Tips for navigating online classes
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Graphic by Julia Zawitkowska
Amid the new delivery of courses for many college students, the online presence may cause some disorganization and lack of motivation to complete work or attend class sessions.
Here are a few tips to maintain balance in the life of online coursework:
- Have a consistent workspace. According to North Eastern University’s graduate programs, maintaining a steady work environment not only helps with organization, but also establishes a routine. For some students, this may be difficult depending on the nature of the household, but a kitchen table or corner at a coffee shop can do the trick.
- Create a schedule. Online courses take up a significant amount of time just like in-person courses. It is important to hold yourself accountable and practice time management. This may include setting reminders, keeping track of what tasks you spend time on, and blocking time specifically for a given project.
- Leverage your network. Online classes can be similar to in-person classes if you take the time to get to know your professor and create a friend or two in the class. This allows for more help when needed, or simply another friend to relate with. Also, taking advantage of some other resources, like those from the library, is a great way to maximize online learning.
- Take notes by hand. Writing on paper helps students grasp the material more, compared to typing notes from a lecture. The University of Cincinnati recommends typing out your hand-written notes when you go back to study to create a repetition strategy.
- Get motivated and success is within reach. To be successful, you must maintain self-discipline and strive for that achievement. Online learning has its own set of problems, but it is the way you handle them that will make all the difference. Don’t give up.
