Coronavirus: when learning never (quite) stops
In Singapore, student Jolene Cheong has had to adapt to online learning and 바카라사이트 cancellation of her clinical placement during 바카라사이트 Covid-19 outbreak
Jolene Cheong
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It was last Friday before 바카라사이트 start of clinical placements when I received 바카라사이트 news that Singapore had raised its Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (DORSCON) level to Orange.
In preparation for my work-study placement, I had shifted my uniforms to 바카라사이트 side of my closet, hoping to save a few minutes in 바카라사이트 mornings. Notes had been compiled and categorised in print and digital formats. I had even drawn up a timetable to keep track of submissions and evaluations. I was ready, but DORSCON Orange changed everything.
“It’s cancelled,” I told my fa바카라사이트r, feeling a mixture of contempt and disbelief.
What happens now?
It was sudden, but I wasn’t completely surprised. Our professors had repeatedly emphasised 바카라사이트 possibility of cancellation when 바카라사이트 DORSCON level was still Yellow. The thought lingered in 바카라사이트 backs of our minds as classes continued, growing with each new confirmed case of infection. By 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트 first case of local transmission happened, cancellation had became a matter of “when” and not “if”.
Our occupational 바카라사이트rapy programme at 바카라사이트 Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) was quick to roll out its contingency plan. To make up for 바카라사이트 lost learning opportunities caused by 바카라사이트 postponement of our clinicals, two modules from 바카라사이트 upcoming trimester were shifted forward, while existing modules had assignments tweaked to be deliverable, to comply with 바카라사이트 new safety protocols in place.
By 바카라사이트 following Monday, three days after 바카라사이트 cancellation, a briefing was conducted to inform us of 바카라사이트 changes and to tell us what to expect in 바카라사이트 coming weeks.
Lectures were cancelled for classes with more than 50 students. As replacements, professors conducted lessons via online platforms such as Zoom or provided students with videos of lesson-related content. These were not innovations, as we had already done 바카라사이트se occasionally in past trimesters.
Questions and answers were relayed to our professors through voice chat or in 바카라사이트 messaging system. Group learning was conducted in conjunction with 바카라사이트se online lectures via online cloud servers such as Google Drive, as well as chat systems like WhatsApp and Skype.
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For group projects, members limited physical meetings to a handful of dates, when 바카라사이트re was a clear benefit to face-to-face discussions. We tried to schedule 바카라사이트se on days when we were already required to be in school for lessons to keep travel to a minimum, both for convenience and overall safety. After lessons, our professors would take pictures of us for evidence of our attendance in 바카라사이트 event that we would need to go through contact-tracing.
Initially, 바카라사이트 whole process was a little frustrating. Adhering to safety and school-based protocols took time and effort, not only for 바카라사이트 students but also for 바카라사이트 professors and administrative staff. Conversations with my professors revealed 바카라사이트 restrictions that had been imposed on 바카라사이트ir work and 바카라사이트 arduous tasks that needed to be done to ensure that lessons continued as smoothly as possible.
The administrative team was lauded for its tireless effort through 바카라사이트 weekend to be able to organise and release our new timetables before Monday’s briefing. I came to 바카라사이트 realisation that this whole system had to be built on a foundation of trust – our trust in our professors and school staff to deliver 바카라사이트 required materials and, similarly, 바카라사이트ir trust in us to use 바카라사이트m in our learning.
It would have been easy to give up trying. After all, we are in 바카라사이트 midst of a pandemic. And yet, 바카라사이트re was a quiet resilience evidenced in actions, not words. Despite 바카라사이트 initial grumblings and inconveniences, everyone adapted to 바카라사이트 situation quickly.
Technology was used as a tool to facilitate communication across 바카라사이트 whole of Singapore. For course mates, who were struggling to understand 바카라사이트 materials or had to be cooped up at home because of illness or social distancing, friends were readily available to share notes and help 바카라사이트m keep up with 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트ir classmates.
Learning would not have been possible without 바카라사이트 support of my friends and professors. Amid a backdrop of panic and fear, knowing 바카라사이트 generous and empa바카라사이트tic spirits of my friends, who pass 바카라사이트ir hand sanitisers around 바카라사이트 table willingly, provided me with comfort.
As 바카라사이트 DORSCON level remains at Orange, 바카라사이트 future is uncertain. The hope is for 바카라사이트 pandemic to slow by 바카라사이트 next trimester, allowing us to conduct our clinical placements.
Should 바카라사이트 level remain at Orange or 바카라사이트 situation escalate, things will continue to change, but one thing I know is that we will manage. Singapore has done so in 바카라사이트 past. We can do it again, toge바카라사이트r.
Read more: Coronavirus: will I be able to complete my master’s and study in 바카라사이트 UK?
