Coronavirus has forced college students everywhere to transition to distance learning. Adapting to online classes is not easy, but it is possible! Here are some tips that have worked for me when switching to online school.
1) Schedule time for your online classes
For some of my courses, I have to still meet over Zoom, so my class schedule is the same as it was when we met on campus. For others, I have prerecorded lectures that I need to watch on my own time. It is SO easy to fall behind if you don't manage your study time well, so I would recommend trying to stick to your normal schedule as much as possible. If you usually have class from 9-10 AM, use that time to watch your lecture or work on your assignments for that particular class!
2) Find a study spot that works for you
Unfortunately, right now there are very limited places to study outside the home. Campuses, libraries, and coffee shops are all closed at the moment! Personally, I like to rotate the places I study based on what I am working on. If I need a quiet place to test, I will go into my bedroom. If I am just working on typing up notes or doing some charting, I will try to study at the dining room table or even out on my front porch. Rotating my study places helps me to keep motivated, and studies have actually shown that it helps with testing recall!
3) Take notes
It may feel strange to take notes when you are not in a classroom, but it is so important! The tests are going to be the same as they would be if you were in class, and you are not going to remember the material better simply by watching an online lecture. I have continued to make my study guides and write down notes the same way I usually do while watching the recorded lectures. This helps me to keep continuity with my study habits and helps me retain the material much better.
4) Stay connected with your classmates
Even though we are all having to do a lot of studying on our own, I have really enjoyed staying connected with my fellow nursing students through Zoom, video study sessions, and GroupMe conversations. We have been sharing our study guides and helping keep each other accountable for all the online assignments that are due. I have also been reading through Esther and doing an online devotional study plan with several other girls in my class. We have loved reading each other's insights into the daily readings and sharing prayer requests and verses of encouragement!
5) Try to work out your technology issues before classes and tests
Clearly some technology problems are unavoidable, and hopefully your school will be understanding and work with you! That being said, you will make yourself a lot less stressed if you test out your microphone, webcam, and laptop before tests or lectures start. Also, make sure you know your professors' expectations for online exams. Some of my professors are pretty relaxed about testing environments, but others are very strict. For some of my exams I can't even have wall hangings in my webcam screen. Understanding the restrictions ahead of time will make sure you aren't scrambling last minute and making yourself even more frazzled!
6) Get moving, and get outside a little bit every day
Don't let yourself stay sitting all day long. It is so important to get your body moving! Even if it is just going for a quick walk or doing a 20 minute at home workout, your mind will be so much clearer if you take the time to care for your body and get your blood flowing. I love beginning my mornings with a brisk jog to get my heart rate up. Running is such a stress reliever for me! Recently I have been loving listening to Librivox recordings while I run. They have a ton of free audiobooks. I'm currently reading through David Copperfield, and I've absolutely loved it! The fresh air is so, so important when you are stuck at home. Gorgeous sunrises like this one from a few days ago always lift my spirits.
7) Take advantage of the time to spend with your family
I have loved being able to study at home with my siblings. Even the twins love to bring their books and snuggle up with me on my bed to "read." There are a lot of challenges to online school, but there are so many blessings as well! Keeping a positive attitude is so important, and it will make your experience so much more enjoyable.
Online school isn't easy, but we will all get through this together! Before we know it, we'll all be back on campus. Until then, I hope these tips are helpful for you. Let me know what your best online study suggestions are!
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