Published: January 25, 2021
My name is Harriet and I'm a current third year student on the BA (Hons) Primary Education with QTS course. Going into third year during the pandemic means I am now remote learning, however there is still a lot to be getting on with. In this blog you can find out more about what an average day of a Primary Education student currently looks like.
This morning, I logged onto my computer and set up my working space by gathering any books I would need, my notebook and my weekly to-do list. I find that having an organised working space keeps me on track and allows me to be as productive as possible.
I started off the day by completing my reference form which I needed to send to my personal tutor before I can start applying for jobs. (This is such a scary thought – I can remember my first day at university like it was yesterday and now I'm applying for jobs?!)
I then logged on for a lecture which started at 10am and lasted for an hour. Lectures are often longer than this and usually last two hours. This particular one was focused around placements and how the format of them has changed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. My Programme Leader explained what evidence we can gather to meet the teacher standards – whether that would be virtual teaching or face-to-face, or even a hybrid approach. She then answered any questions we had in regards to the placements, enrichment days and just university in general.
After my lecture was over, I focused my energy on this blog, which is very exciting as I have never written a blog before. I very much enjoyed it as it just felt like talking to a friend! It also feels strange to write about what's happening next, but I'm feeling super motivated today, so I know exactly what I want to get done.
Once I finished writing the blog, I grabbed a quick lunch, then completed some more of my dissertation. Luckily, I had already finished most of my work on this, as I read through a lot of the books and articles I needed last week, so I could just refer back to my notes. The process of gathering all the information from the books and articles does take a while to do – probably around 20 hours in total – but it definitely helps when it comes to organising my workload as I had everything I needed in one place with all of the information already paraphrased. (Top tip!)
After I completed my dissertation tasks I went for a walk around my local park. I was excited to do this as I'd not been out for a couple of days due to having too much work to do. It also meant I got to try my new Airpods out!
I then decided I was due a pamper night, so I settled down with a film and a facemask to treat myself to some self-care, which is very much needed, especially during this lockdown! Little things such as putting on fresh bedding or taking a bath really can make such a difference. I then wrote my to-do list for the following day so that I can keep on track.
Although I'll miss attending university when I go on placement, I can't deny that it will be a fantastic experience. I can't wait to be back in a classroom, whether that ends up being virtually or in person!
I hope this snapshot into a day in my life as a Primary Education student at Sunderland was useful. My routine has obviously changed compared to when I was on campus, but I've managed to adapt well due to the support from my tutors and the University. Online working isn't ideal, but we're all making the best out of a bad situation, and hopefully we'll be back in the classroom soon!
Harriet Behan
Primary Education with QTS
Topic: Course