Got questions about studying online? Meet a Success Coach like Larissa!
As a new student in Deakin’s Cloud Campus, you’ll be assigned a Success Coach when you begin this study period.
Your Success Coach is your very own mentor who will help you to get the most out of your time at Deakin. They are a student from your faculty who will introduce you to studying in the Cloud Campus.
Join our upcoming orientation session to meet and talk with some of our Success Coaches. You’ll be able to ask them any questions you may have and hear about their experiences with online study, including their tips on topics such as staying motivated, work/study/life balance, connecting with peers, and time management.
Cloud Campus Essentials: ‘Meet a Success Coach’ Orientation Session
Thursday 4 March, 6–7pm
REGISTER NOW
You can also register via your Orientation Itinerary, which includes more details about this session. After you register, further details on how to join this online session will be provided via email.
Q&A with Success Coach Larissa
We asked Cloud Campus student and Success Coach Larissa Wright (pictured) – who will be co-facilitating the ‘Meet a Success Coach’ session on 4 March – to tell us a little bit about herself, what led to her becoming a Success Coach and her tips for how new students can overcome common challenges associated with online study.
What course are you studying?
I’m going into my Honours year for the Bachelor of Psychological Science.
What are you hoping to do after university?
At the moment I’m thinking something along the research track. Maybe a PhD? I’m a freelance writer and editor, and if I could mix that up with some research, I’d be happy to do some combination of those things forever.
What led to you becoming a Success Coach?
I get pretty excited about online study and helping people – not to mention working in a location-free manner! I actually went searching the Deakin site for a way I could be involved in peer mentoring that didn’t require me to be on campus, and found the Success Coaches program that way.
What are common challenges that new students tend to face when studying online, and do you have any tips on overcoming these?
- Feeling overwhelmed. The platform can feel like a lot when you first get started. I recommend finding time before the trimester starts to browse DeakinSync, and give yourself time to look around the unit sites for your subjects before your first week starts. I create a document with a combined list of my class times, assignment due dates, and any other important notes for all my subjects, so I can access all that info in one place.
- Timetable organisation. How many units will you study? Which will do you in T1, T2, and T3? Can you withdraw from one subject? Start a new one? Which subjects should you do together? It’s pretty common for people to want to change their study load, and you can do that – but I strongly recommend giving Student Central a call to help you organise your schedule. Not all subjects are available every trimester, and they’ll help you figure it out.
- Not knowing things. This is important: Ask questions! Ask your teaching staff, ask Student Central, ask your Success Coach, but always ask. Never sit in silent confusion when you don’t have to!
What have you enjoyed most about university study?
I absolutely love learning. I love the challenges, I love the accomplishments, I love knowing new things and having new skills, and I love it even more when I can do it from anywhere I want on my own schedule. The freedom of online study is just wonderful.
What are you most looking forward to in 2021?
RESEARCH! I can’t wait to get started on my first research project!
Thanks, Larissa!
You can find more handy online study tips from Larissa on Deakin Life, and make sure you register for the your Success Coach orientation session today!