STAGEHANDS
Stagehands often make up the majority of an online learning community. They never post to the front stage discussion board. They are often referred to as 'lurkers' and frequently misunderstood by teachers, designers, and other university staff for not performing.
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SASKIA
23 years old, full-time student, mother
Hours spent completing university-related tasks during a 12-week semester
Font stage: 3
Backstage online: 25
Backstage offline: 24
Saskia's story
I got a higher ATAR than my husband but we decided it was more important that he go to uni instead of me. He supports me studying online but I have to hide it from my family so I don’t talk to him about it. Our parents would not approve of me getting a degree. I care for our child full-time.
At the start of the semester I download as much of the work as I can between the hours of 11pm - 3am. I used to try to contribute to the discussion board during these times but the timestamp on my posts were embarrassing and I felt like the last person to contribute so there was really nothing else to add. It’s frustrating. I often have a HD all semester and then I don’t sit the assessment because it requires me to leave the house.
Luckily I have a close group of girl friends that study at university or have a degree already. When we get together we talk about what we are studying. We really get into it. We talk about a topic from every different area. Outside of studying in the middle of the night this is the only opportunity I have to apply what I am learning in a real life context. Yeah. But mostly I just have debates about the content I am learning with myself while I do the dishes. I don’t like Facebook, too many mean people.
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JEB
59 years old, full-time worker, full-time student
Hours spent completing university-related tasks during a 12-week semester
Font stage: 20
Backstage online: 78
Backstage offline: 15
Jeb's story
I am not comfortable posting on discussion board. I think there is the fear of making an idiot of myself. But that is only part of it. I do feel disconnected there. Sure, I have posted things in the past…and waited for days to get a reply!
If I have a question, I’ll check the discussion board – usually someone else has already asked it. Otherwise it’s too slow. I got to Facebook. The Facebook groups are the best. I used to not post there either. But after six months of the same names popping up, I started posting on Facebook.
I’ve made a few friends on Facebook too, we often study together online. But the best part about Facebook groups is the sharing of links to extra material. That sometimes helps me to understand a subject or concept better the learning materials. Usually videos from Facebook were always good because another classmate already used it.
I also study with my son. We’ve enrolled in the degree together. One benefit is the comfort of knowing someone else will understand if you have a question about the unit. We help each other to understand concepts. We do not think exactly alike so it is good to get somebody else's viewpoint.
Overall, I don’t think it is any of the university’s business if I participate in the front stage so long as I submit my assessments on time.
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MIA
20 years old, part-time worker, full-time student, lives outside of a major city
Hours spent completing university-related tasks during a 12-week semester
Font stage: 67
Backstage online: 51
Backstage offline: 39
Mia's story
My uni makes me take online subjects when not enough students enrol at my campus. The main campus is too far to drive on a weekly basis, but I go for the exam prep that the teachers hold at the end of the semester.
I hate studying online. I hate it so much that I go to the library. The atmosphere helps me focus. But I love the topic that I study. That’s what keeps me going.
Mostly, I watch the lecture videos over and over again until I get it. Watch, rewind, quiz myself, watch, rewind, quiz myself. If that’s not enough I use the internet to find videos that sound similar to the lecture content and listen to them.
When I have a question I ask my Dad or my brother. My Dad works in the industry and my brother did this degree a few years ago. We talk about it over dinner. I know I could ask my teacher questions and this makes me feel more confident, but I hate having to speak to teachers.
Study is like building blocks. I get that. So I know that I’ve learned a topic when I don’t have to look it up or revisit it in the following semester.