Lectures, seminars, labs and the VLE in practice

Lesson ss-08 explains what lectures, seminars and tutorials are. This lesson is about how to handle each one well from week one, including lab sessions and the virtual learning environment (VLE), the website where almost everything about your course lives.

Getting more from lectures

• Before each lecture, open the slides or notes if they are posted on the VLE and skim the headings for five minutes. You will recognise the key ideas when you hear them.
• Write questions in the margin as they come up. If they are still unanswered at the end, bring them to office hours (lesson ul-04) or the module forum.
• Lecture recordings are useful for revision, but they are a backup. Use them to rewatch a difficult ten minutes, not to replace attending.
• Within 24 hours, spend 15 minutes turning your notes into three to five key points. This is much quicker than trying to rebuild a lecture weeks later.

Speaking up in seminars

• Seminars only work if students talk. UCL lists seminar contributions among the things that can be assessed on some courses, so check your module handbook.
• Prepare two things from the reading: one point you agree with and one question. That gives you something to say even if you feel nervous.
• Useful phrases: 'Building on what Sara said...', 'I read it slightly differently...', 'Could you explain what you meant by...?'
• Aim to speak once in the first 15 minutes. The longer you wait, the harder it feels.
• Disagree with the idea, not the person, and back it up with something from the reading.

Labs and practicals: safety first

• Many science and engineering courses require a safety induction or online safety module before you can start experiments. Texas Tech, for example, requires an online safety module before first-year chemistry labs.
• Lab coats and goggles are standard. The University of Nevada, Reno's chemistry rules also require legs covered to the foot, fully enclosed shoes and long hair tied back, and students who are not dressed properly are not admitted.
• Before you start, find the nearest eyewash station, safety shower and fire alarm, as the Nevada rules require.
• Read the lab script or pre-lab before the session and arrive knowing what you will do. Ask the demonstrator or teaching assistant if any instruction is unclear.
• Report every accident, however minor. Never put chemicals, glass or filter paper in ordinary bins or down the drain unless you are told it is safe.
• If you wear a headscarf or loose clothing, ask the lab team in advance how to secure it safely; a quick question avoids a problem on the day.

The VLE: your course's home base

• Common VLEs include Moodle, Canvas and Blackboard. The University of Nottingham says its Moodle site gives access to lecture notes, slides, reading links, videos, recordings and other materials.
• Nottingham advises checking it often, because announcements and key course information are posted there.
• Each module usually has its own page with the handbook, assessment briefs and deadlines. Download every handbook in week one and put deadlines into your assessment map (lesson sb-02).
• Notifications may not be on by default. City St George's notes that in its Moodle all notifications are off by default, so turn on assignment alerts in your preferences.
• Use the module forum for course questions. If you are wondering about something, others probably are too.

Submitting work online without panic

• Many assignments are now submitted through the VLE, and Nottingham notes you can often revise a draft up to the point of submission.
• Uploads take time. City St George's says uploads and Turnitin processing can take up to 30 minutes per file and advises allowing at least 15 minutes for your first submission.
• Do a practice upload early in term if your VLE has a practice area, and check file size limits and required formats.
• After submitting, keep the confirmation or receipt email and check that the right file appears. Know who to contact in your course office if something goes wrong.