We’ve partnered with the UTS Society of Communication and Central News to share the experiences of students learning remotely during COVID-19.
Student stories and advice
Our undergraduate students reflect on what student life looks like during a pandemic... explain how online learning can be fun... offer advice on how to set up your study space... show how it is possible to to make friends and also avoid procrastination during a pandemic... and are moved to poetry during the period of unprecedented isolation.
A day in the life of a comms kid: COVID-19 edition
UTSoC Publications Executive Melanie Wong reflects on what life looks like as a university student during a pandemic.
Read A day in the life of a comms kid: COVID-19 edition
Stories from a pandemic: Journalism students report on COVID-19
Our UTS Journalism students have been reporting for Central News throughout COVID-19. Explore first-hand reports from international exchange students or read exclusive stories from local communities.
Visit Central News: Stories from a pandemic
Online learning can be fun if you let it
UTSoC’s Director of Publications Alex Turner-Cohen gives her top tips for remote learning.
Read the blog: online learning can be fun, as long as you follow one important rule
Video tutorial: How to set up a home study
Need some advice on how to set up or optimise your study space? Watch our video tutorial to learn how to create a space that keeps your body healthy and mind happy.
When choosing where to study, you should ideally work in a place which is quiet, spacious
and tidy.
Make sure the space is at the right temperature as it can affect your productivity
and concentration and make sure the room is well lit as this increases focus and can help
keep you energised.
When using a laptop or monitor, make sure that your monitor is level with or below your
eyes.
When typing, your arms should form a 90 degree angle so your wrists are lying flat or
angled downwards.
If your desk looks cluttered like this, give it a tidy as it is key for productivity.
Once it is neat, make sure you have access to all your studying
tools including your computer, stationary and notepads.
Feel free to personalise your space with a to do list or plant which is proven
to improve concentration and productivity by 15%.
How first-year students can make friends during isolation
Are you a new student to UTS? UTSoC has a way for you to make friends, even during a global pandemic, writes Education Junior Director Harry Ryan.
Video: 3 tips for studying at home
Second-year Communication student, Pia, gives her top three tips for staying on top of uni work during COVID-19.
Hi, I’m Pia and I’m a second year comms student.
If you are struggling to study at home, here are a few tips to help you stay on top
of uni work.
Tip number one, redesign your workspace.
It is important that you separate these three tasks into separate areas.
Your brain will then associate these tasks with those specific areas
which will overall increase your productivity and help you get some work done.
Tip number two, make a routine.
This can include making yourself a timetable to schedule
your day, or even just setting alarms just so you know when you can take your break.
By doing this, it simply means that you’re
just making sure that you’re not overworking yourself, and also just at the same time that
you are getting all the things you wanted from the day done.
Tip number three, ask for help.
If you are struggling with uni work, email your tutors!
They are there for a reason.
Also, UTS provides their students with something called HELPS.
If you’re struggling with English, or you just
need a bit more academic learning support
HELPS is there for you and it's online and ready for your use at home.
Well that concludes my tips, so thank you for watching and good luck for studying at home.
English
How to stay productive during a pandemic
Communication student, Jibriel Perez, shares her advice on how to avoid procrastination during a pandemic.
Poem: Unprecedented isolation by Abigail Stratton
Creative Writing student, Abigail Stratton, was inspired to write a poem during the period of isolation.
Read more student stories on Central News (the UTS Journalism Lab) or The Comma (the UTS Communication Society's blog).