How can we still make the most out of our learning experience when the administrative body admitted that it cannot guarantee a decent e-communication due to the national infrastructure, which will undoubtedly cause an immediate deterioration of service delivery due to the huge traffic of connected devices?
The infrastructure problem is an issue on the national scale. We have tried to contact the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Telecommunication in order for the students to be provided with an unlimited 4G bundle. Of course, what is ideal is for you to be physically present, but due to the critical situation that we are going through, we had to find the best solution for you not to lose a semester, which is the implementation of online courses. We are well aware that you may be facing connectivity problems and this is why we have asked the instructors to record the sessions and to provide you with the material discussed during the course so you won’t miss any notion taught.
Many siblings live in the same house and all have online courses at the same time. How can we act in case of a shortage of digital devices used for learning?
This is a situation that we can’t control, unfortunately. However, we can advise you to organize your work at home, noting again that the courses are recorded and the material is available either on MS Teams or on Moodle (depending on the course). Also, you can contact the teacher in order to ask for further clarifications, if needed, via WhatsApp or via UA email. In case you have an exam, we are ready to provide you with a room at UA Hadat–Baabda for you to sit for the exams while following the safety measures.
Since some of us live in small houses, how can we fight the lack of focus we sometimes suffer?
We encourage you to benefit from every corner in the house and try to find the space that suits you best in order to focus while growing your knowledge. Whether it’s in the kitchen, in the living room, or in the corridor, you can focus as long as you are in that state of mind and determined to learn.
How can we still focus on our studies when our minds, as those of everyone around the world, are occupied with stressful issues and majors concerns?
It is your absolute right to have an occupied mind and I can assure you that we are all experiencing the stress, mainly that of you ending your semester. But our main priority is for you to finish your academic semester in the best possible way and pass all of you courses. Your knowledge should always be our concern and yours, no matter what. Take advantage of this period and focus on your studies since you have more free time in your day. Hopefully, this period will end and everything will go back to normal soon, hence why you shouldn’t become loose on your studies.
Noting that we're having the same number of classes online and spending all day attending them, how can we deal with the pressure we feel because of the exams that were planned for weeks and now are all planned for a few days?
As you may know, we have lost several teaching weeks and time is running out. Exams are a part of your education that you should validate; however, we will contact the deans and ask them to try and set a more comfortable exam schedules, if feasible.
How can we avoid having health issues after spending over 10 hours on electronic devices (online courses, watching recorded classes, studying slides) everyday?
The schedule of your courses did not change and it is undeniable that sitting behind a computer for long hours is not as easy as it sounds. We advise you to take a break between each course, maybe walk for a little bit around the house, listen to some music, eat sweets or your favorite food, etc. These small acts will help your brain relax and will make you feel more energetic when attending the following course. It is undebatable that UA cares about your health. Yet, we all know that you are the “generation of technology”; therefore, every day, whether you are studying or not, you are spending your time on your phones or laptops so why not spend it on growing your knowledge?
Will UA follow a GPA or a Pass/Fail system?
UA is transitioning to the American System but is not following it in what concerns the GPA, yet! Therefore, your current “GPA” will not be affected and the “Pass/Fail” system can’t be applied this semester.