Student Corner: Sound Communication with Management of the Faculty of Philosophy as Formula of Success of Online Teaching
Students of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Montenegro have quickly adapted to online teaching in the emerging circumstances of the threat of a global pandemic, and so far, with the exception of short-term technical problems, teaching is functional, Marko Popovic, commissioner of this faculty, said.
"Initially, students who were unable to enter the platform appeared, but this was resolved. The advantages of this method of teaching are that we can do everything in the comfort of our own home, which is a mitigating circumstance for many students, given the fact that some people travel from one city to another, which results in great savings of money, "Popovic said.
He believes that online teaching is functional, with disadvantages of finding a non-electronic literature, which is harder to find since photocopiers do not work, as well as difficult interactions with professors which is easier in real life teaching.
"In addition to benefits of teaching from the comfort of their own home, the frequency of student communication with professors via email is higher, giving students some freedom and autonomy to" go through" and learn when they are most comfortable. Someone is suitable with studying during the day, someone during the night, and that may be one of advantages of live teaching,” Marko said.
He believes that online teaching currently conducted at all university units can meet needs of students, with the exception of some subjects that require hands-on teaching.
When it comes to informing students, he can find all the information on the University of Montenegro website www.ucg.ac.me , and he says that as a student representative, he constantly communicates with them via email, social networks and phones.
"Professors post material on the faculty site, within the official website of the University of Montenegro. I am trying to remove all student concerns in the most efficient way possible, all with the help of the Faculty and Professor Administration," Marko added.
Marko points out that in this situation he spends more time with the book than usual.
"In addition to teaching I train, I relax while watching movies, and I also spend much of my time watching events at the University and communicating with my colleagues," he says.
He urges his colleagues to be extremely patient and follow instructions of the Government of Montenegro and the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro.
"Patience is currently the only weapon we have against pandemic. Everything will fall into its place. We will go out, spend time with our dear people, walk, do whatever we did before this, for the sake of our homes and the community as a whole. Someone's life, or perhaps more lives, depend on us" the student commissioner says.