Conquering the Online Learning Landscape

This school year is going to look a lot different than years prior. Whether your school is doing a hybrid of online and in-person or doing school all online next year, it’s going to take some time to get used to. While last school year, you had a few months of online school, it was probably a lot more lenient. However, when we return to school in the fall, it’s going to resemble, more or less, a typical school year. We’re here to bring you 4 pitfalls students fall in during this transition and many different ways to work around them.

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#1: students fumble in the first few weeks getting used to the new surroundings

Online school is a whole other playing field compared to an in-person experience. Moving online is hard since you have to get used to the format of classroom instruction, how to submit work, and more. That can be hard especially when technology is sometimes stubborn. By starting to adjust a little bit earlier to this format can really go a long way.

Tip #1: Have an open mindset. Here’s the thing. I like taking notes on paper and reading from a physical textbook instead of an online one. I like talking to people in person instead of being shoved inside breakouts room (no idea why but the social anxiety grows 10 fold in these). I know, when I first began online school, I was definitely more disconnected with this new format. My best tip is trying to take all that negativity and spin it into something positive (like how you don’t have an annoying commute, or how you don’t have to see that one annoying kid in your class anymore). And if that doesn’t work, you can always get yourself into the mentality that you just have to get through this one slow day at a time (trust me, it works).

Tip #2: Try to get used to online classes and whatever software your school is using for virtual instruction. Taking an online course from Edx, Coursera, or Khan Academy can help prepare you for the format of online classes. Additionally, try to see if you can join some Zoom meetings, Google Meets, Blackboard Collaborates, or whatever your school is using and play around with it. You can even just get on the site and make sure your audio and video are working. Even that can help make the transition easier.

#2: students struggle with getting organized

During a regular school year, we all go through this problem. But now, in this new environment of learning, this pitfall is going to get exponentially worse. This is because now that we’re in our own homes, a messy house or room will be extremely detrimental. After all, you’re going to spend most of your time here. But never fear cause we have some tips to help you!

Tip #1: Set up a designated workspace for the school year and clean the room or surroundings your workspace is in. Your designated workspace doesn’t have to be super fancy (it can literally be a small desk and a comfy chair). Try to make it as inviting and clean as possible. If you sit there and want to immediately go back to lay on the bed, you’re doing something wrong. While this is not the most fun, I always like to spice up cleaning by listening to a fun, upbeat album that I can dance and sing along to.

Tip #1.5?: If you already have a workspace and it has become very boring and unmotivating or if you have a sibling going to a college, I suggest you know maybe switch rooms or workspaces to simulate a dorm experience or just change it up. Or if you don’t have a sibling or don’t have an extra room in the house try rearranging everything in the room, you work in.

Tip #2: Find an organization system that works for you. If that’s binders and folders, go for it. The nice thing about learning from home is that you’re in charge of your supplies and organization. Organization can also mean you know keeping all your pencils and pens in one place and replenishing things you don’t have. If you didn’t get that hint, basically we’re telling you to go back to school shopping (cue excitement). But honestly though, who doesn’t like back to school shopping?

#3: students fail at eliminating distractions and staying motivated while at home

At home, five days a week, it’s hard to stay focused all the time. With everything still not entirely back to normal, you can’t go study at coffee and boba shops. Having a class from your computer, camera off, and distractions nearby, it can be so hard to focus. While you could have gotten away back in April when teachers and students were getting used to everything, now being on your phone during class can be hazardous to your performance. But don’t worry, this can all be changed using a few simple tips.

Tip #1: Try to keep your schedule as “routine” and repetitive as possible. If you usually go to Starbucks on Friday as a treat with friends, maybe you can try ordering a drink to your house, calling your friends to have a study session, and sitting at your kitchen table doing homework. Whatever fun things you do, try to recreate that so you have something to look forward to. That way you’re not just on Tiktok refreshing your For You page after class. If you stay after school and get help from teachers or study with friends, try walking around your house two times and sit at a different location to simulate moving to a new classroom or hallway. That way every single day won’t feel exactly the same. This tip isn’t just for fun activities, however. If you usually wake up and shower before you go to school, maintain that routine through virtual learning. It really helps make you more productive, motivated, and happy.

Remember, it’s a marathon not a sprint. Online school is not going to end soon, it looks like. This isn’t like March-June: You can’t just bs your way through. This is the new normal and you have to try and keep things as routine as possible. Build a schedule on a google or physical calendar. This will help you gain more control over your lives.

Tip #2: With all the distractions in our workspace, we have to eliminate them in order to stay in that “school” mindset. Only keep essential, relevant things on your desk. Do anything you can to get everything else out of there. If that means throwing the rest of your binders in the hallway, so be it. My favorite thing to do with my phone nowadays when I’m in a class is to throw it on my bed. Since I have headphones on in class and usually my laptop is plugged in, I am way too lazy to go all the way to bed to grab my phone (you should try it, it works wonders). Pull out all the tricks on yourself. Set apps like Self-Control or Forest on your phone or computer. Turn off all notifications in settings. Whatever it takes. I swear you will have time to check your Instagram feed and get annoyed over the fact that someone else posted a basic beach pic. Now focus in class!

#4: students are not accustomed to staying so proactive, responsible, and involved with their learning

When you’re at school you have no problem. You and your teachers know each other. If you need help, you go during homeroom or after school. You get seating charts and collaborate with the people next to you for collaborative work or help. Life is decent. But now, with virtual instruction, you and your new teachers probably have never met each other. You might not know everyone in your class, and collaborative work means breakout rooms. And I don’t know about you, but that definitely triggers my fight or flight instinct. However, this can damage your grade if you don’t understand a particular concept and are too afraid to email the teacher or if participation is a part of your final grade. This also pertains to clubs too. Now without in school interest meetings or clubs you want to participate in, you might turn to some of the clubs floating around instagram, which requires you to submit an application. It’s so easy to just skip out on an opportunity like that just because you're scared of submitting one but we have a tip to help!

Tip #1: Tricking yourself. This is a tip I utilize a lot. There are many ways to trick yourself into being more proactive. You can drown out your thoughts with music to make writing emails more bearable or try writing emails really late at night since some people tend to get more confidence at that time. Try to figure out what gets you in that zone that makes you confident enough to be proactive and send in that email or even application for volunteering or a job. Another tip is to write your email/application in all one go, so you don't procrastinate. Once you get in that zone keep at it until you finish. Most of the time your efforts will be responded positively. I really don’t think there was an email/application that I’ve written that ever harmed me. But getting into that mentality just helps me a lot. But remember to keep your emails formal and respectful, everyone loves that.

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As we continue to move forward into the indefinite unknown, at least you now know how to move forward in the academic portion of the school year. Everyone is in the same boat this year. Students and teachers alike are dealing with the novelty and uncertainty with disease, technology, and learning. As we move forward, be patient, be understanding, and be compassionate toward yourself and others. We wish you the best of luck this year as this is a challenging slope for all students, us included. You are not alone in your frustrations, confusion, and anxiety!