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About a year ago, I had to make a significant life decision: choosing my master's degree. I had spotted the MA/MSc Museum Studies Course at the University of Leicester when I came across their distance learning option. Living in another country and dealing with a pandemic, I considered this to be the best option for myself. A year later, here I am, thriving in this vibrant online environment. Covid-19 has seen many universities quickly trying to adapt to a new way of teaching, creating online portals that often do not match the quality of campus-based learning. With Leicester Museum Studies Course, this is not the case. The university has more than 25 years of distance-learning experience. Every learning step is carefully designed to be virtual, smart, and engaging. PROS: EASY STRUCTURE The course is spread into two academic years and divided into 4 core modules, 4 option ones and the final dissertation. Every module is tackled independently, has a length of 2 months and is divided into micro-themes for each of the six weeks. The last two weeks are left for the completion of the assignment. This rigid structure is vital in keeping your mindset on academic goals and avoiding tasks to overlap. The rhythm is easy to adapt to, and it's designed to help you organize your time. Smaller, weekly achievements are helpful to keep you high-energized and motivated, and every step comes with a suggested time to complete the tasks. PROS: HIGH-QUALITY LESSONS Lessons are available at any moment; therefore, it is easy to make the most of your time. The learning material can vary: pre-registered lessons, videos, museums/exhibitions websites, articles, and home-sent content (books, objects and instruments for practical experiments). There are spaces for you to reflect on your learning and exchange opinions and ideas with other classmates, and professors often comment and encourage your thinking and writing. The quality is far from being compromised. I have never experienced a stronger connection with the study material than now. PROS: YOU ARE NOT ALONE The university provides you with a personal tutor who keeps in touch during the whole experience and will try to help you with any issue from your side. A module tutor will be available for any specific question about the course's contents and will help to deal with assignment preparation.
PROS: MORE TIME AND ENERGY TO DEDICATE TO YOUR PASSIONS
Distance flexible learning offers the chance to manage a job position whilst studying and is less energy-consuming. Allowing you more free time and economic resources than a campus-based one. The possibility of using these elements to my benefit by gaining practical museum experience during this time was one of the main reasons for my choice. I was able to dedicate energy to exploring remote volunteer opportunities and job offers.
I am findinggreat pleasure in building up work experience and putting into practice what I amstudying.
CONS: THE SOCIAL COMPONENT
The structure of the course provides opportunities for conversations with classmates and live events spread across the modules that allow you to interact with them. However, many of the people who chose the distance learning option are handling a job alongside their education; therefore, their time to interact may be limited. Be prepared to have to actively create moments outside the course's activities to engage with your classmates.
SOME TIPS AND TRICKS FOR DISTANCE LEARNING:
1. Create your study routine: find a designated space, and roughly plan the moments of the week you can dedicate to studying. Having a peaceful study spot and patterns will help you feel organised.
2. Create healthy rituals: studying can be tiring, but small pleasures can make it feel relaxing and enjoyable. A walk through nature, a cup of tea or a nice song can help to soften the daily routine.
3. Understand your pace: don't be afraid if you take longer - or shorter - than expected to complete a task, and feel free to come back to some content later in the module. The structure isn't everything; always take into consideration your energy level and concentration.
4. Don't be afraid to participate: try to take part in discussions and engage with others comments and opinions. This will surely enrich your study experience.
Both campus-based and online courses have their opportunities and obstacles. It is proper to consider what fits best for every personal situation. But with the approach of a new digital era, it is time to lose prejudices and doubts about distance learning options and make the most of the chances they offer. And Leicester's Museum Studies Course surely represents a top-level, refined online learning experience.
Written by Sofia Sireno
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