Re-Orientation with Academic Skills

Back to Campus and In-Person Learning

Welcome (back) to Trent! For many current Trent students, this year may feel just as new as your first year as we transition back to in-person learning. Explore the following resources available to support you in navigating the upcoming year.

In-Person Learning: What to Expect

Learning in-person amongst your peers offers a different experience and academic atmosphere than online learning. The ability to interact with classmates and faculty in a physical classroom fosters a dynamic energy and sense of personal connection. You may find that in-person learning offers new academic experiences, movement across campus and within academic spaces, a need for adapted study habits, more structured time, or an enhanced feeling of community. Reflect on the skills you have developed over the last year and consider how you can build upon your strengths to find success with in-person learning.

How can I prepare for in-person learning?

Think about your past year of online learning and consider the strengths and skills you developed and enhanced. What worked? What didn’t? How can you use the strengths and skills you gained last year for in-person learning this year? Build on those strengths to prepare for the year ahead with positive learning habits that work for you.

Tips and Tools from Academic Skills

Campus Wayfinding

Difficulty finding a classroom or lecture hall is a common worry we hear from students. Before your first day of class, explore campus with your schedule and walk to each of your class locations. Keep in mind that classes are scheduled to end 10 minutes prior to the next hour (ex. PSYC 1020H runs from 1-3:50pm), so if you have classes scheduled back-to-back, ease your nerves by testing out your route before the first day of class.

Wayfinding Tips and Tools:
  1. Review a map of campus to learn the names of buildings and to become familiar with helpful landmarks.
  2. Get to know the building abbreviations at Trent to help you decode your class schedule.
  3. A popular tool used by Trent students is a wayfinding site called Trent ClassFind where you can view step-by-step directions with photos to the most common classrooms on the Trent Peterborough campus. Please note that this tool was not developed by Trent University and may not be updated to include recently constructed or renamed buildings.
  4. Ask upper year students or university staff for directions if you need them. We’ve all been in your shoes and are happy to help!

What does an in-person class look like?

Lectures (LEC)

Most courses have a lecture component that can range from 50 – 150 minutes and are typically presented in front of a large number of students by a course instructor. In lecture, students predominately listen and take notes to discuss in a later seminar or workshop.

Understanding the Lecture Experience

Lectures are a primary means by which your professors will communicate information to you, information that they will expect you to know and apply during seminars and on exams. You are likely used to attending synchronous Zoom lectures or viewing recorded lectures on Blackboard. In-person lectures may be recorded or slides may be posted, but not always. In both online and in-person learning contexts, you will experience distractions and will benefit from developing strong active listening and notetaking skills.

One of the best ways to meet the challenge of understanding and taking good notes during lectures is to think of the lecture as a three-part experience, and realize that you will need to participate actively in each part to get the most out of it. Preparation before lecture makes it easier to listen actively and take useful notes from class. Taking time to review and summarize your notes after lecture supports your learning through the course.

Lecture Etiquette

During the introductory lecture of each course, your instructor may outline their expectations for class engagement. While it depends on the instructor, it is typically good practice to listen attentively, take notes, avoid causing any disruptions, and save any questions for after class, during seminar, or your instructor’s office hours.

Technology

Turning off notifications and silencing devices not only helps you remain focussed on class, but also avoids any embarrassing interruptions for your classmates and instructor(s).

Attendance

Out of respect to your instructor and classmates, aim to show up to class on time. If you arrive late, do your best to enter as quietly as possible and find the nearest available seat.

Breaks

Depending on the length of a lecture, instructors may include a break during class. Try your best to time snack and bathroom breaks during these times to avoid class interruptions.

Office Hours

If you have a question about the course, you can attend your professor’s weekly office hours to meet with them. Typically found on the first page of your course syllabus, you can note the scheduled time and location of your professor’s office hours. Before attending, check your syllabus, lecture slides, and course announcements for the answer to your question(s). You may find it helpful to make a list of questions you have about the course or for an upcoming assignment. Some students feel a bit nervous about meeting with their professor; if this is the case, consider bringing a friend from class with you.

Note that meeting outside of office hours typically requires an appointment. Learn how to write a professional email to a professor (resource forthcoming).

Seminar (SEM) / Workshop (WRK)

Seminars and workshops are typically smaller classes with more interaction than a lecture. They are often discussion-based, encouraging student participation and, sometimes, presentation work.

Etiquette for Seminars and Workshops
  1. Arrive on time and prepared with assigned readings completed and notes from lecture available to support your discussion.
  2. Bring what you need: laptop, notebook, pens.
  3. Be prepared to participate in discussion. A good habit is to include the questions, connections and revelations that you develop from readings and lectures in your notes. You can use this to support your engagement in seminar.
  4. It is great to ask questions and share your thoughts, but it is best to avoid derailing or dominating the conversation with unrelated or excessive questions and comments. Keep your questions and comments related to the class discussion. You can always attend your instructor’s office hour to ask further questions.
  5. Eliminate any distractions that could take away from the learning experience of your peers and of yourself. Turn off or silence your phone and mute your laptop or tablet.
  6. As a member of a seminar or workshop group, it is your responsibility to help foster a respectful learning environment. Remember that your peers and instructor deserve your respect and support.

Laboratory (LAB) 

Many courses in the science discipline have a laboratory component that offers students an opportunity to apply and practice information and skills learned from lectures and course materials.

Etiquette for Labs
  1. Arrive on time and prepared with all pre-lab work completed. 
  2. Bring what you need: laptop, notebook, pens, lab manual, required safety equipment.
  3. Be prepared to participate in work with a partner or group.
  4. Eliminate any distractions that could take away from the learning experience of your peers and of yourself. Turn off or silence your phone and mute your laptop or tablet.
  5. As a member of a seminar or workshop group, it is your responsibility to help foster a respectful learning environment. Remember that your peers and instructor deserve your respect and support.

What does in-person studying look like?

Find the Study Strategies that Work for You

Each week, you should include time for course reading and review; weekly review activities may include completing practice questions, making flashcards, creating study notes, participating in a study group. Build your toolkit of strategies for reading, notetaking, and review for each of your classes, keeping in mind that each class may require a different approach.

Find a Study Space that Works for You

Some students prefer activity happening around them whereas others focus best with quiet and limited distraction. Different people require different working conditions, so look for a place that offers what you need. There is a variety of study spaces on campus and in the local community that you can explore to find the best spot for you. If you are not sure where to look, ask your fellow students or stop by your college office to ask for some suggestions. Find a few options below to start exploring!

How can I manage my time when learning in-person?

The schedule of a university student varies from week to week and day to day. It may be challenging to find balance as our schedules get busier with the activities we haven’t done in a while: school, work, family, friends, sports, volunteering, and more. Other key elements to consider for in-person learning include travel time to campus, managing your time in between classes, and navigating distractions from friends or others on campus.

As a general rule, full-time students should treat their studies like a full-time job, spending 40-50 hours per week in class, doing lab work, reading, reviewing, writing, and thinking. Some weeks, the workload may be light, while in others, you may have multiple assignments or tests. It is important to plan by day, week and month to manage the ebb and flow of the term.

Explore the Academic Skills Guide for Time Management to find templates, tools, and strategies to help you define and achieve your goals, reduce your stress, and improve your marks!

How can I protect my academic integrity when learning in-person?

The same rules and ideals of online academic integrity apply to in-person learning. Particular concerns for in-person learning are collaboration, unauthorized aids in an exam, missing class, and using someone else’s lab results or observations. Always remember that any work you submit must be your own independent and original work.

It is also important to be cautious about collaboration with your fellow students. There is no harm in talking about your topic, but you and your friend do not want to present two papers with the same thesis. Academia is built on analytical dialogue, shared questions, and thoughtful debate, so discussing your work with your classmates can help you to better understand and apply course content. However, it is important to know when and how you can collaborate: unless it is expressly authorized, collaboration on any work for credit is cheating.

To learn more about protecting your academic integrity, visit the Academic Skills Guides for Avoiding Plagiarism and How do I protect my Academic Integrity.

What do in-person exams look like?

Types of Exams

At university, you will encounter many different types of exams. Mid-term exams are often held during class time in a lecture hall or classroom, and final exams are held during the formal exam period in the Athletic Centre or another large classroom. Common exam forms are multiple choice questions, which require you to complete a scantron form or immediate feedback (IF-AT) scratch cards; practical exams or bell-ringers, which usually take place in lab settings; and free-response questions, which require you to compose a response to an essay or short-answer prompt.

It is important to consider the types of questions you will have to answer when you make a study plan. For strategies on how to prepare for and write different types of exams, explore the following Academic Skills Study Guides:

Exam Etiquette
Protect your Academic Integrity

All work you submit for credit must be individual, original, and free from unearned advantage. It is also important to note that you should not be posting or accessing exam questions or responses to questions on sharing sites or social media. Learn more about the Undergraduate Academic Integrity Policy.  

Know What to Expect

Review the Trent University exam schedule to determine when and where your exams will take place. This schedule is typically released around the reading break of each term; ensure you write these dates in your calendar or agenda. Do not schedule work or travel during this time period until you have the scheduled dates for all of your course exams. You can find general dates for the exam period in the Important Dates section of the Academic Calendar.

Your instructor will likely go over what to expect in terms of exam type, format, and scope in class. Make sure you attend each class to receive this important information.

When in the exam, one of the exam invigilators will announce guidelines for where to sit, what to do if you have a question, when you can and cannot leave, as well as any additional reminders before they instruct you to begin. Your professor and other exam invigilators typically sit at the front of the room. If you have a question, raise your hand to notify one of the invigilators.

Bring What You Need

For in-person exams, students are required to bring their Trent student card with them as well as something to write with. Some exams may require you to use a pencil, so make sure you bring a few pencils and an eraser just in case. Students may bring additional personal belongings but will likely be asked to turn off all devices and leave their items at the front of the room.

 

Trent University respectfully acknowledges it is located on the treaty and traditional territory of the Mississauga Anishnaabeg. We offer our gratitude to First Peoples for their care for, and teachings about, our earth and our relations. May we honour those teachings.

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