Missed My First Uni Class - Not a Good Start

PAOK11 on 09/02/2018 - 11:04

I have waited 10 months for my course to start. The time comes & goes and I'm completely unaware I missed the first class. The thing that really grinds my gears is the fact that while I missed the class, I hear in the recording that people are not even enrolled and they are at the class. I can hear in the recording that people are having issues with timetables but they are still there. I'm now missing the second half (2 hours) of the recording and the best part is the amount of technical issues they were having in the recording. Having to borrow a computer mouse from a student and the amount of OMG the mouse isn't working, the screens not loading & it sounds like someone is trying to start a chainsaw in the recording.

Sorry for the rant but I have not studied in 10 years and need all the help I can get.

As a new student any help on how I can pass my legal course work would be appreciated (attending classes would be a start) ?

Education & Work

Comments

  • mbck on 09/02/2018 - 11:07
    +16

    First thing is not to blame on anything. You're frustrated you missed the class, accept that, but don't pour your frustration on anything else.

    It's the first class, I doubt you missed much. Read the lecture presentation/notes and you should be fine. Go to your classes and be organised.

    Good luck!

  • BlazinPast on 09/02/2018 - 11:08
    +4

    Don't stress about the first lesson. 80% of the time it's about nothing because most people skip it. Real lesson starts in the 2nd week.

    Make sure you read your emails and the unit announcement board as they usually give important information there if class is changed/cancelled. Make some friends so you can give each other heads up.

    Other than that, try to be more positive about it. Missing the first class of uni is going to be the last of your concerns over the course of your degree. Everyone gets lost the first time around so it's all good.

  • [Deactivated] on 09/02/2018 - 11:14
    +22

    Honestly buddy, if you can’t manage a basic timetable and are looking for some kind of empathy from online strangers on a bargain website, then you are truly f*c5ed. I wouldn’t even bother with the second class.

  • loke on 09/02/2018 - 11:33
    +1

    Read the slides/notes do the readings, do the homework, go to tutorials, others have said, you didn't miss much the first lecture

  • scrimshaw on 09/02/2018 - 11:55
    +1

    The first lesson usually involves the lecturer telling you the course introduction and course outline. Basically, it's only 'semi-important stuff', but it's probably not going to be in any of your exams. The 'real' content usually is given in your second lecture.

    But if you take the time to read the course outline yourself and all the documentation they give you on Blackboard (the online learning system) then there's nothing to worry about

    Don't Panic

  • toniyellow on 09/02/2018 - 11:56

    There are no universities in Australia with a start date in early February

    https://www.universitiesaustralia.edu.au/search.aspx?ModuleI…

    You appear to have chosen an unusual course that operates outside of a regular teaching timetable. That would explain why things are a bit unorganised.

    It is not some dodgy provider or "university" like Torrens University is it? Are you sure your course is going to get you where you want to go? That is what I would be concerned about.

    • citygal on 09/02/2018 - 12:01
      +1

      Not true. I'm doing 2 uni courses now

      • toniyellow on 09/02/2018 - 12:03

        Then you are also doing an unusual course with an exemption from operating outside the main timetable.

        The point is, most of the university services - IT, enrollment, student services, are set up for the main teaching dates. If your course starts on a weird date, it will won't have the same level of resources dedicated to it.

        • citygal on 09/02/2018 - 12:04
          +3

          Depends - uni also offers intensive course, summer school course…. etc

  • kolorijo on 09/02/2018 - 12:00

    Get organised - have a complete schedule (work, school, appointments, etc.) in your calendar (phone/smart watch).

    Like everyone said, you probably did not miss much in the first class. Introduction etc etc.

    Don't stress too much & enjoy yourself. Have a nice weekend!

  • citygal on 09/02/2018 - 12:02

    Move on.

    Tip for passing law course: Read, Read, Read. And be prepare to struggle ;P

    Some people have timetable and enrollment issues but still attend class because they don't want to miss anything. It's very common. Also, you are unlikely to get caught if you attend lectures that you don't enrol into.

  • Godric on 09/02/2018 - 13:30

    Attend all future classes?

  • KaTst3R on 09/02/2018 - 13:41

    First week of Uni is not super important. Mostly introduction to the course and admin stuff. Just go through the notes to catch up.

  • dust on 09/02/2018 - 13:44
    +3

    In my experience there is not a high correlation between passing university courses and attending classes.

    • Oz8argain on 09/02/2018 - 13:50
      +2

      you are correct. but lecturers always show statistics on a strong correlation between getting higher marks and attending classes. Getting a high GPA is essential in most degrees to be considered employable in the future (personal experience). Of course thats not always the case.

    • Davo1111 on 09/02/2018 - 14:18
      +1

      compsci?

  • sparkles on 09/02/2018 - 14:19
    +1

    The best thing you can do at uni is establish a good rapport with your tutors (you must attend in order to do this LOL). That way, you won't be afraid to approach them for help if you need it. They can grant extensions, provide notes, explain concepts, offer valuable ideas for project work. Make them your new best friend, so to speak. Respect that they know more than you. Keep it professional, they may act as a referee for you in future ie. DO NOT SLEEP WITH THEM UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

    • Big Dog on 10/02/2018 - 08:16

      Speaking from experience?

    • Ozpit on 10/02/2018 - 08:56

      Do you mean don't sleep with ALL of them or ANY of them?

  • simulacrum on 09/02/2018 - 15:15
    +1

    If you're studying law.. make sure you do the reading before each lecture/seminar. You wont get or absorb nearly as much from the lectures if you haven't read the assigned cases. Yes most of the reading is high court judgements that are tough going, but its important to learn to read convoluted, difficult material. Its also important to familiarise yourself with top notch legal reasoning, which is what good judgements are. Learn to analyse legislation too, until you can read and understand it naturally. Slowly but surely this will teach you to think like a lawyer.

    You won't notice it until one day you have to explain a legal problem to non-legally trained individuals and you'll find yourself wondering what these people are finding so difficult about it.

  • JimmyF on 09/02/2018 - 15:26

    I'm completely unaware I missed the first class

    If only you attended in the first place, the rest of your post wouldn't be needed.

    You missed the class, deal with it. Go to the rest.

  • bluesky on 09/02/2018 - 15:37

    Nothing important gets covered in first class anyway, only intro. The fact you are so concerned says you are aware missing lectures should not be the norm. Chances are you will be conscientious and not miss lectures much going forward. So nothing to worry about.

    I am not in legal field, but having done a few law units as part of a course, I found that the reading list is the most important. One can probably pass just covering the reading material list the lecturer prescribes for each topic. Of course, best to attend the lectures as well. But really, if unavoidable and you have to miss a lecture, there is no need to be over-concerned.

    All the best for your course.

  • Gronk on 09/02/2018 - 16:45

    The first class is usually little more than a meet and greet, don't worry about it.

    In terms of the quality of the recordings, are you studying through an online provider or is the course offered on-campus and you're just taking advantage of the lecture recordings? The reason I ask is that for my degree the lecture recordings are described as 'To be used as reference / study material only, but not as an alternative to attending lectures' - so it tends to be a case of hard luck if there's an issue with a particular lecture because you're expected to attend in person regardless.

  • BertieBrown on 09/02/2018 - 19:57
    +1

    Man, I don't even really have anything to add here.

    All I really want to say is that the comments here are just right on. So dang nice to see a constructive, helpful and friendly comments and suggestions; hitting me in the feels.

    OP best of luck with the study :)

  • subsbligh on 10/02/2018 - 07:54

    By week 5 you won't even listen to the lecture. You've missed nothing.

  • altomic on 10/02/2018 - 13:25
    +1

    usually, during the second half of the first weeks lecture, they give all the answers for the exams.

    seriously, you missed nothing.

    p.s. I went back to uni years after finishing my first degree and did another undergrad and then post grad (whilst working full time and with 3 very young kids).

    My tips: (1) listen to lectures and take notes. (2) do the readings and take notes (with some minor research on the questions you get from the readings). (3) start your assignments when you get them and slowly work on them.

    you can't go too wrong if you do those 3 things.

    • Ozpit on 10/02/2018 - 13:51
      +1

      I'll second that. Study smartly - not overly.

      From one who knows, let me tell you: anyone can get an undergraduate degree, a masters or a PhD.

      All you have to do is be prepared to put in the time (a lot of people don't want to), be prepared to pay the fees (a lot of people don't want to) and study smartly (a lot of people don't know how to).

  • [Deactivated] on 10/02/2018 - 14:07

    How did you find out that you had missed the class then manage to get hold of the recording?

    • PAOK11 on 10/02/2018 - 14:20
      -1

      Luckily i'm fully enrolled & receive emails from lecturers.

  • Sensiekatie on 10/02/2018 - 14:21

    As a former tutor, marker and having done some lecturing - many do not read the unit outlines, assignments and so on.

    Read all the stuff available about the unit and go directly to the lecturer before the next one or in their consultation times and ask any questions and whether you have
    Missed any vital information. It is better to ask directly than rely on information from another student

    Mostly yes there is nothing vital - it is usually housekeeping and get to know you. However, there can be things that are vital to know.

    A lecturer new to the unit and thus not the one who wrote the unit - can make unexpected departures from the prepared and distributed materials.

    Make sure you know consultation times and which tutorials you are in. These people are very busy people and seeing them outside these times is not usually welcomed.

    Are you saying the uni is disorganised with the unit? Is the course or unit a new one not offered before? There can be many teething problems with these. I was a student in an honours statistics unit in the 1st year they changed software and we had a dedicated computer lab. We were in the middle of an exam and the computers crashed because of the load. We had little Support and had to work out how to do the weekly assignments on the computers on our own. It was very stressful - and the subject was stressful anyway.

    The next year, they put a tutor in the lab at certain times to help them!

  • nikey2k27 on 11/02/2018 - 09:46

    Don't stress about the first lesson. Read the course guide for the subject you're in. there a whole first class in there.

  • Butt Scratcher on 11/02/2018 - 12:00

    Ehh, first class isn't a big deal. Every now and then I'd actually skip the first class, usually it's just introduction and something like half the students haven't got their textbooks yet, which is why it isn't very heavy at the start.

    It's s nice time to meet and greet with your new classmates though

  • Goldcoater on 14/02/2018 - 08:59

    All the best with your studies, I was studying a business degree and did a couple of first year legal subjects, get the text books and get reading. I was returning to study after fifteen years and found small study group of similar aged students to swap notes if lecture was missed or remind each other of key dates and give each other moral support, we are did well above average. There was one particular maths subject were I attended every lecture but for the first four I was totally lost, I put in some study and it all came together by about the last lecture.

    Put every academic event in your phone calendar and review each morning and I'm sure you will never miss another lecture. Relax, enjoy your uni days

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