Dealing with Online School: Tips and Tricks

October 15, 2020 / Source: The Bizz USA
By Aaryana Sharma; Edited by Haarika Kalahasti

     Starting from March of this year, a new sweeping phenomenon has allowed students worldwide to sleep in, forget their breakfast, and even attend meetings with their pajamas on. Now, this occurrence--online school--is present in homes around the world. This global catastrophe all began when spring break was extended for a week. We all returned from our spring break vacation, sad that we would have to return to school. But then, it was like the school districts were finally listening to us, as we had just received an email from the school district that spring break was officially extended one whole week. Soon, that one week became one month, and before we knew it, we had online projects, assignments, and piling homework. To see the effect on a group of students at my high school, I conducted a quick survey. 
       Based on the survey, around 70% of the participants said they enjoyed online school. The students mentioned how they enjoyed how classes were organized, having synchronous and asynchronous days, the excess breaks between classes, and the extended 11:59 pm submission deadline. Students also added that they liked being able to organize themselves better at home and not having to wake up early to catch the bus.  
        However, there was also plenty of criticism of virtual school. Participants said that they missed having a typical lunch period and also missed having more opportunities to converse with their peers. Some students reported that they would prefer to have frequent and structured announcements and reminders on deadlines. Other comments were that the workload has increased because asynchronous work tends to mix with our synchronous homework for most students. Regardless, there’s no doubt that online school has taken a toll on students. It’s important for them to recognize ways to deal with online school before everything starts to unravel. 

Image via USA Today.

Here are some tips for surviving(and thriving) online school: 

1. Be organized
   
   Contrary to popular belief, online school can be a bit messy and can make it more difficult to organize your work than in-person. Consider creating an orderly workspace where you can attend your classes and complete your work. You can have folders or/ binders for each subject or even create electronic folders on google drive to organize your classes. This way, it will be easier for you to locate your materials for each class. In addition, purchase a planner! This is essential than ever before due to the increased workload given through online school. Consider investing in a physical planner or using an online planner (ie MyHomework, MyStudylife, etc) to keep track of your work.
2. Focus!!
   With online school, it is nearly impossible not to get distracted. However, it is very important to minimize your distractions to successfully thrive in the online learning environment. For instance, when your teacher is talking, simply pay attention and take notes. Put your phone down and digest the main idea in what your teacher is saying. Doing this may even save you a couple of points on that tough biology quiz. 
3. Participate in Physical Activity
   As you know, it’s not healthy to be sitting at a computer screen all day. Continuously spending 10 + hours a day in front of a computer will have detrimental effects on your eyes, legs, and other parts of your body. It’s important that you schedule some time off and even participate in physical activity. Exercise has proven to boost energy, mood, and well-being. Consider exercising for at least five hours a week before or after school to get your body moving and boost your mood.
4. Take breaks
   1. ​A major problem for me, and so many other high school students, is that we don’t take breaks when doing our work. We often attempt to get everything done at once and lose track to time all together. Every now and then, take short 5-10 minutes breaks. Doing this will help boost your productivity and reduce the stress. Take a break during your lunch period and/or between classes, watch a quick video on YouTube, FaceTime l your friend, or even take a walk to get a breath of fresh air.
5. Set attainable goals
   1. ​One of the best ways to set goals for yourself is to write them down. It can  be in your phone, agenda, or a notebook, but keep your, to-do’s and priorities in a list. Write down what you’re doing today, this week, in two weeks, and so on until you have a prioritized and organized list customized with your plans. By setting goals you are rending yourself what needs to get done by responsibly allocating work.
6. ​Be positive
   1. ​During the shift towards online school due to COVID-19, there has been a lot of negativity in the air. Remember to be positive and know that good things will come to you...eventually. Whether you bombed a tough quiz or you’re not able to see a friend, know that there are ways to stay positive. Learning to be positive helps you grow as a person and gives you an amazing new way to look at things. Some easy ways to be positive are to make a gratitude journal and jot down the things that you are thankful for. Another way is to talk to your friends often and do the things you enjoy the most!
7. Make the most out of your time and enhance your study skills!
   1. ​Now that you're not catching the bus, or having to rush to get to your new class, make the best use of your time. Come up with different ways to study, and manage your time better. Consider having a productive study session with your friends, or listening to music while studying. Now that you have more time, and more liberties than you do in in-person school, make the best use of your time by prioritizing what you need to do and making a thorough schedule. Find ways to make your studying and study space a better fit for you and your study needs! 

     For the past 6 odd months, we have had a huge transition in the learning environment and daily school routine. Fortunately, we have the privilege to learn at home in the midst of a pandemic. Together, we find innovative ways to study and do the things we love… from a safe distance. ​