Success Through Change – Returning to In-Person Learning

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Points to Look For: 

  • Reflection and Acknowledgement of Experiences  
  • Planning and Resilience  
  • Self – Care  

Planning is a critical part of our academic success, but does it sometimes feel difficult to plan these days? Nothing seems as definitive as change. If the past couple of years have taught us anything, it is that planning along with flexibility is the best duo to attain resilience and success.  

As we transition into in-person learning, and a new norm of what that experience will be, it is helpful to acknowledge all the challenges, adapting, and coping skills that we acquired during remote learning. In doing so we can meet ourselves where we are, acknowledge our strengths, and focus on what we need to do to mindfully transition to in-person learning. 

Reflecting on Remote Learning 

  • What good came out of remote learning? 
  • What new teaching and learning practices were helpful in my learning journey? 
  • What challenges did I face with these new practices? 
  • What were my study habits, motivation, and boundaries like during remote learning? 
  • How can I carry what worked for me to in-person learning? 
  • How can I be intentional about getting the support I need for areas I would like to grow in? 

Once we can reflect on our remote learning experiences, we can begin to give ourselves the time and space needed to reacclimate to in-person learning successfully. 

Reflections for Moving Forward  

  • What is my comfort level with in-person learning, studying and support services? 
  • What resources continue to be available remotely that I can tap into to help me manage my time? 
  • What personal self-care habits did I engage in during remote learning that have served me well and I would like to continue? OR What self-care habits do I need to adopt to help me reduce stress and increase my overall quality of life as I transition? 
  • What social boundaries do I need to be purposeful about to build in time to connect with others while allowing for rest, reflection, and successful study time in my weekly schedule? 

Considerations As We Move Forward 

  1. Heighten Study Strategies  

  • Online learning had the ability to pause and replay  
  • In-person instruction “demands that students arrive prepared, ready to listen and able to keep up” (Mansfield Hall, n.d.)   
  • Reading and studying prior to classes or labs will aid in adjusting to the change of pace 

  1. Consider Social Aspects 

  • Online learning required a minimal amount of social interactions 
  • In-person learning will require you to consider social aspects of learning such as: 
  • How to join a small learning group 
  • When and how to ask questions during lecture  
  • How to interact within a large lecture hall of people (Mansfield Hall, n.d.).  
  • Returning to in-person learning is an adjustment that everyone is navigating together and will require: 
  • Patience  
  • Self-reflection 
  • Asking for help from the numerous services the university provides 

  1. Plan Ahead  

  • Overstimulation can occur from the change of pace  
  • Be patient with yourself and others  
  • Allow yourself time to rest away from “sensory input” (Mansfield Hall, n.d.). 
  • Create habits that will serve you 
  • Set time for self-care and preparation  
  • Consider time needed to get to class  
  • Prepare all supplies needed for the day and have them with you when you leave for the day (Mansfield Hall, n.d.).  

Returning to in-person learning can bring different feelings that may seem contradictory. However, they are all relevant, and reflecting on them will help us navigate in-person instruction with resilience and growth.  

 

 

Resources:  

College After Covid – 6 Things to Consider When Returning to In-Person Learning. Retrieved from https://mansfieldhall.org/2021/06/22/college-after-covid-6-things-to-consider-when-returning-to-in-person-learning/ 

Johanson, Sarah (October 25, 2021). Three Ways to Support Students Transiting to In-Person Learning. William James College. Retrieved March 1, 2022, from https://www.williamjames.edu/news/ways-to-support-students-transitioning-to-in-person-learning.cfm 

 

Caroline Guirguis, Academic Coach, Spring 2022