I am going to be honest with you all. Online school is not easy. That’s why today I wanted to share with you my top 9 tips on things you can do to succeed in online classes or remote learning! I have a hard time learning virtually, but I have found these tips are ones that have actually helped me do better.
Here is the link if you would prefer to watch this blog post!
Tips for Online Classes
1. Have a set schedule
Depending on what your teachers do, you will either work at your own pace (asynchronous class) or you will have like zoom meetings during a specific time (synchronous class). It is very important to know when those specific class time so you can plan around it. If you have a lot of synchronous classes, it is easier to know the exact time when you have to be in class. If you have an asynchronous class, you need to plan ahead. Don’t save all of your work until the end of the week, spread it out so you have more time to do it. Having a set schedule when you get up or when you start your school work, will give you structure to your days. I will talk a little bit later about this, but use some type of planner to keep track of important dates and times.
2. Get ready for the day
Yes, I was that person in March who would go to my online classes last semester, lying in bed. Don’t be that person. It is less productive and it doesn’t help you learn. It is found that if you try to work in the same place you sleep (ex: your bed), it will stimulate less learning because you’ll want to sleep instead of pay attention.
You should get ready for the day which will allow you to be more put together and ready to learn. By getting ready I mean get out of bed, put on some clothes, and brush your hair and teeth. You will feel much better and more motivated. I used to be lazy and go to class in sweatpants, but it just made me not want to even pay attention in class. I’m not saying you need to dress up, but putting something comfortable on that makes you feel awake is a good idea.
3. Use a planner
There’s probably going to be a lot of things going on at once in different classes so get a planner. This planner can be a monthly spread, weekly, daily, online, or a physical paper one. It is important to have an organized place where you can find all of your assignments. You won’t have a teacher tell you every day in class when something is due so make sure you check the syllabus or emails that your teachers send, and kept track of what you have to do. Staying organized will benefit you in succeeding in your classes because you won’t turn in things late, and you will have a plan as to when to do your work.
4. Understand how YOU learn best
Everyone learns differently, even if you’re in the same class or grade as someone. For me, online school is hard and it’s hard for me to concentrate. So, I have found that if I am in a Zoom class, I need to take notes in a notebook so I stay focused on the content. If I am taking notes on my laptop, it is easier for me to get distracted and somehow end up on a completely unrelated tab in my web browser. However, that is just a personal preference. Some people like to take notes on their laptop because it’s faster, and some like to hand write them. Figuring out how you learn best, and what the best technique for you to take notes is, will help you succeed in classes. It will allow you to pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses.
5. Eliminate distractions
Find a place where you can learn with a limited amount of distractions. You won’t have a teacher yelling at you to get off your phone or to stop talking to your friend in class, so take responsibility for yourself and minimize those distractions. Sometimes working in your room can be hard because there are so many distractions in there. But for someone like me, I don’t have a choice. Working in my room is the best place for me to go for class. You have to take responsibility for yourself and clear your desk of distractions. Put your phone off your desk (out of sight, out of mind) and make sure you have a big enough work space for yourself. Being focused in class allows you to get more out of it.
6. Stay organized on your computer
Most likely, you will be taking online classes though a computer or Ipad. Have all of your ducks in a row. You want to make sure that your internet is good, your electronic device is organized so you can find things quickly, and that you have ample storage for everything. I like to keep a different folder on my laptop for each class so I can know exactly where all of my documents and assignments are. This helps with organization a ton and it allows you to quickly find what you are looking for.
I also suggest getting an external hard drive for your computer (or even a flash drive). This way, you can back up all of your information on your computer so you don’t lose it. I have an external hard drive where I put all of my school stuff as well as my Youtube and blog stuff on it.
7. Do your work in the morning
Just because you’re online, doesn’t mean you should wait to do all of your homework or such until the night time. Trust me, procrastination will get you nowhere, so do your best to get your work done earlier in the day so you have more time to relax. I personally would much rather do my homework in the morning and have it done by mid-afternoon so I can hang out the rest of the night. I find that I work more efficiently during the day then at night.
Working in the morning will also help you make sure that everything is turned in on time. If you have a bunch of assignments due at midnight, you could easily get stressed if you start working on them in the late evening. If you start them days before or in the morning, you will have more time to check your work and make sure that it is completed on time.
8. Use your professor’s office hours
For college (and probably high school), a lot of professors or teachers will hold office hours and you should take advantage of those. Talk to them if you are having trouble understanding something or if you need extra help. They are there to help you succeed so use that to your advantage. When I go to professor’s office hours, I usually go in with a list of questions or things that I need help on. I also keep this list and continuously add onto it so I don’t forget things. This way it is a more structured discussion and you can make sure you get to everything.
9. Take 5-10 minute breaks
Sitting in the same place on your computer in online classes can be so draining. So, taking a break every once in a while, is important. This way, you can give your brain a restart and it will help you focus more on tasks. During this break, you should stand up and walk around, whether that is to go to the bathroom, get a drink, eat a snack, or talk to your friends. I find that it works best to step away from what you’re doing so you can be refreshed and more motivated to start work again.
Wrap-Up
That concludes today’s blog post! I hope these tips were useful to you and will help you succeed in online classes for the future. These are some of the things that have kept me productive during the day. Remote learning can be difficult, but you just have to keep your head up and do the work.
Thanks for the read everyone! Let me know in the comments what you’re schooling situation is like. I am posting every day for the month of September so many sure you tune back in tomorrow for more!
Again, if you would like to watch my youtube video of this post you may do so here:
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Bought blue light glasses for the students in my house as well. They were exhausted and now it is much better.
Blue light glasses are amazing and so helpful for those long hours sitting in front of a computer!