Online classes can be a huge challenge and we’re all learning to navigate through it.
But if done right, online classes can be a great learning opportunity.
If you’re looking to make the most of your online classes, here are 7 tips you have to try!
1. plan, plan, plan
Planning is crucial when it comes to online classes.
No one is there to remind you about each assignment, quiz, or reading due every single week.
It’s your responsibility to keep up.
So how do you actually plan?
Here are some tips:
- Print out your syllabus
- Highlight all due dates
- Note them in your daily and monthly planner
- Break down each assignment into smaller tasks
- Review daily
- Review weekly
Typically, at the beginning of the week, I make a list of all the assignments due that week.
Then I divide my tasks over the week.
This works for me, but many people prefer digital reminders and planning. If that sounds like you, try an app like Notion.
2. Replay your lectures
Imagine these hypothetical scenarios for an in-person class:
- You want to get up and get a snack but you can’t ask your professor to pause.
- You know the material but you can’t ask him to skip.
- The professor is moving a little slow and you can’t ask him to talk at 1.25 speed.
You get the point.
But you can do all of that (and more) in online classes. You can go back and review as many times as you need.
Take advantage of that. Focus and repeat until you understand the concepts.
Related: 7 ways to prepare for an epic semester
3. Create a distraction-free environment
This can be one of the biggest challenges of online learning.
Here are some of the main ways I implement this:
- Wake up earlier than your family/roommates for hours of uninterrupted work
- Limit screen time
- Time blocking
- Study music (with headphones on): this one here works best for my focus
I will go more in-depth into some of these below.
4. Turn off your phone
Not face down.
Not on the other side of the room.
Turn it off. And put it somewhere you can’t see it.
Humans love what is easy. If it’s in front of you, you probably don’t have enough self-control to not touch it.
So remove the distraction altogether for a few hours.
Just trust me on this one.
5. Pomodoro method
You’ve probably heard of this technique.
It consists of 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5 minute break.
I use this browser extension and it has been revolutionary for my focus.
6. Take productive breaks
With online classes, you can take breaks whenever you want to.
But use them to your advantage.
And if you can avoid it, don’t use your break to scroll on your phone.
Some ideas for short breaks:
- 6 deep breaths
- Lie down for five minutes
- Stretch
- Get a glass of water
Related: How to be successful in college: 10 things I learned
7. Time blocking
Planning your day can help immensely when it comes to productivity.
Because multi-tasking usually doesn’t work, try to block out time to focus on key activities.
Here’s an example of how I do this:
- 8:00am – 9:00 am : Morning Routine
- 9:00am -12:00 pm : Study session I
- 12:00pm – 2:00pm : Work out + break for lunch
- 2:00pm – 4:00 pm : Study session II
- 4:00pm – 7:00pm : Online class
- 7:00pm – 9:00pm : Dinner + family time
- 9:00pm – 11:00pm : Work on blog + night routine
8. Double-check everything and keep up with emails/syllabus
It’s so easy to lose out on easy points when you didn’t know they were there.
some examples:
- The syllabus says you need to post on the discussion board once a week for participation grades.
But you might miss that if you don’t pay attention. - The professor might email you a reminder of a live session that counts towards your participation grade.
But you didn’t check your email for two days.
Check the grade weights and keep reviewing the syllabus.
Check your email every day. Write down everything.
To summarize:
- Plan extensively and write down everything. Utilize daily planning
- Replay your lectures until you get it
- Remove distractions by waking up early, limiting screen time, and improve focus with study music.
- Keep your phone off.
- Use a Pomodoro timer (or extension like the one here)
- Take short, productive breaks (and avoid scrolling)
- Plan your day and block out time for key tasks
- Continuously review the syllabus and check your email– double-check everything!
Being a college student is hard.
But being a college student in the middle of a global pandemic is on another level. We’re in this together, and we’re learning. All that matters is we give it our best.
What has been your biggest challenge during online classes? I’ve surprisingly started to enjoy them, and I’m curious to hear your thoughts if you’d care to share in the comments!
Laia says
I’ve actually bookmarked this to print it off tomorrow. I am starting online in a couple of weeks and I am terrified! I am based in the UK and my Uni is one of the only ones that are fully online and I don’t have many references…but this saved my life, for real. Never heard of Pomodoro, sounds like the best option to study without going mad. Thanks girl!!
anikabushra0827 says
Laia, thank you so much for your comment. I was terrified before starting online classes too, but it is surprisingly not too bad so hang in there! I’m sure you’ll be great. I’m so happy this post helped, your content is amazing as well so expect me to be a regular visitor to your site 🙂 good luck x
Okay, this post would have SAVED my life if I’d had it when I was in college! This is such great advice, I’m going to use the “time blocking” advice even for my work today because I really struggle sticking to my schedule. Thanks for the great post 😊
I’m so glad you think so as someone who has gone through the whole college thing haha! Thank you, Savanah x I hope the time blocking strategy works as well for you as it does for me.