Our Declassified Online School Survival Guide

The Covid-19 situation has been fluctuating, and it seems that online school is here to stay for a while, whether partially or completely substituting face-to-face class. 

From having to deal with multiple distractions to changing your learning style, online school might be rather difficult for some to adapt to. Always dozing off in lectures?  Feeling unprepared for every class? Getting lost in deadlines? You’re not alone. So here’s a guide on how to get the most out of online school.

1. Find a comfortable spot

Before you log onto your classes, find a nice, productive area. Your bed can seem very appealing, especially if you’ve just awoken for a morning class, but trust me, getting into a more conducive spot – whether it’s your study table or dinner table – will make a huge difference to your learning. If you’re staying in hall and you prefer studying outside your room, here’s a list of campus study spots that we compiled last semester.

Don’t forget, it’s also important to make sure you have a stable internet connection! You don’t want to be cut off halfway through a lecture, discussion, or presentation. Finally, remember to check if you’re on mute! I’m sure we’ve seen enough embarrassing instances when someone disturbs an entire lecture with private chatter or incoherent mumbles.

2. Energy drink of choice or snacks

A drink and snacks are a helpful way of keeping you awake during lectures. Grab a coffee, bubble tea, milo, tea, or whatever floats your boat for your upcoming lecture. Pair that with your favourite snack and you’re good to go! Just make sure it doesn’t become a distraction — you’re too busy savouring your food and the lecture is totally forgotten

3. Opt for a full screen

Place your lecture on full screen to avoid wandering fingers clicking through tabs and browsing through online shops or doing BuzzFeed quizzes (don’t deny that – we know everyone does it!).

4. Make sure you see the professor

Lectures that involve a slide rolling by you every few minutes can be very dry. One thing that might work is using the ‘speaker view’ function on Zoom, where you see your professor speaking beside the slides. That way, you see another human on your screen, and the awareness of being in a lecture will help with your focus. 

If you’re comfortable with switching your camera on, please make sure that you do! Not only can your professors see your face and not feel like they’re talking to themselves, you can keep yourself in check on the side bar. 

5. Make use of the chat function

For the more introverted who don’t like speaking in class, the chat function bar might be a lifesaver when you have a point to raise but don’t want to disrupt the class, make full use of the chat! You can also personally send a message to the professor to ask questions or to repeat a slide that you missed. 

However, don’t stop yourself from unmuting and speaking up every now and then! It’s unnerving, we know – but stepping out of your comfort zone is often really rewarding.

6. Take notes 

Active note taking keeps your attention span going. Have a pen and paper at the ready. If you prefer using your iPad or computer, go for it. While we’re on the topic of taking notes with your iPad, may I recommend CollaNote? Quite the useful note-taking app if you ask me. Did I mention it’s free?

7. Take high quality breaks

Whenever there’s a break in your class, instead of sitting back and scrolling through your phone, get up, dance, do a stretch,  make the most out of it. Looking from one screen to the next will likely make you even more tired when class resumes.  Try gazing outside your window at some greenery to relax your eyes. Better still, go outside if you can and get some fresh air in.

8. Dress up for class

Now this is not absolutely necessary, but it might make you feel more put together for lectures. Put on makeup, wear nice clothes, maybe even throw a cap on — who’s stopping you? Getting dressed up (and feeling gorgeous) means that you’re less likely to  go back to sleep.

Online school can be extremely demotivating to some. But this is a good time to use technology to your advantage. Download some productivity apps, connect with other students in the class, engage with your professor… It’s definitely not how you would picture your university experience, but why not keep an open mind and make it fun? 

Last but not least, reward yourself. After sitting productively through a class, grab a meal, whip out your game console. Relax mode on.

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