as strong as you started. 

Stay Organized and Avoid Burnout

From Tarah Brookfield, Faculty of Liberal Arts

As a professor working remotely, it was difficult to manage my time in the fall term because the tasks I normally did in my office, classroom, or the library all happened at home in front of a screen. Plus, without walks across campus or spontaneous catch-up with colleagues, there were no natural breaks from engaged learning or sitting in front of a screen. Everything blurred together. I had to develop new habits to stay organized and avoid burnout.

My advice is far from revolutionary. Use a calendar to plan the entire 12 weeks of the term. In addition to entering due dates and scheduled Zoom meetings, block off time on a weekly basis to do all the behind-the-scenes work: your readings, assignment prep, studying for tests, and watching recorded content. Get creative and colour-code. Add in time for any jobs and other recurring obligations. Don’t forget to schedule breaks and free time too!

Ask for Help Before Things Start to Feel Out of Control

From Judy Eaton, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences

The students who stood out to me in the fall term were the ones who asked for help. It’s not an easy thing to do, and I really admire the students who were able to admit that they were struggling and reach out for help. Sometimes there was something simple that we could do to make things easier for them, but we wouldn’t have been able to do this if they didn’t ask.

If I could give students advice for the winter term, I would first encourage them to ask for help before things start to feel out of control. But I would also want them to know that it’s okay to ask for a second chance if they do fall behind. They won’t always get the answer they hope for, but it doesn’t hurt to ask! Even the process of writing about it in an email to the instructor is an opportunity to really process what happened and to think about more effective strategies for staying on top of things.

Remind Yourself of Your Resiliency and Creativeness

From Kimberly Barber, Faculty of Music

One of the biggest things I want to remind you of is how incredibly resilient, creative and nimble you have proven yourself to be. These past months have been some of the most challenging times of anyone’s life, and Laurier students have demonstrated time and again that they are up for the challenge.

Look After One Another

From Tristan Long, Faculty of Science

Back in the Fall I was trying to find something inspirational to encourage my students. I ended up including this quote from King T’Challa (aka Black Panther): “In times of crisis, the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another as if we were one single tribe.”

Be Proud of Your Perseverance and Successes, Don't Lose the Momentum!

From Sara Neziol, Educational Advising

You should be so proud of your perseverance and successes in the fall term – don’t lose this momentum!

Remember to take breaks, to stay positive, and to not be afraid to reach out for help. Whether that be your course professor, the Wellness Centre, your advisor, or any of the other remote learning supports available – please know that we are here to support you and are rooting for you this term.

Participate to Engage in Learning and Build Social Connections

From Holly Gibbs, Faculty of Arts

The most important advice I can give to students is that participating in your courses is important not only for engaging in learning but also for building social connections with each other during this time when the living experience of the pandemic is shaped by social distancing and isolation. While certainly different than in person classrooms, we can continue to use this opportunity as a time and space to get to know each other, communicate ideas, and demonstrate listening and learning. In synchronous classes, this may be with video and/or audio on but it may also be via the chat function or via using the ‘clap, heart, or thumbs up’ as reactions to your instructor or fellow classmates. Where there are opportunities for asynchronous engagement, for example on MyLS discussion boards, students can participate regularly and be thoughtful and intentional in sharing and responding to instructor’s questions and the comments of other students.

We are building classroom community in different ways this year but connection is important just the same, if not more so, in the times we are living in.

It’s okay if it doesn’t look or feel the same, if the technology doesn’t work perfectly, or if you’re facing challenges with remote learning due to circumstances beyond your control. We understand… and can’t wait to see you on campus in the future.