Due to COVID-19, KU has been using a mix of online and offline courses since 2020. In the first semester of 2020, KU conducted classes at a rate of 15.49% for offline classes and 84.51% for online classes. In the second semester of 2020, there were a lot of changes. It is difficult to tally the exact ratio of non-face-to-face classes because the class method had changed to full non-face-to-face during the semester. All classes are planned to be conducted as face-to-face classes from 2021. However, non-face-to-face classes can be conducted within 30% of the total courses. In addition, blended and non-face-to-face classes may be operated within 30% of the total credits of each department only for courses approved by the non-face-to-face education center. For freshmen who are not familiar with this kind of teaching method, I'll give you some useful tips for those who wish to use them in school life!
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Non-face-to-face Lectures
As online classes increase, you may come to discover yourself getting lazier and lazier. In addition, you may have to take classes without much interaction with professors, so you may not be able to concentrate on the class well. Eye fatigue can increase because you watch videos on the screen for a long period of time to take the lecture. However, there are more advantages of non-face-to-face lectures. First, individuals' free time increases because you do not have to go to school to attend classes. For students who commute to school, it is good because they can reduce travel time so that they can study or do homework at that time. In other words, they can use their time more efficiently. Furthermore, subjects that are hard to understand can be taken again. It is a hassle to record the contents of a class lecture because you can only take it once during face-to-face classes, but in non-face-to-face classes, you can find the necessary parts and listen to them again, making it more understandable and convenient. It is sad not to be able to spend a lot of time with friends. However, there are many advantages of non-face-to-face classes, so I hope you think positively.
- How to Attend Classes, Do Assignments, and Buy Textbooks
First of all, freshmen will wonder how to check attendance. When you listen to face-to-face classes, you have to go to class on time to check attendance. However, if you take non-face-to-face classes, you do not have to take classes in time for the original classes. You just listen to the lecture within the given time limit. Care should be taken when classes are conducted within the Zoom application. That is, face-to-face lectures require you to participate in classes on time, so if you do not access the Zoom application at a set time, you are considered absent. The second one is the assignment. There are so many different kinds of assignments, such as writing reports, writing thank-you notes, and organizing lecture contents. This varies from lecture to lecture. If you do not know what to do before you do your homework, ask your senior and ask the professor. They will kindly explain it to you, so do not worry. In addition, unlike high school, you have to buy textbooks yourself in university. Each subject uses a different textbook. Therefore, there are so many kinds of textbooks that you have to buy, so it can be a burden in terms of cost. In this case, you can buy secondhand textbooks by using the market bulletin board in the app called Every Time. There are many students who sell textbooks that they rarely take notes, so if you look carefully, you can buy good textbooks cheaply.
- Live Alone or in Dormitory
Perhaps it is the freshmen that most consider which would be better, living alone or living in a dormitory. I will tell you each of the pros and cons. The advantages of both of them are that you can save time because they are close to school. In the first grade, there are many times when there is surplus time between classes. In that time, you can study in your own room or rest during your free time. You can spend your time efficiently. The biggest reason why students prefer dormitories is the price. If you live in a dormitory, the total cost, including breakfast, is about 800,000 won per semester. In other words, it is very cheap at about 200,000 won a month. However, monthly rent costs about 450,000 won a month plus requires a deposit. The biggest disadvantage of dormitories is that they have roll calls. The roll call time is from 23:40 to 24:00, so you cannot sleep before the roll call is over. It is hard and bothersome. It may be difficult to go home on weekdays because there are a set number of days that you can stay out for a semester. In addition, roommates are random. If you do not fit in with your roommate, it is difficult to share a room for a whole semester. If your lifestyle does not match with roommate’s, you may have a lot of stress because you must spend the break time during the day together. However, in the case of living alone, you do not get stressed out because you do not have a set time to go home. You can study until late during the exam period and go home at any time you want. On the other hand, the disadvantage of living alone is that there is a high possibility of being late or absent because there is no one to wake you up in the morning. Sometimes you can feel lonely when you are alone at home.
