University life for our soon to be Year 2 undergrads (2019 intake): social bubbles (bursting?), the new normal and hopefully no second wave

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

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I have two university students and two high school students who've been studying online from home since March. Our schools and colleges here didn't really cut back on the workload for students, so they've had a lot of experience of it now.

The schools did a mix of Teams video calls and assigned work. The kids took part in all the video calls as required by the school, and had occasional online 1x1 sessions with their tutors or teachers.

The universities also did a mix - my two kids chose to take part in some of the courses on a synchronous basis and others on an asynchronous basis. It really depended on what they felt worked best for each course eg, DD did all her math and computer science classes asynchronously but her Spanish and history classes were all done via Zoom classes because they were much more interactive.

They responded pretty well but they did have bumps when they got behind, or felt overwhelmed and weren't sure how to feed that back to staff, or misunderstood what work was expected and had to redo some of it.

Because it was such a new challenge, all of the schools/colleges went with pass/fail for that period, rather than giving grades.

I made no attempt to keep the college students on track, other than providing food and hugs when they were really stressed. DD did get VERY stressed by the end, but she passed everything.

For the high schoolers I did occasionally review their workload with them, and once or twice I helped them engage with their teachers and took part in some email conversations and one phone call. They also passed everything although it was a bit touch and go for DS.

For the upcoming year all of the schools and colleges are reverting to giving actual grades, so they will be expected to both keep up with the work, and find a way to give feedback to the staff when it's difficult or too much.

I know nothing about DD’s contact time and didn’t last year either. It took until February to find out a rough idea of her timetable and that was only because we were visiting.

I know nothing about DD’s contact time and didn’t last year either.

I knew that DD had at least one of her classes quite late in the day (6pm, I think) and that mostly, her timetable allowed her to have lunch in her flat, a 10 - 15 minute walk away. Re the coming year, we have been told that some of the modules she wanted to take are no longer available, but if she has an actual timetable by now, she has communicated nothing about it. I might ask, just out of idle curiosity.

I knew and still know nothing about DSs contact time. Or if he even made it to lectures/seminars etc. He did tell me which modules he was doing, and which ones this year, but I can’t actually remember much

Or DD, who has now graduated! I do know that she watched most of her lectures on her MacBook, speeded up

I sound a terrible mother

Or DD, who has now graduated! I do know that she watched most of her lectures on her MacBook, speeded up

If I'm watching a catch up on on replay I tend to do it at 1.25 or 1.5 speed (depending on if it's our "ploddy" lecturer or the one who talks fast) and skip through all the "discuss with your partner" stuff and I can do an hour lecture in 30 minutes easily!

We have 4 hours fortnightly timetabled on campus for next term - then some live-online format stuff and lectures recorded to watch at our own pace - think our department is planning (it'll last about a fortnight - I love our course lead but we know what she's like) to do a suggested viewing order schedule each week for people to plan their work around.

gosh no... no idea on contact time for either son.. they're adults and need to take responsibility for it themselves. Ds1 has discussed some of his module choices, but only in a vague, what do you think of these choices, kind of way. also not at all worried about online courses.. everyone has to adapt to these new times and technologies

My DS knows nothing at all - and I really mean nothing - about arrangements for next academic year. I am 99%sure that the information has been disseminated in one form or another but as it isn't happening in the next couple of weeks he seems to have no interest in finding out. I truly despair. I know I'm not the only parent with DC who are spectators in their own life, but I really worry about his future if he doesn't pull his socks up.

DD, on the other hand, knows that there is nothing in her 1st semester that she wants to study in terms of modules. Some of the lecturers have left for Brexit reasons, taking the best courses with them. Not a happy bunny, and it matters a lot more as it is her final year.

DD has told me today she got marks for 2 modules today over 70%. She seemed very pleased and tells me those are good marks so I’m happy too. End of year exam results on 18/8.

Well done to your DD @Benjispruce - sounds like she’s passed the 40% to get through to2nd year!

@simbobs, that sounds pants - your poor DD and others on the course

Anything over 70% is a first, so well done to your DD @Benjispruce.

I'm half happy and half nervous that my DS seems to be taking on a lot of responsibility for the shared house - seems like he's paying the bills and rent centrally. He's the 'lead' tenant but I thought that was just for deposit.

I've suggested he set up a separate bank account to avoid confusing his living expenses, and making sure his flatmates transfer at least a week in advance of the time needed - so he has time to chase. I just hope its relatively peaceful and no arguments over money..

Well done to your DD @Benjispruce.

Thanks, getting good grades is her thing. She’d barely scrape a pass in helping out at home though.

Many congrats @Benjispruce dd... this bodes well for the 18th... :)
infact seeing your post, made me ask ds2 if he had any coursework /lab modules that go towards his 1st yr mark.. and it turns out that, yes he got those back agggggges ago and they're also in the 70's, so I will be reminding him of this regularly as we creep towards results day...
Ds2 is longing to be in Durham this weekend... we have 35degrees down on the south coast atm... but he tells me its only in the 20's there... hope everyone is having a good weekend whatever the weather..

Thanks @Ingles2 how is your son feeling now? Any word on accommodation yet?

He's ok I think thanks @Benjispruce... tbh he's keeping well out of my way so he doesn't have to submit to my scrutiny! :D
HB say they are creating household bubbles for 2/3yrs who are staying in college atm, so hopefully he'll get placed with some people studying maths/physics as well..

I really don't understand how the bubbles will work for those who are on different courses but who had already planned to live together in 2nd year. DS will be with 4 others, only one of whom will be on his course, and even then not in the same seminar group.

On a different subject does anyone know the dates when student loans are paid. I have checked DS's account and it is all good to go, but no date. He claims that one of his friends has had some kind of communication indicating that they will not be paid until mid October, but I don't think that can be right. I think that refers to the fees to uni. I know that we had all the data last year but I don't remember where I found it.

No, I don't understand about the bubbles either. They are illogical unless you eat/sleep/breathe only those on the same course as you/doing the same modules. Only time will tell, I guess.

I couldn't find precise dates for the student loan payments for the upcoming academic year @simbobs, other than a vague 'in September' mention for the first one. I suspect it will the last week of the month at the earliest, particularly given that second years usually won't start back until then (at the earliest).

Glad he’s ok @Ingles2.
DD hasn’t heard about bubbles at Durham, just that campus will be open with restrictions and distancing which sounds sensible but they are notoriously late with info.

I guess uni's will have to create some tuition / work bubbles when they get back... ds1 hasn't heard anything from Lboro.. and he's living with 5 others, none of whom are on his course...
Durham is slightly different I guess in that its collegiate, and as you don't have to move to out, they can create bubbles of colleges and groups within colleges reasonable easily,
My friend is staff at UCL and she says they have nothing firmed up for the beginning of term, I also know a lecturer at Exeter and she says the same, so I imagine most uni's are in the same position.
As for loan Ive just checked on student finance. gov and its says 5th Oct for Durham, 28th Sept for Lboro... if you log in, and click your finance along the top bar, it gives you the schedule..

My understanding is that bubbles are only for Freshers living in Halls - they can’t police people living off campus in private accommodation. For what it’s worth I don’t think it can work even on campus. I’m sure we all have war stories about issues within flats in Halls, spectacular fall outs or worse during first year. The Uni authorities cannot possibly force students to stay within the “bubble” if there are serious problems

DS calmly mentioning in passing he thinks he left his sunglasses at Uni. When I went to pick him up his room was pretty well packed up but he said he had a few things in the kitchen left behind. That was March and now he mentions it?

He’ll need to contact the unit i see if they’ve thrown his stuff out or stored it. While he’s at it he can work on his list of things he wants to take back with him. Needs to start pulling his finger out

Discussion with DW yesterday we perhaps enable him too much. Although with COVID i specifically wasn’t comfortable getting him to find a job in a supermarket when normally we would have pushed him to earn some money

I took a similar view with DS regarding working in a supermarket but am slightly regretting it now, as he has tried to get other work once things began to reopen but with no luck. The few positions that exist all want someone permanent.

@simbobs @MrKlaw if it makes you feel any better my DD did apply to many supermarket jobs and didn’t get any of them. Why take on an inexperienced student when there’s so many older people unemployed?

We think the whole bubble thing is an impossibility.
It’s impossible in schools where children arrive by bus, and if they play in the playground after school....
However, very little danger for children/young people themselves - it is more a question of the associated teachers/lecturers and family members if they are carriers. Only time will tell.