ENG1503 MAY JUNE MEMO 2026
QUESTION 1
Instruction: 1. Using the text above as a starting point, write TWO well-developed
paragraphs of 300 - 350 words in which you reflect on your personal challenges
as an Open Distance eLearning (ODeL) student at UNISA. Your discussion must
focus ONLY on time management and the use of online learning management
systems such as the myUnisa Moodle platform. Then, explain how each of these
challenges has affected your ability to complete assignments, engage in online
activities, and prepare for final examinations. Support your discussion with
examples from your own lived experiences. Finally, suggest TWO practical
strategies that lecturers could implement to support students. Ensure that your
suggestions are clearly linked to the challenges you have discussed. N.B:
Responses that are vague, overly general, or not related to your personal
experiences will not be awarded marks. Use the rubric below as a guideline to
understand how your work will be assessed.
As a UNISA student learning online, my biggest problem has been managing my time.
The text says many first-year students feel like they are thrown into the deep end
(Coleman, 2018). I felt the same. At home, there are many distractions like family,
chores, and work. I often told myself I would study later, but later never came. For
example, I had an assignment for ENG1503 that needed reading and planning. I waited
until the night before it was due.
, I tried to write it fast, but I could not think clearly. Because I did not plan my time well, I
could not finish my assignment properly. I also missed online activities like discussion
posts. When exam time came, I had not studied all the work. I only read some parts.
This made me very stressed. The study guide says good readers use a method called
SQ4R to understand texts (ENG1503 Study Guide, 2022, p. 18). But I had no time to
use that method. So my marks were low because of bad time management.
The second problem was using myUnisa Moodle. I found it hard to find what I needed.
The site has many links and folders. Sometimes I clicked the wrong place. For example,
I wanted to find extra readings for a task. I searched for one hour but could not find
them. So I wrote my assignment without those readings. That made my answer weak. I
also tried to join a group discussion online, but I did not know how to post my message
correctly. My message went to the wrong place, so no one saw it. Before exams, I tried
to download past papers. But the file would not open. I wasted two days asking for help.
To help students like me, lecturers can try two simple ideas. Let’s talk about time
management, they can send a short weekly email with a small task. For example: "This
week, read pages 10 to 15 and write three sentences." This will help students do a little
bit each day. My second proposal, to help with myUnisa, lecturers can make a very
short video (two minutes) showing exactly where to find assignments and past papers.
They can put the video at the top of the course page. This will save students time and
stress. Then we can focus on learning, not on finding things.
QUESTION 1
Instruction: 1. Using the text above as a starting point, write TWO well-developed
paragraphs of 300 - 350 words in which you reflect on your personal challenges
as an Open Distance eLearning (ODeL) student at UNISA. Your discussion must
focus ONLY on time management and the use of online learning management
systems such as the myUnisa Moodle platform. Then, explain how each of these
challenges has affected your ability to complete assignments, engage in online
activities, and prepare for final examinations. Support your discussion with
examples from your own lived experiences. Finally, suggest TWO practical
strategies that lecturers could implement to support students. Ensure that your
suggestions are clearly linked to the challenges you have discussed. N.B:
Responses that are vague, overly general, or not related to your personal
experiences will not be awarded marks. Use the rubric below as a guideline to
understand how your work will be assessed.
As a UNISA student learning online, my biggest problem has been managing my time.
The text says many first-year students feel like they are thrown into the deep end
(Coleman, 2018). I felt the same. At home, there are many distractions like family,
chores, and work. I often told myself I would study later, but later never came. For
example, I had an assignment for ENG1503 that needed reading and planning. I waited
until the night before it was due.
, I tried to write it fast, but I could not think clearly. Because I did not plan my time well, I
could not finish my assignment properly. I also missed online activities like discussion
posts. When exam time came, I had not studied all the work. I only read some parts.
This made me very stressed. The study guide says good readers use a method called
SQ4R to understand texts (ENG1503 Study Guide, 2022, p. 18). But I had no time to
use that method. So my marks were low because of bad time management.
The second problem was using myUnisa Moodle. I found it hard to find what I needed.
The site has many links and folders. Sometimes I clicked the wrong place. For example,
I wanted to find extra readings for a task. I searched for one hour but could not find
them. So I wrote my assignment without those readings. That made my answer weak. I
also tried to join a group discussion online, but I did not know how to post my message
correctly. My message went to the wrong place, so no one saw it. Before exams, I tried
to download past papers. But the file would not open. I wasted two days asking for help.
To help students like me, lecturers can try two simple ideas. Let’s talk about time
management, they can send a short weekly email with a small task. For example: "This
week, read pages 10 to 15 and write three sentences." This will help students do a little
bit each day. My second proposal, to help with myUnisa, lecturers can make a very
short video (two minutes) showing exactly where to find assignments and past papers.
They can put the video at the top of the course page. This will save students time and
stress. Then we can focus on learning, not on finding things.
