Remote Learning for Students
In the event Merrimack College cannot hold classes on campus, we have put together a guide for students about remote learning.
Need help with any aspect of remote learning or experiencing any challenges? Email Us
In the event Merrimack College cannot hold classes on campus, we have put together a guide for students about remote learning.
Need help with any aspect of remote learning or experiencing any challenges? Email Us
Taking courses online, even temporarily, could be a big change from how you are used to learning and living your day-to-day life! Here are some simple steps to make sure you stay on top of your coursework during this remote learning experience and time away from campus.
Whether your professor records a lecture for you to watch and listen on your own time (it is called “asynchronous teaching”) or you, your professor and your classmates all come together online at the same time to talk (it is called “synchronous teaching”), you need to:
Improve your opportunity for success in an online environment by more actively managing your responsibilities. You should:
Find a suitable space for you to be in class and work to maximize your focus. Try to make sure that you have:
Make a schedule for when you need to be online for class and when you will do your work. You should:
Begin every day by checking your Merrimack email account, your syllabi, Blackboard and any other course platform. Write notes or add to your calendar any announcements, assignments, readings, discussions, etc., and plan your time accordingly. Do the same at the end of the day for anything that will impact tomorrow’s plans. To help you remember, you may even want to build an email check and calendar update immediately after breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Do reading, homework, assignments for every class every day, even just a little bit. Doing one class a day seems like “focus”, but you risk losing track of your progress in your other courses.
Grinding will grind you down! Your brain works best on one task (reading, writing, note-taking) for about 45-60 minutes. After an hour, have a quick stretch or a healthy snack then move on to another task. You can finish it later with a clear head!
Learning online can get lonely and can make it harder for people to notice obstacles you are facing. If you are having any problems or issues contact your professor and your coach immediately and be patient about their email response time.
Your Academic Success Coach and major advisors may hold video conferences. Make plans to talk with your health providers and counselors. This is much more than a snow day, so keep things as normal as possible!
Unless your professor tells you otherwise, email is best to ask faculty questions about your course, what you are learning, or any problems doing your work. Briefly explain what is happening and ask when is a good time to chat online, talk on the phone, or video conference. To save time, try to catch them during office hours, tell them what times will not work for you, and/or give them three days and times when you are available.
If you have not already, download the Blackboard app on your iPad! If you are not sure how to do something on Blackboard, try visiting https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student or email AskIT@merrimack.edu or call 978-837-3500.
Support from the Writing Center, Tutoring and Math Center, Study Partners and Campuswide Tutoring will be available remotely through various online interfaces. Information on all tutoring can be found at www.merrimack.edu/21C.
Please review our Zoom webpage for more information about setting up your account and using the technology.
Please visit the library’s continuity page to see all the options available for you to talk with our librarians. You may set up an appointment with them or submit questions via chat, email or phone and more.
Please review our Accommodations and Academic Support in a Time of Disruption webpage. Merrimack will continue to support all students who are signed up with the ASO. The expectation is that all current accommodations will continue - with some changes to adjust for the remote learning environment. If you have questions, please email the ASO at accessibilityservices@merrimack.edu.
Merrimack is planning for the reality of remote advising in preparation for registration for fall 2020 classes. Your advisor will be reaching out to you about how your remote advising will take place. Each school and department does advising in different ways and, for the most part, the same process will continue with the exception that it will happen remotely. In addition to your academic advisor, additional support will be available remotely by your school’s office staff, the registrar’s office and the staff in the Academic Success Center. At every point during the registration cycle, multiple campus professionals will be available to assist you.
The list of available fall courses is now available and you will register using MyMack exactly the same way that you have in the past. The registrar’s office will also be reaching out to you via email about the registration process/dates. If you have any initial questions about registration, please email the Academic Success Center. See Updated Academic Calendar
Campuswide tutoring will continue to occur as much as possible using a variety of media. Some tutoring is being moved into WCOnline and some is being moved into Zoom. Still more, especially where fellows in math and economics are concerned, will be embedded in Blackboard course pages. The Campuswide Tutoring Calendar will be continuously updated as we learn more about tutorial offerings from supervisors around campus. If you have specific questions about tutorial offerings, please email tutoring@merrimack.edu.
Librarians will continue to enhance your online learning with a variety of instructional and resource activities. Chat, email, online appointments and phone consulting are all available options. The digital collection of e-books and streaming videos may be accessed via the library catalog and there is support for gaining access to some print texts. Connect with the librarians at https://libguides.merrimack.edu/continuity.
Please review our Mental Health and Wellness Resources page for additional information, including how to schedule counseling services with Hamel Health.
Study Partner Program requests will be collected via the same method as before, by visiting this page. When your study partner emails you to set up a meeting, s/he will advise you about how to access the session in Zoom. Instructions and video support for access to those spaces will be provided. If you have questions about study partners, please email studypartners@merrimack.edu.
All math-related tutoring will take place synchronously online. Instructions and video support for access to those spaces will be provided on the Tutoring & Math Center webpage. If you have questions about study partners, please email mathcenter@merrimack.edu.
All writing tutoring, whether with consultants or with writing fellows attached to your specific courses, will take place via WC Online’s synchronous online interface. You may preview this video to learn how to access WCOnline. If you have questions or concerns about access, please email writingcenter@merrimack.edu.
If you do not have the textbooks you need, please contact the Task Force at taskforce@merrimack.edu and they will help you get course materials shipped or accessible online.
There are a number of tools to help you during remote learning, including:
Need help with any aspect of remote learning or experiencing any challenges? Contact the Academic Success Center.