With the majority of classes this fall being online, many people find it difficult to learn or engage with the content being given out. A few ways to be successful in your online classes is to be organized, have good time-management skills, and be motivated! With all of this combined you are setting yourself up for amazing results in your online classes. Below you will find some of the tips and tricks that I use to keep myself organized and keep my grades up!
A few things that I do to keep myself ready to learn is that I have a designated study space and I never study on my bed. I make sure to use the “Focus Keeper” app that has 25 minutes of distraction free learning/studying and then it gives me a 5 minute break. Once I complete four rounds of this I get a long break of 25 minutes. This allows me to focus my time in on one task and then take a break and reply to any texts or go get a snack during my 5 minute breaks.
Within my study space I have my dry-erase boards up with my goals listed out and then I have my monthly calendar. This ensures that I am able to stay on top of my assignments and fully prepare myself for the upcoming weeks. When I am able to look up at my goals hanging on the wall, it helps me to remember why I am going through school and why I study so hard. I set goals for the week, the month, and the day to help accomplish and reach my dreams for the future!
If you want to be successful you have to find what works best for you! This can mean many runs of trial and error. If you find that a paper planner does not work for you, then switch to a calendar app instead. If studying alone does not work for you, then try to make a study group. The sooner you do this, the sooner you will be able to set yourself up for success. When you find the systems that work the best for your specific learning style you will be able to implement these practices for the rest of your college career. If you get to a class that has a different class structure than your others, you can adjust your habits accordingly.
With classes being mostly virtual it is best to leave your cameras on when you are in a zoom class. It can be difficult for professors to teach grey rectangles instead of actual faces of students. When you do this, your professor will be able to put a name to a face and really see that you are working hard in their class. Another tip for virtual learning is to do the actual learning. It can seem really easy to just submit assignments and get the grades but once you get to the next level classes you are going to want to have that understanding of the material to be able to build upon it and actually gain more knowledge.
All in all, the only one that can help you is yourself! By educating yourself on the different types of learning styles and different study habits you are taking your future in the palm of your hand. You are in control and in the driver’s seat of your college career. When you develop these problem solving skills and ability to adjust to a new class style you are preparing yourself for changes that occur in the workforce as well. Best of luck in your online classes Monarchs! Reign on!
