My online learning experience as an international student at ECUST

INTRODUCTION

Hello, I am Nasrin Akther, an international student majoring in Environmental Science and Engineering at East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST). The COVID-19 pandemic started just after I returned to my home country of Bangladesh during last year's winter vacation. In the beginning I was very sad because I could not go to school. Due to this pandemic, lockdowns were implemented all over the world, everything closed, and even educational institutions shut for safety reasons. But after a few days, ECUST gave us the good news that they had started online classes for all their students outside of China. Today, I’m going to share my experience of online classes.

EXPERIENCE OF ONLINE CLASSES

Online classes are much like live classes in that all students ask their questions and the teacher resolves them, just as in traditional classes. Though there were some small complications such as technical issues during the uploading of presentations at the beginning, we students found quick solutions to it on the platform, and professors and program directors alike were very helpful and understanding during this period. Professors were very approachable and eager to help us. It’s very surprising how quickly I adapted to this new situation. I didn’t have to cancel classes or undergo drastic rescheduling, and we had our lessons all while being in the comfort of our own homes. I am not usually good with IT skills, so it was very helpful for me to receive clear instructions on what to do. The professors know how to use the different tools accordingly and the classes were, therefore, interactive and pleasant to attend.

BENEFITS OF ONLINE LEARNING

Online learning provides more time flexibility and a much more relaxed and flexible learning environment. It fosters greater time management and responsibility as a whole, and it ultimately allows us to create and enjoy a schedule that best fits with our day-to-day activities. Now I have a bit more time to spend on my extracurricular projects and hobbies. It also helps me to develop self-discipline, as I plan my day and tasks around class times.

SOME TIPS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE
WHILE STUDYING FROM HOME

The tips that work for me are to keep in constant contact with my classmates; to establish a space where I can watch the classes quietly and take notes; and to organize a routine according to my online schedule. I follow a strict plan according to my timetable. I suggest establishing a timetable in Excel and sticking to it as closely as possible. It is also important to start early in the morning, around 7am, to include personal activities such as sports, grocery shopping, and hobbies. A special skill which is particularly crucial is discipline. Discipline to stick to your timetable and not lose yourself in unproductive activities, such as TV, YouTube and social media.

FINAL ASSESSMENT OF ONLINE CLASSES

The studies were structured much better than I expected. I didn’t really see a difference between the online and offline structures. Assignments, paper submissions and presentation exam work were done separately. I also allocated time-slots for those discussions. The exams were held online. A couple of times I faced some issues because of the quality of the internet connection and the hardware used by everyone. The camera was switched on the whole time so that professors could see what we are doing. I think that is fair. It makes the interaction more lively and human.

FINAL REMARKS

I did not find it hard to follow the lectures and participate in group projects. Thus, I would assess this experience as being helpful, in terms of having an idea of how to organize my work with people who are such a far distance from me. I believe that distance learning can really help us gain the skills we need to readily adjust to change. Online classes are amazing as they give us an opportunity to study like before, but without worrying about our safety. I definitely enjoyed our classes and appreciated the efforts made by our professors and the international school authorities in arranging it.