1. Set aside time
You need to schedule time out to do homework otherwise you risk pushing it back until the last minute or just never doing it at all. Schedule out blocks of time in your week to sit down and do classwork.
2. Get in a rhythm
Getting into a routine of some sort is extremely important. I know how hard this can be. I worked two jobs and was a full time online student for one of my online semesters. It was hard for me to have an exact set routine. However, I made do and found a rhythm that worked best for me. I would write down my assignments ahead of time and read over the basic information of what was expected of me. That helped me figure out how much time I needed and how to have time for it all. Part of it for me was understanding my learning style. I found that I needed to make the effort to take notes and do additional research for some topics to better understand. I also made note of which assignment types were easiest, hardest, and most useful for me.
3. Check out the assignments ahead of time
I cannot stress this enough: just knowing when something is due is not enough. You need to know what exactly is expected of you so you can adequately set aside enough time for it. Always give yourself extra room in case something take's longer. It's like reading the syllabus at the beginning of the year: you are preparing yourself for what's due. You don't want to run out of time at the end, it'll only add stress and could impact the quality of your work. This is especially important for large projects which the end of the semester is known for.
4. Write down your due dates
Add them to your calendar, set reminders, or whatever you need to do to have it all in one place.
5. Utilize the resources made available to you
My school offers online tutoring still and can be a great resource if you need it. You're paying for these resources so you might as well take advantage of them. Check with your school to see what they are offering during this time. If you need help you have to advocate for yourself. By taking that first step and asking for the help you need, you can be connected to the resources that can best address your needs.
6. This is an opportunity for you to learn at your own pace
I love online classes because it allows me the opportunity to take the time I need to really learn the topic. Take advantage of that opportunity and see it as a positive of this tough situation. If you find one topic is easier for you, go at a faster pace. If another topic is harder, then take it slower and spend more time working on it.
7. Use this time to gain some valuable future skills
I honestly believe that taking online classes has made made me a better student because I have to be more on top of my studies and have had to learn to motivate myself more. If you need to, ask a friend to be an accountability buddy with you. Check in with each other every now and then to make sure you're staying on top of things.
8. Talk to friends about your struggles and successes
10 Tampa Bay — YouTubeOnline classes can feel isolating so it's important to reach out to your friends about how it's going for you just like you might with in-person classes. It's also important just so you feel less alone. We are alone together in this.
9. Talk to your professors
They want you to succeed so utilize them. I regret not reaching out to my professors when I first started online classes and was struggling. If you're professor isn't understanding right now they're not a good professor and I am incredibly sorry. When I was working two jobs I logged into my classes the Monday they opened during my 10 minute break at work. When I hadn't done an assignment by Wednesday I had 3 of my 4 professors reach out to make sure I was okay and wasn't having any problems accessing the assignments (nothing was due until Sunday). I explained my work situation and they were all super understanding and encouraged me to reach out if I had conflicts ever. When store closures begin to start happening in the U.S., I started to pick up as many hours as I could afraid for how I would pay my bills. My professor was super understanding when I reached out and apologized for missing an assignment because I had been distracted working as much as I could before my jobs closed down. They even let me turn it in late with only a minimal deduction that was less then the deduction they usually applied to late assignments.
10. Your mindset makes a huge difference
If you're continually telling yourself you can't, you will probably prove yourself right. Stop saying you can't learn like this and start figuring out how to make it work for you. We're all trying to make the best of a tough situation. Online classes are different and they can be more difficult but there are so many ways to approach them. Some ways will benefit you more than another way. However, you are unlikely to reach that point and discover the best approach for you if you are constantly telling yourself you can't.
11. Make the best of the situation
I first took online classes for a semester because I needed a more open schedule to work. I ended up turning it into an opportunity to have more time to explore and find myself while continuing school. The second time I took online classes for a semester was because my housing situation fell through. I no longer had a place to live and had to move home. I wanted to continue my education after a semester off and online classes offered me that chance. Taking online classes can allow you to really dive into the material more and to learn on your own time. This is an insane time to be alive, let's make the best of what's been dealt to us.
12. Get to know you're learning style
For me, I'm a visual learner. I also learn best by being hands on. Taking notes, looking up additional examples, and utilizing websites like quizlet are ways I've found help me take in the information we're learning. I also really enjoy discussions and reading other people's ideas. I think a lot of times students put half-effort into those because they find them pointless but I think they can be a great way to break down what we're learning and grow a better understanding. I was definitely a student who used to be annoyed by required discussions and then I started taking the time to really read a lot of the responses. I started learning more by hearing what connections and observations my classmates were making that I had not thought about.
13. Complaining ain't going to get you nowhere in the long run
You're not alone and there are resources out there. If you need to cry or scream it's okay but please stop complaining 24/7 and just do it because when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. It's okay to express your feelings about this. It is all a sudden change. You might find it difficult and stressful. Your feelings about this is completely valid. However, eventually you need to stop complaining and focus your energy on figuring out how to make this work best for you.
