University students including myself are trying to adapt to the new way of schooling. This can be a difficult adjustment! Here are my five top tips to succeed in the online format.
1. Actively participate in each course
Active participation is a key element to succeed in all your courses. Even if the course is fully asynchronous, establish a time to meet with your TA or your professor. By doing this at least once within the semester, it will allow you to fully understand what is expected of you and will show your professors that you care about your learning and success within the course. In order to thrive in classes, we must take advantage of the resources that are being offered and continuously engage in the course.
2. Time Management & Scheduling
Before starting a new week, make a realistic schedule, mapping out what every day of the week will look like. Creating a daily routine during online school is essential as most days feel the same, and this will help you to work effectively. This practice instills good habits that will also help you succeed in the future. The scheduling will help with time management skills as well. Lastly, by establishing a schedule, it will help with procrastination, which is something university students often struggle with.
3. Find a study space that works for you
As most people are restricted in their choices of where to study due to the virus, one should try to find a study place that works where you live. Find a place that is free of interruptions and works to your learning style. Additionally, keeping your study space clean is vital in order to focus without possible distractions. Also, Western Libraries are open! The libraries that are open can be found here. Implementing a change of scenery can help increase productivity and concentration and can better your studying experience overall.
4. OWL Navigation
As a student with a full course load, navigating five different courses on OWL can be challenging as professors keep information under different tabs within the site. In order to prevent missing an important due date or assignment, consider creating an OWL ‘cheat sheet’. This involves writing out your classes and where on the site your professor posts announcements, assignments, and tests. This will help ensure that no information gets lost in the site, and that you are aware of all upcoming important dates within your courses.
5. Self-care
For students who are new to university or even the online method, it is crucial to remember that this transition is not easy for all parties involved. With the lack of face-to-face interaction, it can be difficult to gain motivation to complete work within your courses. Give yourself some time to break, and regain that motivation to ensure that your work is to the highest quality it can be.
Online school can be difficult in these unprecedented times. It can also be very overwhelming at times. I encourage you to try some of these tips to help better your online experience. Succeeding in online school is something new for all of us, but ultimately, this time period will help strengthen your learning skills!