The Proposed Changes

I had a pretty skewed view of what it was going to be like to be a university student. Perhaps it was from serval American TV shows where I thought of a hub of young people, clubs and societies and lots of partying.

But it was very different, in fact, I felt rather unengaged and underwhelmed. So like many, or rather, most, I started skipping lectures. Why am I here? This isn’t for me.

Of course this wasn’t wholey due to the content, nor due to the lecturer and very much could be to do with me and my undoubted addiction to my iPhone and my lack of study habits.

So in my holidays I took a trip. Although not at all exotic or adventurous, I travelled to New Zealand. As cliched as it sounds getting away re-energised me. I had so many affirmations; I’m going to go home, get fit and healthy, be nicer to my mum and really, really try harder at uni this semester. It’s quite comical that my friend messaged me from Mykonos having had almost exactly the same epiphany.

First day back at uni, I struggled.

This brings me to last Tuesday. Our lecturer Adrian Miles proposed the idea of the “unlecture”. Rather than speak at us, the lecture would be more of a symposium where questions could be asked and discussion between several would flow and thus be more engaging.

I am excited to see if this will work. I complained that I get bored in lectures because I don’t like getting talked at, I preferred being talked to. Miles directly addressed  my qualms with university style learning and offered an alternative. 

I’m excited to see what Network Media brings but not without some caution. Will the symposium work? Will I be more engaged? Will my attendance go up? Will I enjoy university more?

 

We shall see.