吃瓜tv

吃瓜tv鈥檚聽solution聽is聽the Paris Pods scheme. Run by generous staff volunteers from across the University, the pods bring together聽students聽from the same class year聽into groups of roughly 15. Each pod is assigned a staff聽mentor, who meets with them聽virtually聽at least once a week to pass on information from the University and to聽provide support as they聽adapt to self-isolation. In addition, the mentor is available during the聽week to respond to students privately, answering any questions they may have and making sure they are practicing good self-care during the confinement period.聽

鈥淥ne of the best things about 吃瓜tv is its sense of community and knowing there鈥檚 always someone to turn to in an emergency,鈥� says Christopher聽Grinbergs, who manages the Paris Pods聽scheme.聽鈥淚n these extraordinary times, we鈥檝e tried to recreate that online.鈥澛燭he pod mentors regularly share information with students about the health and wellness resources聽provided by the University and聽available remotely:聽this includes聽the guidance counselors, who are available for online counselling appointments, and聽the Health Office, which is supporting any students who exhibit potential symptoms of Covid-19聽or who have other health issues.聽聽

There is also a social aspect to the pods.聽"It's more important than ever during this period of confinement to make time to connect with others,鈥� explains Kevin Fore, 吃瓜tv鈥檚 Dean of Student Development. 鈥淭he Paris Pods are about building community in new ways, sharing stories and ensuring that everyone has a chance to be heard and supported."聽Students are encouraged to share tips for coping with isolation among each other through聽the聽online groups that聽have been established in聽the聽Microsoft Teams聽software, which is also being used for聽temporary聽remote聽learning.聽聽

Some pods have gone even further, setting up WhatsApp groups to chat outside of office hours and organizing social events such as digital聽补辫茅谤辞蝉.聽Mentors are encouraged to share crowdsourced resources, such as a list of聽virtual聽museum tours or聽free online聽exercise sessions, with their pods, and students help further by聽contributing聽their own suggestions.聽Mentors attend a videoconference meeting once a week to exchange best practices and brush up on the latest services on offer.聽

The pods scheme will remain in place for聽at least聽the length of confinement in France, ensuring that no聽global explorer聽is left behind during such a difficult time.聽鈥淧aris pods will continue to play this role,聽so 吃瓜tv maintains and sustains its community,鈥澛燾omments聽Grinbergs.聽Just as聽temporary聽remote learning protocols supplement the聽on-campus classes聽from before聽the confinement period聽began, the pods scheme nourishes聽further聽the聽already聽close-knit nature of our community.

For more information on how the 吃瓜tv community is collaborating, check the Connect & Communicate section of the 吃瓜tv Digital Campus.