The Online Class Experience and #FranklinWeStand

ar — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 14:45:51 +0000

March 31, 2020

ar Mon, 04/04/2022 - 16:45

Asa Yangsirirsuk '21.5

"Tough times never last, but tough people do." -Robert H. Schuller, American Televangelist.

Welcome back or welcome to Adventures at Franklin! This blog looks at the happenings on campus at ��ӰԺ and recently, not much has been happening physically on campus. To be fair, not much has been happening physically in many parts of the world. We have gone digital! Actually, I should be a bit more exact, as many of us already spent regular time on the digital realm beforehand. *For the most part, different aspects of our lives such as interactions, work, classes, travelling, exercise etc. are online*. I wanted to touch on the online class experience for students, as it is the biggest recent change for many FUS students. Afterwards, I look at the #FranklinWeStand movement, as a reminder to stick together :)

My online learning has been split into two different forms. For both forms, homework is largely the same (readings, worksheets, writing assignments etc). The difference lies in the actual class meetings.
In the first form of my online learning, I have video calls with the professor and the rest of the class, either on Zoom or Microsoft Teams. The benefit of this system is that we can still have discussions, ask questions, and receive and or provide answers on the spot. For some classes, we also have the video calls at the same time that in-person class would have taken place, which provides some sense of routine.
For the second form of my online learning, I watch pre-recorded lectures from professors. The benefit to this format is that it really opens my schedule up. I can watch the lecture whenever I want and wherever I want. I also feel that this format allows for easier concision and clarity regarding the content of the class, albeit at the loss of discussions and in moment questions/responses.

With the switch to online learning, the obvious question is: how effective is online learning?
The short answer: although some people may actually perform better from online learning, virtual classes are generally not as effective as in-person classes. It is more difficult to stay engaged in an online setting due to increased distraction opportunities and less oversight. However, right now virtual classes still allow for students to access material, and in some cases it still allows for engagement and discussion. This fact alone makes online learning a lot better than having nothing available, and I applaud schools everywhere for their adaptation to the situation.

In this less than ideal time, the Franklin community is launching the #FranklinWeStand movement to display unity and to stay connected with one another. The gist is to take a photo with Franklin gear, have a sign that says #FranklinWeStand, and post on social media or email it to marketing@fus.edu
If you want to read the full statement then here it is: /news-events/news/1118-franklinwestand-join-the-campaign?fbclid=IwAR3RBzE-jKrlt7M5xu6RWWmMpxaI1dgUixkM8VGD3TUIiTC1Hh_xpmiFC48

And here are the contributions once again :)

And here is my contribution ;)

This great initiative is a reminder to stick together through difficult times. Tough times never last, but tough people do. We will get through this! Join the movement :)

Stay tough and a presto,
Asa

COVID-19 and Boredom

ar — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 14:42:02 +0000

COVID-19 and Boredom

March 22, 2020

ar Mon, 04/04/2022 - 16:42

Asa Yangsirirsuk '21.5

Welcome back or welcome to Adventures at Franklin. Today I cover a bit about the current situation and boredom, but first A LOT has happened since my last post. Here is a brief recap.

At Franklin, in-person classes initially suspended until March 29th, now extended to April 19th. Online classes will start on March 23rd. The dining hall remains open, with a cap on number of people who can enter. More information found here: /services/health/coronavirus-information-and-updates

In Switzerland, the government has instituted a nationwide ban (until April 19) on all private and public events. Shops, restaurants, entertainment venues are closed. Grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations remain open. People may not congregate in groups of 5 or more (violations result in a 100 CHF fine). More information about the situation in Switzerland:

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/covid-19_coronavirus--the-situation-in-switzerland/45592192

I’m not a specialist or an epidemiologist, so I don’t want to write too much about specifics on the virus and the situation in the world. However, I did want to share 2 brief general thoughts. First, an interesting quote I heard this week: linear solutions almost never tackle exponential problems. Some may see these measures as an overreaction, but these new regulations are meant to provide time. The virus has outpaced the medical literature up to now, so if there is more time, then we can provide more insight about the uncertainties. It takes time to manifest symptoms, so we do not know who is infected right away. Hopefully through this pause and isolation period, we will learn who is truly infected and our finite medical resources can be efficiently allocated. Finally, the virus is growing exponentially, so social distancing/self-isolating ourselves can limit the growth and relief the stress on medical services.

In an ideal scenario, we can look back in a few months and say that we overreacted. Right now, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Secondly, be cautious and cognizant, but do not panic. Don’t go to a hospital if you’re not extremely sick. Medical resources, doctors and nurses are finite. Don’t panic buy everything from the store. We don’t need a food or toilet paper shortage to worry about as well. Follow the guidelines, but do not panic.

Although the situation continues to change every day, one apparent thing is that our daily routines will have to change to some extent. For some, staying inside means more free time, and that means possible boredom. Boredom has always fascinated me. Did you know there’s 5 types of boredom? The Springboard Center provides an overview: https://www.springboardcenter.org/five-kinds-of-boredom/

For the sake of simplicity, I’ll stick to type 1, indifferent boredom, where you feel relatively relaxed and calm. This type of boredom can be positive, as you can find creative things to do with the extra free time. Funnily enough, I’ve already written a post about “things to do during the long weekend”, in which many of my suggestions still apply. We can still exercise (indoors), call friends/family, do chores, get some work done, catch up on sleep, watch things online, spend time on hobbies (indoors). Read more about these suggestions here: http://adventuresatfranklin.fus.edu/2020/02/10-things-to-do-during-long-weekends-at.html

That’s already 7 suggestions, but I do have one more: learn something new and or get a new hobby. Imagine if this pandemic and quarantine occurred a decade ago, or 2 decades ago. We would have been worse off. Nowadays, we have access to news, entertainment, and communication all within a few simple swipes and clicks. Use that technology to learn something new! You can learn just about anything from videos on YouTube. You can find articles and posts about how to do or make things from a simple google search. Learning new things or finding new hobbies is a great way to stay busy! Also, this pandemic has put life on hold for a bit, but when life does hopefully resume, wouldn’t it be nice having a new skill or skills to your repertoire? I certainly think so.

Stay safe, stay healthy, and see you in my next post :)

A presto,

Asa

Online Learning

The Online Class Experience and #FranklinWeStand

COVID-19 and Boredom