Shifting to Online Classes: Strategies for Success
Adjusting to online learning fast
Dear Students,
So, you’re taking online classes.
Advantages to Online Learning
Whether by choice or sudden necessity, you find yourself trying to do through a screen what many would argue is most easily and effectively done “face-to-face” or “on location.” For those of you who have had to make the shift quickly and unexpectedly, it can be jarring. But you should know that these changes have been difficult for many of us educators too. Bright side is, we’re all in it together! And, truth be told, there are some advantages to online learning. For example, if your course is asynchronous (not dependent on logging in together at a specific time for lecture or discussion), you can, if you like, “go to class” in your pajamas… whatever that means to you… while eating second breakfast and streaming your current binge-watch obsession.
You can fit quizzes in between work shifts, practice, gaming, or during your roommate’s (or childrens’) naptime. In short, you are not expected to “show up” in the way you would be for a traditional synchronous (learning together, at the same time) class. Yes, it can be convenient.
And Challenges
However, online learning presents its own challenges - ones you may not have anticipated and aren’t sure, now that you’re in the thick of it, how to navigate. First and foremost is that the structure, communication, connection, and serendipity offered by traditional face-to-face classes are significantly altered (in my opinion, largely decreased). The external pressure to “show up” is limited, and the internal ability to self-discipline becomes crucial.
If you miss a deadline or lecture you are no longer skipping an experience. Your chances to chat casually with other students before class are gone, as is your ability to ask a question during a lecture or participate in group activities (these things are possible, yes, but not nearly as simple or organic). You miss the opportunity to share a laugh when your professor misspells something on the board or goes on a wild-albeit-impassioned tangent. You cannot walk-and-talk your way to office hours, or meet your prof randomly in the hallway. Likewise, we can’t see you or gauge your mood, bring treats to class, or spontaneously shift things outdoors because it’s a beautiful day. Everyone and everything involved feels less… Personal. Social. Available.
And this is how taking classes online can become much harder than you thought it would be. So, how to deal? Try one or more of the strategies listed below to help increase your focus, effectiveness, satisfaction, and success.
As a note: this list is meant to be an overview of the basics - not a deep-dive situation. I’m happy to detail study strategies more in-depth at a later date, but it’s overwhelming enough to be a student right now. If you manage to incorporate even a couple of the suggestions below into your coursework well done - you’re on the right track.
1. Map it Out
The first thing you should do - Day 1 - is review the syllabus for each class you are taking and mark important milestones, deadlines, and due dates in your planner or calendar. (Often these are subject to change, so something electronic or erasable that you can easily update is best here). This way, nothing sneaks up on you or catches you off-guard, and you never have to send that embarrassing “I didn’t see it on the course schedule - can I possibly get an extension?” email, or feel that Sunday afternoon panic when you find an “Assignment Due” notification in the course content.
A simple method (most appealing to Type-A’s and more necessary for Type-B’s) to further organize yourself is to mark your calendar with due dates and work backward. Break projects and study sessions into reasonable segments or tasks spread out over time. Until you have an accurate sense of how long it takes you to complete these tasks, give yourself more time than you think you need.
Next, translate these segments/tasks into a simple ToDo or Task List. This can be weekly or daily, depending on how intricate you want to get. At the very least, make it something you can “check off” in some way - in order to view your progress and get that satisfactory feeling of completion.
Further Resources: All you really need for this one is a calendar or planner. Just make sure it’s one you’ll actually use. The calendar on your phone, Microsoft Outlook, or Google account would all work just fine here. If you prefer analog-style make sure it has at least monthly and weekly (ideally, daily) views. Personally, I prefer a combination: using my Google Calendar and Tasks apps, along with my Passion Planner (a longtime favorite I’ve been returning to for over 5 years now).
2. Connect Early
Make an effort early on (ideally by the end of the first week) to connect with someone else in the class. You’re going to resist this one, I know, because it puts you at risk of experiencing *gasp* awkward and unpredictable social interaction. But I’ll recommend it anyway.
Reach out to one or two of your online classmates. Maybe someone you recognize from another class, or who you notice making intelligent points or comments in the class discussion forum. I know, it has the feel of a creepy cold call for desperate e-friendship, but odds are, that person could use an ally too. Someone to double-check due dates with, or remind you about that assignment extension. Someone you can message at 11:46 PM when the learning management software goes haywire and won’t let you submit that essay due at Midnight.
No, you don’t have to be best friends, follow each other on social media, or even know what the other looks like, if you don’t want… but having an e-study buddy will help keep you accountable, engaged, and give you another resource to ask questions that you’re too embarrassed or tired to squish into a coherent email to your professor.
On that note, keep in mind that your professor is available too. We’re not robots beeping and booping on the other side of the screen… but real people who are usually happy to hear from you: answer your questions, and share information.
3. Use Time Blocking
Now, instead of telling yourself you will “spend the day” or even “the afternoon” on the tasks you took the time to map out above, schedule your writing and study sessions in chunks or ‘blocks’. This one is a bit of a no-brainer in theory, but students often tell me it gets more difficult in practice. For example, maybe you have Algebra homework due tomorrow morning and a lab report due in one week. Instead of telling yourself you will “do Algebra all day today, then work on the report later…” schedule specific chunks or blocks of time for each.
Be realistic here. You are not likely to maintain hours-long focus without breaks or interruption. So, maybe you give yourself two hours for Algebra today, and one hour to start on the lab report. You try it, and see. You realize Algebra is hard, and will require another hour to finish. That’s okay! Your schedule indicates you have the time. You’ll do it after lunch. Then, looking over the requirements, you realize the lab report is more involved than you initially thought. You pencil in two hours a day until it’s due. Three days later, you finish ahead of schedule. Seriously, how good would that feel!?! Notice what wasn’t involved in this scenario: procrastination or panic. The goal is to create a realistic, workable structure for yourself and simply follow through.
Further Reading: The best book for tackling procrastination head-on? The Now Habit by Neil Fiore. For more general self-management and scheduling techniques like time blocking, check out the quick and helpful Manage Your Day to Day by 99U.
4. Minimize Distractions
First order of business when preparing to work online? Separate your browsers: put all of your favorite, distracting tabs in one browser. We’ll call this the Browser of Doom and Distraction. Now, minimize it! Next, shut off or silence your messaging app(s) on your tablet or computer. You likely still have a phone or watch that will vibrate or *ping* you with important alerts. Set those aside too. Now, open a separate browser just for work. Pin any tabs you think you’ll need to refer to regularly, like course contents, academic resources such as your college or university’s Tutoring or Writing Center or Library databases and guides, Google Scholar, a Dictionary, a Thesaurus, or Grammarly. We’ll call this the Browser of Enlightenment.
Having these tools ready to go helps to limit additional searching (a.k.a. opportunities for distraction). It also helps you avoid “task switching” as your brain attempts to move quickly between different activities (which some incorrectly call “multitasking”) and “attention residue” - the stickiness of thoughts related to that thing you were just doing… and the likely reason you can’t concentrate on those Calculus equations. Your mind is still processing the messages from your group Snap strand, or that funny meme or Youtube video. In short, minimizing distractions will maximize your concentration and flow. If you think this one will be tough for you (and don’t entirely trust your own willpower) apps like Freedom can help strengthen your resolve by blocking access to websites and social media for a specified period of time.
Further Reading: To learn more about why you should minimize digital distractions, how, and what doing so can bring to your work life and productivity, check out Cal Newport’s book Digital Minimalism. If you want to learn more about flow and getting in a flow state, check out Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.
5. Set a Timer
This is, in my experience, the single most effective way to keep you focused on your work and honest about the time you’re actually spending on it. If you try any strategy on this list, make it this one. However, before you go off setting alarms for everything all willy-nilly, I would recommend applying this tip with some strategy. Specifically the Pomodoro Method.
Think about training your brain to concentrate as you would train a muscle. As with weights, start off much lower than you think you are truly capable of (you may surprise yourself, here). Let’s say, 15 minutes. That feels doable, right? Now, set your timer and only allow yourself to concentrate on your work and do nothing else for that period of time. For each session you are successful, up the number of minutes incrementally… say, 16 next time. The key here is to keep yourself honest. Did you actually make it to the alarm without checking your phone or scrolling on your watch? Or did you click over for a quick peek at The Browser of Doom & Distraction?
Each time you successfully sustain your focus, reward yourself! Take a short break to scratch the itch or feed the twitch: scroll your socials, check your messages, watch a quick video. Refill your beverage of choice, get a snack, or take a quick stretch.
Then, start again. Take a deep breath, open your Browser of Enlightenment, and focus. One minute longer, this time.
Further Reading: Here is the original Pomodoro Technique text by creator Francesco Cirillo. A book about Focus by Daniel Goleman. Or, check out one of my favorite content creators, Anthony Ongaro of Break the Twitch.
6. Unplug
Finally, once you’re finished for the day, do yourself a favor and unplug. The disadvantage of working where you play is that you end up getting sucked in, with no healthy separation. Between your monitor, laptop, tablet, phone, smartwatch, and smart home devices… the constant connectivity can become exhausting. Switching from Panopto or Zoom to Netflix or Hulu doesn’t count. Time away from screens doing “real life” things - cooking a meal, getting some exercise, reading a book, making art or music, playing a game, caring for a pet or plant, or chatting with a friend - will help you return to yourself and transition from “school” to “home”.
This list really could go on… I love sharing learning and productivity info, and know that there are a number of issues not covered here (such as the digital divide and where to find additional e-resources). But for the sake of keeping this post from becoming completely overwhelming, I think that’s more than enough for one day. If you have any additional strategies or suggestions for online learners or want to know more about how you can optimize your e-learning experience feel free to Contact Me or let me know in the comments!
Be cool, excel in school,
MARYREDINGWRITES
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