There\u2019s no doubt about it, if you attend all your lectures and tutorials you\u2019ll do better at Uni.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Online tutorials and lectures lay the foundations for a strong performance in your assessments. Just like building a house, if you scrimp on the foundations, the final product isn\u2019t going to be as sturdy as it could be. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But attending class is about more than assessments too. Everything you experience in your classes contributes to a well-rounded education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We caught up with some La Trobe students to find out the benefits of attending classes. Here are their eight reasons why you should commit to staying on top of your classes this Semester.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Actively engaging with the content you\u2019re learning in class gives you a better chance of retaining that knowledge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Master of Professional Accounting student Mohinesh Krishna Kangloo recommends actively participating in your tutorial sessions and sharing your opinions and ideas on the topic being discussed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt reinforces your understanding of the topic and helps you to clarify what\u2019s still unclear or instances where you are going wrong or misunderstood the topic,\u201d Mohinesh says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He recommends preparing topics prior to joining your tutorial session to enable you to better particpate in class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s nothing worse than being roadblocked by a question for which you can\u2019t find an answer. In a live or face-to-face lecture or tutorial, you may be able to ask for clarification on a topic and get any questions answered right away. That’s easier than ever now as many classes have moved online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re feeling shy, you have the option to use the chat function on Zoom and message the lecturer privately in order to get your queries resolved,\u201d Mohinesh says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bachelor of Commerce student Linh Vu suggests using your class timetable to keep you motivated to stay on track. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCreating the habit of attending lectures and tutorials at the planned times really pushes you to study rather than relying on recordings,\u201d Linh says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA lot of the time when students postpone their online studies, they tend to just skip the content of that week because they can\u2019t be bothered or due to other commitments, and before they realise it, they have already missed out on the workload of a couple of weeks. It is then really challenging to have to catch up and be in the best position for assessments.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Due to their smaller class sizes, tutorials are ideal for discussing ideas, theories and their practical applications with your classmates and tutors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn tutorials you have the opportunity to apply all the content covered during your lectures to case studies,\u201d says Mohinesh. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll be able to work together to problem-solve, which informs how you\u2019re expected to answer questions later on in assessments.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s definitely not ideal, but sometimes things can go awry with technology, meaning recordings might glitch or they may begin late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SHE College student Mel Holland emphasises the importance of attending online classes for students studying health-related topics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSome materials used relating to real life cases (in health-related subjects) may not be able to be recorded due to privacy \u2013 so you may not get the full benefit of having those examples,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Programs like Zoom and Microsoft Teams are the ‘bread and butter’ of organisations communicating online during the pandemic. The more you can get to know about these programs and how they work, the better. If you\u2019re confident with using Zoom and other online tools to collaborate and communicate with peers, you\u2019ll be in a great position for future opportunities, such as online job interviews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
La Trobe Academic and Language Skills Advisor Freya Whaite says building a relationship with your lecturer can break down any initial hesitation and help you to feel more confident about emailing them later for help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThink about your future career opportunities and whether you would like to use a lecturer or tutor as a reference\/mentor,\u201d she says. \u201cIt really helps to have that existing relationship, which you can build by being an active participant in online lectures.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Linh\u2019s top tip is to ask your lecturer or tutor questions. \u201cWhatever you are not sure about, don\u2019t be afraid to bring it up,\u201d she says. \u201cYou will find that they are very willing to help out because your performance matters to them as much as it matters to you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you are shy and do not want to turn on your audio, then no worries as there is a private chat function on Zoom for you to send private messages to the teacher,\u201d she says. \u201cThe bottom line is try to make the most of your time in class to get your questions sorted out because if you decide to email them instead, chances are there might be delays in responses given the heaps of emails sent to the lecturer\/tutor each day!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mohinesh adds that students should make use of the breakout rooms option on Zoom during the tutorial sessions when participants are split into smaller groups. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis will further encourage discussion and motivate you to participate in class,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019d also encourage you to make use of the chat option function available on Zoom and ask questions privately to the tutor. Alternatively, there is also the raise hand option function which you can use to notify the teachers that you have questions in relation to the subject matter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During your tutorials in particular you\u2019ll have the opportunity to meet peers in a similar situation to you, which can be very motivating, Freya says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey likely share the same hopes, fears and challenges with online study as you, and you can talk about it and feel less isolated in your study journey. It\u2019s quite likely that your classmates would love to see your friendly face on Zoom and have a chat.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zoom isn\u2019t just for participating in classes, even though that\u2019s where your first meeting might take place. \u201cOrganise a coffee catch up with a classmate to discuss your subject and life as well,\u201d Mohinesh says. \u201cAlternatively, you can use other platforms such as Skype and WhatsApp amongst others to have a video conversation and stay more connected with your friends. You could try organising a Netflix party (the chrome plugin) on a timely manner in order to better maintain that social connection with their peers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Linh acknowledges it can be a little tricky to connect with others in online classes. \u201cJust try your best to engage with your peers and be proactive in generating conversations during discussions,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou may find someone whom you can collaborate with for group assignments, or just simply some like-minded friends!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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