Before coming to the Faculty, I taught secondary English in the US for 19 years

At the end of my third year of teaching, I had what turned out to be a career-changing opportunity to develop a new course for incoming students who were reading several years below grade level. This reignited my interest in literacy and I enrolled on a graduate programme while continuing to work full time. In 2008 I completed my MEd in Literacy Studies and over the next few years worked with two brilliant maths teachers to create a successful literacy and numeracy programme for struggling students. In 2014, I was appointed to serve as my state’s PK-12 Literacy Policy Analyst for the National Council of Teachers of English and that led me to Cambridge, initially to study for an MPhil in Educational Leadership and School improvement. As well as working with world-class academics, I valued being part of a close-knit cohort. It made the academic and social transition to Cambridge hugely enjoyable, which led me to start a PhD here in 2018.

My PhD focuses on the use of electronic textbooks

Electronic textbooks are full-length, interactive textbooks that can be accessed online. They include purpose-built tools that give teachers and students opportunities to extend the collaborative learning environment outside the classroom and alongside the relevant text. But this is relatively new technology that implies some pretty significant changes to teaching and learning if it is to become more than just a digital version of the paper textbook. I’m looking at how secondary science teachers and students use the tools in electronic textbooks to support student engagement with a text, and how each group influences the other’s use of those tools.

I have probably attended more talks and lectures in lockdown than I would have done before

As a second-year student I wouldn’t normally have received much teaching this year anyway. Because I work in private settings and live about an hour from the Faculty, I would usually skip talks and lectures that sounded interesting but were short. With those now available online, I can attend a one-hour session and then get straight back to work without feeling like I have to spend the weekend making up for lost time.

We’ve been using breakout rooms on Zoom, which has really enhanced our online lectures

Teaching assistants (like me) have been able to support small group discussions by joining one group for a few minutes before moving to another, much as would happen if we were doing it in person. The chat function has been important, too, because it allows us to feed small group progress and questions back to the lecturer, and to help participants clarify their question and ensure they feel it has been answered. There were some early logistical problems with larger groups, but the Faculty’s IT team and the lecturer were incredibly quick to respond. The only challenge we have now is video delays when people talk over one another, but people are learning that’s part of the environment and are good about yielding to others.

I’m looking forward to hearing the chatter of the Faculty when it reopens

There’s always a buzz of people talking no matter where I am in the building. Sometimes it’s just quick greetings, other times it’s spontaneous chats or planned meetings, but it’s the surest sign of life at the Faculty.

My advice for new students would be figure out the schedule that works for YOU and stick to it.

Not everyone is productive during the same hours, so figure out when you like to read, when you’re able to write, and when you need a social boost or mental break to keep going. Second, find a buddy – or better yet, a critical friendship group. You will probably need someone to keep you accountable who will provide feedback on your work before it gets to your supervisor. Third, ask your supervisor(s) and research group chair(s) how they have facilitated working and learning remotely so far, and what they are planning to implement. It’s through these groups that you will meet critical friends who will help you grow throughout your studies, so it’s important to know!