Strategies for Online Class Management
Students today face a very different way of learning than ever before. Thanks to the advancement in digital communication and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its subsequent quarantine, several major and minor classes, especially those in college, are now offered either fully or semi-regularly online. This “remote” learning style is still in its infancy; therefore, some students have trouble cultivating techniques to succeed in an online environment. Online classes offer more distractions, fewer accountability resources, and less social interaction, which has been proven to assist in the student’s learning and development. This is truly a paradigm shift in how students are taught in school. And we at NSHSS don’t want you to feel left behind. Take a look at our guide to mastering online class management.
Environment is Everything
The first thing to be aware of when preparing for your online class is your environment. Each of us learns differently, and sometimes, that can be harder to accommodate in a classroom. However, one advantage of remote learning is that it allows you to create your own personal study space. Perhaps you want a quiet corner of a library, or to study at your desk in your bedroom with the door open, or even in a crowded coffee shop where the hustle and bustle of the other customers keeps you energized. Wherever you work best is entirely up to you. But remember, just because an environment might seem cozy and fun does not mean it will be the best place to learn. Try to decide what type of environment will help you be a more engaged and active learner.
Stay Actively Engaged
When it comes to being an engaged student, nowhere is this harder than working remotely. Often, if a student is not in a classroom, it is much harder to focus on the work in front of them. They might have a greater tendency to “zone out” during a lecture, ignore homework assignments, and generally lack the attention they might otherwise have in a classroom setting. However, online classes are a key place to stay engaged. When you are learning remotely, it might be harder for your teacher or professor to repeat parts of the lecture or hear the questions you ask. Despite digital emoji hand-raising, chat box discussion questions, and screen-sharing capabilities, there is an obvious wall between you and your instructor. That is why you must stay actively engaged throughout the entire course. The more distractions that are in front of you, the more you must engage yourself to achieve success in spite of the distractions.
Create a Personalized Schedule
One way to help yourself stay engaged is by creating a study schedule that works for you. This can be in tandem with the schedule of online classes you are signed up for, but it must also be incorporated into your own personal life. For instance, if time allows and you are the type of person to attend your virtual class in a coffee shop, perhaps you can stick around that coffee shop for an extra thirty minutes after the lecture is over in order to copy down more notes or read up on the new homework. It might help to mirror your online class time on the following day. If you have a class on Monday evenings from five to seven, then maybe you can spend the following Tuesday working on the class homework from five to seven. This will help regulate your body clock to know when to focus on the material. Or maybe you would rather do that homework the very next morning after class from nine to eleven. Either way you work best, it is important that your schedule reflects that. And be sure to stick to your schedule!
Time Management
When it comes to schedules, it can be hard to stick to them. That is why it is important to practice time management, especially with remote classes. In a classroom setting, especially when moving from one classroom to the next, time management might come more naturally as you move with your fellow classmates and do things according to the instructor’s time. When it comes to remote classes, there is so much time in between the actual lectures. On top of that, some online classes have pre-recorded lectures which you are required to merely watch and take notes on, all on your own time. Therefore, you have to be mindful of how much time you spend on each task. Creating a personalized schedule will help with this.
Ask for Help
As mentioned above, remote classes can feel less social. Since the interaction between student and instructor is digital, students can often feel cut off from asking questions. But that is not the case. Any online class instructor still encourages their students to reach out with questions or concerns. If you’re uncomfortable talking over a screen, try emailing your questions to your professor or asking them to stick around on the video call for a moment after the lecture has ended. By reaching out to your instructor, you’ll find that he or she is happy to assist in the areas you are struggling with.
Prepare for Poor Power
A major factor concerning online classes is technology. Whether this is your internet connection, your computer, your keyboard, or your phone, there is a chance you might have trouble with one of these. In order to combat this potential problem, make sure that you do your best to establish a back-up solution at the beginning of each semester. If your computer has a glitch and you can’t attend your online lecture, you can either try using your phone, ask a friend or family member to borrow their laptop, go to the library to use their free computers, or even contact your professor and ask that they record the lecture so you can watch it when your laptop comes back on. By staying vigilant of the technology around you and staying in contact when something malfunctions, you’ll avoid some unnecessary issues that might impact your online learning.
Limit Internet Distractions
We all know that the internet can be a useful tool, but it can also become a wealth of easy distractions. When you are logged on for your online classes, the temptation to check social media, shop on Amazon, or even just read the latest news article can be quite overwhelming. We’re curious creatures, and there is nothing wrong with checking up on the world around you. But it’s important to remember that the time spent during your online classes should not be wasted. By going elsewhere on the internet during lessons or class discussions, you’ll miss out on key information and important discussions that might help you succeed in your class. If you have trouble with this, try to allow yourself thirty minutes before or after the lecture to “catch up” on all the internet that you missed.
Stay Healthy
Finally, and most importantly, you need to activate your body and mind. Online classes can be a bit of a grueling experience. The more you stay engaged, stay up to date on your schedule, and ask questions, the more worn out you run the risk of becoming. Nothing is worse during an online course than becoming burnt out halfway through. Without the communal experience of a classroom, students can start to feel lonely, cooped up, or otherwise just jittery. No matter your age, learning environment, or the number of classes you are taking, we all need a break occasionally. Feel free to take a walk, get some food, call a friend, or just have a window open next to you. Don’t feel as if you must be devoted to your screen all day long, it’s not healthy for anyone. By getting some sun and fresh air, interacting with friends, and making a good meal, you’ll balance out the insulated structure of an online class. And, what’s more, chances are your endurance for the online class will only grow the more balanced you stay!
Online classes are still quite new for students and teachers alike. It is okay if you are struggling to cope with the way the world is changing. We are social creatures by nature, and despite how repetitive it can be, we have been learning in classroom settings for a long time. We hope that you can adopt some of these important methods for your online classes. For more information, check out our website to see extra learning strategies. At NSHSS, we want you to succeed in every learning aspect. We’ll be there every step of the way!