Some of our young people are half way through their degrees (2019/20 intake): lockdowns on repeat, light at the end of the tunnel with vaccinations (?) and the legacy of COVID-19

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

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Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose is all I can say!

bigTilly having invigilated ‘real’ exams in the past I have seen a few ways to cheat! The loos always got maths or physics formula graffiti this time of year which made a change from willies!

It used to be a massive thing if you asked to go to the loo in the middle of an exam. It seems less so these days but I'm sure that ways to cheat increase with going to the loo. We weren't allowed to take water into exams either, thus reducing the likelihood of needing a comfort break. I do recall that when DS did his GCSEs, he was convinced that a group of the 'road men' boys at his school had formulae and answers secreted away in the loo cubicles. He's not the type to tell tales but I was really annoyed on behalf of those not cheating!

I don't think we were allowed out for the loo during an exam in my day (1970s) and you certainly could not take water into the exam. If you were thirsty - tough.

@Xenia personally DH and I have always been shocked at talk of pupils/students taking in large bottles of water these days. Of course, you're going to need the loo if you down 1L (+) within an hour of being in exam conditions. I've always felt that if you are really in the zone, concentrating on the exam paper you won't have time to think about being thirsty or your bladder.

They have to be accompanied to the toilet and cubicles are checked before and after use. And water bottles have to be clear, no labels. No watches at all allowed as invigilators can't be expected to know what watch does what. These are JCQ rules so everyone has to follow them.
Think my DDs are videoed rather than live watching. Not sure if they only look if you get an amazing score 😂

We were allowed to take a clear bottle of water and a sweets as long as they were in a clear plastic bag into our exams in the 90s.
Toilet breaks were allowed-you had to be accompanied by an invigilator, however I can't remember anyone ever going in the middle of an exam.

A nappy @xenia??? Is that a real suggestion?!

Road men @NewModelArmyMayhem18

Nappies!!!!
Lol
However, would have been useful in a particular gruelling 3 hour one where I looked like a scene from Carrie at the end of it. The invigilators was very kind when I stayed back til the end and lent me her cardi to wrap round me.

Oh, you poor thing @Zandathepanda.

I cannot think too many late teens/early twenties would allow themselves to wee into a nappy even if desperate, would they?

NewModel I have got over it but it took me a while! The invigilator was a (usually fierce) nun who was actually so sweet to me and never mentioned it again. She actually was a good role model for me as a teacher.

Dd is fretting about 3rd year module choices, in particular her dissertation. I feel sorry because they’ve missed that banter and q&a sessions you have with your lecturers. She had spent a bit of time zooming them and getting some feelers for what she wants to do. Some modules are capped numbers wise, so she needs to be quick off the mark on module allocation day and fingers crossed the WiFi is working.

DD managed to successfully change her personal tutor as the last one was useless. She spoke to her new tutor this week and said that she was lovely. Her new tutor gave her some tips on how to do presentations. It sounds like she will have to do a lot more of them in her third year. She did well in her group presentation the other week, thank goodness, and is waiting for her marks on last week's one now.

I hope your DD manages to find the modules she wants @Zandathepanda. Year 3 sounds like it will be a tough slog.

I think it’s more the case she likes the sound of most of them! There is such a choice. But she’s going will the ones that will give her the best skill set for her CV.

@RampantIvy, my DD has also had to do all sorts of online video interviews and assessment days for job applications, so the ones they do for their degree are good preparation for what they may face after!

@Zandathepanda, I don’t think DS has been given any module choices/diss information yet, but now he’s finished his exams, that might be next on the agenda

Good point on being prepared for online interviews for jobs, My son had one last week and apart from the company having got the time wrong by an hour so he was up early in a suit and tie (or at least top half of his suit) and then had an hour to kill, the tech side worked fine, thankfully. I think it was on Zoom. I do encourage them all to practise, have a back up in case the lap top fails (not sure if you can do zoom on a phone but may be you can), check those around you know not to make a noise etc. Plug in your lap top or computer so you don't run out of power in the middle and that kind of thing.

I agree that they are good preparation for real life. At least DD now has some more support and someone to give her some pointers.

@Xenia, rest assured, Zoom on a smartphone is perfectly possible, which I was relieved to discover in the middle of something important when our WiFi decided to go away. Fortunately, I am very good at conserving my data allowance...

Still concerned about return to campus in September as most students will have had only the first jag and then there's international students.

are any universities going fully back?

I would just like to know either way - will my sons be in my house 24/7 for the next year (they will live at home for their course) or will they be out at least 4 days a week 7.30 to about 4pm as their sisters were doing the same course in the past. Knowing my luck we will all be 24/7 together again for yet another year and then they will be forced to work from home for first jobs too like their friends who finished studies last summer. Perhaps universities which will be mostly on line could pay parents an extra heating allowance etc for the cost of having the child at home.

@MarchingFrogs - I’ve done zoom meetings on my phone whilst out for a walk through the park. Much nicer than sitting in my home office.

Here in the US Dd2’s university has announced they will be back fully in Sept. They are allowing international students in, quarantining them, getting them vaccinated ASAP, and requiring all students and staff to be fully vaxxed.

Dd1’s university hasn’t announced yet (they go back a month later so not surprised) but I’m assuming they’ll be the same. She is so ready for life to restart. This has been such a shitty year.

She’s been getting a fair bit of mental health support and I’m feeling like we’re starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

@Xenia

Good point on being prepared for online interviews for jobs, My son had one last week and apart from the company having got the time wrong by an hour so he was up early in a suit and tie (or at least top half of his suit) and then had an hour to kill, the tech side worked fine, thankfully. I think it was on Zoom. I do encourage them all to practise, have a back up in case the lap top fails (not sure if you can do zoom on a phone but may be you can), check those around you know not to make a noise etc. Plug in your lap top or computer so you don't run out of power in the middle and that kind of thing.

Yes - all excellent advice!

Our nephew at Uni in the US has heard the same. Everyone fully vaccinated and term starts in September as normal.

Good news for US students.

Just been reading that the Govt is going to start cutting funding for Arts/Humanities uni subjects Very narrow-minded thinking. Plus not everyone is cut out to do STEM subjects!

Bristol telling students it will be blended learning in Sept because 'they liked it'. Even though none of them have had it !
Law students told all exams will be open book and on line for rest of the course. I am disgusted. And told the kids to complain in September. They are in midst of exams now but are all so demoralised.

The U.K. should follow the US model - get all students and staff vaccinated over the summer and the then open as normal in September.