Like most colleges and universities, my DPT program has transitioned to online learning in hopes to help flatten the curve of COVID-19. This has definitely taken some getting used to, but I am so grateful for professors and faculty that are trying their hardest to make this the best learning experience possible. I am also grateful and privileged that I have the resources to be able to work from home.
My program transitioned to online learning on March 11th. Thankfully our semester was almost over (it just ended on April 9th), so we didn’t miss too much in-person material. Right now, the plan is to hopefully return to campus by the end of May/beginning of June (*fingers crossed*).
I definitely struggled at first with all of the new free time. I miss my friends and family, and social distancing can get lonely. It is also hard to not to let my anxiety get the best of me with so much uncertainty amidst this pandemic. It struggle to ignore the need to feel productive 24/7, especially when my daily routine is so out of whack. It took me a little while to form a better routine and balance school with daily life, but it is totally doable!
A “Typical” Day
Disclaimer: This was essentially my final didactic semester, so I only really had 2 major classes to do work for. Plus, our semester was almost over as mentioned earlier. This schedule varied slightly from day-to-day, but this is the general “gist” of how my days were spent.
8AM-12PM: Musculoskeletal Patient Management II (Lower Extremity) via Zoom
12PM-1PM: Lunch
1PM-3PM: Neurological Practice Management II (Pediatrics) via Zoom
3PM-4PM: Dedicated break (nap, YouTube, Instagram, etc.)
4PM-5PM: Workout + shower
5PM-Bedtime (by 12AM): Study, eat dinner, take little breaks
Frequently Asked Questions
What is it like to have your classes online?
It has definitely been an adjustment and it takes a lot more discipline to remain focused. It is so easy to zone out! For our major classes (MSK and Neurological Pediactics), we have been having synchronous Zoom lectures. Zoom has been great, especially since our professors encourage us to turn on our cameras to make the experience feel more “real”. Team-based learning is a big part of my program, and Zoom has a great “breakout room” feature that still allows us to interact in our smaller “teams”. For our other classes, we were supposed to have a lot of guest speakers (and many of them were unable to join us via Zoom), so our professors uploaded those lectures and instructed us to read over them at our own pace. None of our lectures were pre-recorded.
How were you able to find a routine/what worked for you?
It definitely took a lot of trial and error to find a routine that worked for me personally. See my “typical day” above. On days where I had dedicated class times, I studied in the evenings after class. On the weekends or on days we didn’t have class, I slept in and had a slower start to my mornings. I am more productive at night, so this is what worked best for me.
Did you stay near campus or go home? What did most people do?
I am currently still living in my apartment near campus. For the past few weeks I have been visiting my boyfriend that lives about an hour away though. I return to my apartment on the weekends, and plan to return full-time in May (regardless of what happens with school). Majority of my classmates are from out-of-state (my family lives in-state), so many of them went home to be with their families. Other classmates have stayed in their apartments/homes near campus. No one has “completely” moved out.
Is your school prorating your tuition due to you not having access to campus facilities?
I believe that the undergraduate students will be receiving some type of reimbursement, but the School of Medicine (the DPT program is in this school) has not made any major decisions yet.
How are you taking exams and practicals, as PT is very hands-on? How is your program eliminating the chance of cheating?
This is the question that I know most of you have. We were already completing all of our exams on our laptops using a program called ExamSoft/Examplify, so not much has changed in terms of that. We are expected to uphold our honor code though and complete assessments alone and without notes (as expected). Regarding practicals: we still had 3 practicals to take (2 MSK, 1 Neurological Pediatrics), so we completed the clinical reasoning portions via Zoom. I know some of my classmates have been practicing psychomotor skills on themselves and their family members, so that is always an option! Our professors plan on having intensive/immersive lab experiences with corresponding assessments whenever we are able to return to campus. A “festival of skills” they are calling it *giggle*.
Has your grading policy changed in any way?
Duke University as a whole has transitioned to a “Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U)” grading scale. The DPT program already a utilizes a “Pass/Fail” (P/F) grading scale (where an 80 is passing), so this has remained the same!
What have you struggled with the most?
Staying focused and engaged during lecture FOR SURE. You can easily doze off, especially if your camera isn’t on. My biggest suggestion is to TURN IT ON. Like I mentioned earlier, it makes the experience more normal. Everyone can see you (including your professors!), so you are more likely to pay attention. Also remember to speak up: answer questions and give your input! Do whatever you have to do to keep up, even if that means standing up or walking around during lecture!
I will be starting my PT journey via online learning…any advice?
Ah this is a hard question as I fortunately didn’t have to experience this. I would say to honestly just use this post as a starting point, and adjust as needed to fit your personal experience Best of luck!
Do you have any study tips?
Check out these posts for study tips, as they all still apply!
How to Study for MSK: Tips for Success
Note-taking, Study Tips, + How to Stay Motivated in PT School
Tips for Focusing + Remaining Productive
- Have a dedicated school/study space: Studying in your bed is a trap…don’t do it (trust me). Make your study space organized and personalized for maximum productivity! You want to WANT to study there if ya know what I mean.
- Create a daily schedule/to-do list: And write it down (more accountability)! Then you won’t waste any time because you already have a game plan. A solid routine will keep you on top of things!
- Utilize outside resources: Supplementing your online learning with additional resources is a game changer! Youtube, Khan Academy, and Picmonic are just a few that I love.
- Find a virtual study buddy: Have this person keep you accountable!
- Actually get dressed: I know it is great to stay in pajamas all day (especially if your program does not have a dress code), but believe me this gets old after a while. Wake up, eat a good breakfast, brush your teeth, do your hair, and dress however you would for class (or any other way you’d like). This will make your new situation more “normal”, and I promise you’ll get more done.
- Create a hard start and end time: Timelines can get blurry when working from home. Make sure to set an alarm to wake up, and have a set time that the school day is “over”.
- Minimize distractions: Put your phone away, and let your family/friends know when you’ll be busy. I love to open the Forest app when I want to remain focused. You set a timer to grow a tree, and if you use your phone, the tree dies.
- Reach out if you need extra help: Your professors and your classmates are there for you! Some of my professors held virtual “office hours”, so maybe suggest this if it isn’t already an option!
- Have some kind of planner: Honestly my 2020 planner is garbage now due to all of the recent changes. I suggest you either edit your current planner, use a digital planner (I have been using my phone/iCalendar, but I know a lot of people love Microsoft Outlook and Google as well), or use this as an excuse to buy a brand new one!
- Take breaks: It is impossible to be productive 24/7. Go for a walk, watch a show on Netflix, exercise, take a nap, etc.!
- Don’t forget to reach out to your friends and family: My professor made a good point: “social distancing” should be referred to as “physical distancing” because we still need to be social. We need each other! Call your best friend. Call your mom. Heck, message or email me if you wanna talk! Just remember how important communication is, especially right now.
- Have patience: A lot of people are going through this right now, you are not alone!
I know this time is challenging and you probably have a million different worries/thoughts/feelings/emotions (I know I do!), but I promise you can do this! Stay safe friends, and remember to wash your hands!
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