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School leavers and graduates

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School leavers and graduates coping with change

Eight students talk about studying this year, their difficulties in cramped, noisy homes and their paradoxical sense of isolation.

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The majority did not like learning online, a few found it worked well and a couple discovered the ability to think more independently.

Some had good results and feel lucky to be at university but others feel disappointed and frustrated about belonging to the class of 2020.

8 位學生跟我們分享他們這年的學習生活以 及當中遇到的問題,例如在家學習時受嘈 音影響以及他們未能上學的孤單感。

• 他們大部分都不喜歡網上學習,但有部分 覺得學習進度良好以及鍛鍊了獨立思考的 能力。

• 他們有些學習成績較好,順利升讀心儀大 學,但有部分表示失望以及不想於 2020 年 畢業。

Jeremy, 18, prepared for exams in cramped conditions but still had good results and is now at university overseas.

Cheryl, 17, had difficulty with online learning, took a low-paid job and postponed university.

At home, I have no desk and have to work with a phone too small for Zoom while writing my notes on the floor. Libraries and study rooms were shut. Schools opened for limited periods and only those of us in need went there.

At least I slept better and could eat more healthily because I could cook for myself but my family constantly played loud music or watched movies and I learned more slowly. I think my grades suffered.

It is harder to discipline myself when trying to learn online. There is no interaction and I really miss the motivation classmates and teachers provide. There is no real atmosphere without them and all of us lost the chance to create memories of each other.

But I’m glad that I did well enough for a good UK university to accept me to do my chosen degree although in the first year everything will be online. I had to study in the living room to get a good WiFi connection but I could not concentrate. It was crowded and noisy at home and I definitely learned more slowly. In a real classroom I have more energy and can concentrate. I’m glad that some teachers recorded their lessons and we could replay them later.

I relied much more on social media for contact than usual and really missed hanging out with friends. At least I saw more of my parents but I worried about getting infected when taking exams and passing it on at home. When the exams were delayed, I felt let down. I couldn’t do as well as expected and have been very worried about unemployment.

My plan was to start studying abroad in February but now it has all been delayed and I've found a job. Luckily, I saw poster in a shop window and the owner hired me. Others are not so lucky. I think the government should offer them financial support.

Although others found it harder to concentrate in online lessons, I reacted quite differently. I thought more clearly and found it easier and quicker to learn. There were no interruptions or distracting chat. There was no pressure to find instant answers and one of our lecturers shared more professional knowledge and experience than usual. I love that way of teaching.

I have never been terribly keen about campus life and usually went home straight after classes. In fact, I wish all my lectures could have been online and tutorials face to face. I could have saved both time and travel costs.

For most of the pandemic I’ve had good internet access and a stable connection on my own computer. My teachers used Zoom and PowerPoint for interactive online lessons. Zoom was new to me but it was userfriendly. I could ask questions with the microphone or in the Zoom chatroom, and I could check online sources for unfamiliar term and concepts. On campus, I don’t have my computer with me.

One of my courses was an elective in drawing and when the lecturer noticed some students only had enough space to draw on the floor he asked us to take photos of drawings later and upload Heiko, 17, learnt how to stay positive Learning online has been a good experience. I appreciate my teachers’ efforts on Zoom and Google Meet. They made lessons funny and appealing, sent plenty of material and gave us the sources we needed to prepare for exams.

Nelson, 24, graduated from university this year and prefers online lessons.

them so we could also see each other’s work and he could comment on everyone’s efforts.

I was unlucky once. My building has a five-yearly telecoms maintenance schedule and it clashed with one of my exam days. I found out about it well enough in advance and managed to find a quiet place with good internet access when I could do the exam, but it was an extra worry.

Overall, I would say online learning not only enhanced the effectiveness of my learning and improved my concentration, it also improved my work life balance because there was less commuting. In fact, because online learning suited me, I think I got

better grades than I would have done otherwise. Nevertheless, I admit that my progress was slower than in proper lessons but my motivation stayed solid and unchanged. Although social media and being at home could distract me, I put in as much effort as possible. In fact, it was easier to manage time and there was more flexibility than at school.

It did bother me that admission to local universities was affected but I had a job during the summer holidays with a telecommunications company. It was interesting and kept me busy. Although it hasn’t been easy, I think this year has made me stronger and showed me how to stay positive in the future.

Ana, 18, was unimpressed with online learning and admits running out of self-discipline.

While I understand that online learning was the most pragmatic way to deal with school closures, I cannot say it was all positive. Classes followed classes almost immediately online but when we are at school, we walk from one class room to another, creating a transition period between subjects. I also feel teachers gave us far more work to do which created a lot of stress. Online learning requires a lot of discipline, mental, physical and emotional, but by mid-March I had run out of all three.

When IB exams were cancelled, everything stopped: classes, revisions, camaraderie. It was so anticlimactic. I usually do well in exams and I didn’t like Zoom and Google Meet lessons. They lacked interaction and that was demotivating. I like listening to other students’ ideas in class. It’s stimulating. I also learned more slowly online and tended to be distracted by the phone. My revision schedule was confused and my grades probably suffered. Although it was convenient to study at home, I certainly prefer no more online learning in future. Plans for university are unchanged and fortunately, my private tutor asked me to work as an assistant. It gave me confidence. Even though was disappointed I couldn’t prove myself. My results were above average but I still think I could have done better even though I had already been accepted into the university of my choice.

Not going to school was difficult socially. Even though there were opportunities to get together, it was not the same. There was a cap on numbers which meant that we missed out on many celebrations, birthdays, end of school parties and graduation. I also missed a wider circle of classmates and acquaintances that I would normally speak to in school. Even with close friends it wasn’t the same.

I feel my mental health did deteriorate. I became more anxious about the unknown. I also lost motivation to go outdoors, even for walks. My eating habits definitely became worse and I snacked far too much. I don’t know if this experience will make me more resilient. I am normally a well-organized person, but I know I must be more flexible and open to the unexpected. I cannot let things I cannot control take charge, especially of my moods, and I have to learn how to manage expectations. All this might have happened with maturity, but the

pandemic certainly accelerated the process! Hayley, 18, thinks this year has made her more independent.

the exams were very stressful and my appetite disappeared, the experience of COVID-19 has helped me become more independent.

Google Classroom, PowerSchool, ManageBac, outlook, we used them all. Our teachers tried to cram all the syllabus in as quickly as possible when they thought we were doing the IB exams. Then they were cancelled.

We still had to do online lessons which are unmotivating. A lot can be misinterpreted and instructions may be unclear. All lessons were hard but maths was the worst. It’s hard to write equations in a word document and it’s harder to speak into a camera and microphone. We can’t bounce ideas off each other.

It depends entirely on the teacher what we do in class even though the IB talks about how the learner takes charge of their own education. Our online classes were the opposite so I would constantly have 20 tabs open and watch YouTube or message other people in my class time.

My stress levels went through the roof because all I had to focus on every day at home was studying. There was nothing else to distract me. Most of the time I did no exercise and ate a lot of junk food.

Lancy, 22, graduated and recognizes how important adaptability is.

Online learning at uni has improved my selfdiscipline but I lose focus with my family chatting in the background. Some of the class atmosphere is missing too but I easily get distracted in the

Lois, 18, says her last year at school taught her lessons about herself despite lack of motivation.

Our final grades were based on our school’s past records, our predicted grades and internal assignments. Getting our results back was surprising to say the least, and we had no idea how they were calculated. I did better than expected.

A few months of being stuck at home with absolutely nothing to do really made me realize how much I take for granted. One good thing. Most of the day I was left alone with my thoughts, and perhaps I now understand myself better.

classroom as well. I’m glad we had time for discussion after each online class and our teachers were very patient when we asked questions.

Initially, I was worried about not finding work, but my results were not affected and a friend’s introduction led to a job. My plan is to work for a year before launching an education centre for young children with both online and offline learning in case the pandemic continues.

The virus has made everyone think how tremendous change like this can affect the whole world and as well as shouldering responsibilities today, we have to be ready to adapt.

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