How to make the most of online learning this fall

Written by: Sidney Meyer

2020 has been a year of challenges to say the least. Each person has faced their own personal struggles over the last 8 months and we are quickly coming upon another daunting challenge - online learning for our fall 2020 term. I was very nervous about the transition to online learning at the end of March. One thing that I quickly learned was that I was not alone in adjusting to this new form of learning. My professors and fellow classmates were experiencing the same hesitations that I was, and we all made it through together. After making those quick adjustments to finish off the winter term and enduring online spring and summer classes, I feel much more confident in remote learning. I am going to share some advice on how to approach online learning that will hopefully ease some of the nervousness you may be experiencing and help you to be successful this fall!

Stay focused

One of the biggest challenges about adapting to working or learning from home is determining how to minimize distractions in your environment. This is very closely related to knowing how you work and learn best. For me, I am most efficient when I have background noise. Whenever I can, I will quietly play music or turn on a familiar movie. Some people work best in absolute silence and that is okay too. It is all about figuring out what is best for you.

Allocate your time efficiently

For me, when classes transitioned to remote learning in March, I sometimes felt overwhelmed with all of the information there was to get through. There were so many lectures to watch, assignments and group projects to finish, finals to prepare for and so much more. Eventually I established a routine for myself and allocated a certain amount of work to each day, rather than trying to complete everything in one day. University, like many other aspects of life, is certainly more of a marathon than a race.

Designate a workspace

Sometimes staying focused and efficiently completing work is not possible if you are in an uncomfortable environment or one that is not suitable for learning. For instance, you will want to find a space that you can comfortably sit in and watch a lecture or read through your notes. Many people strongly suggest that your bed is not an ideal space for this as your body is accustomed to resting in that space and is not prepared to focus. Maybe you will want to find a desk to put in your room or gather some decor to make an existing space more enjoyable, such as a nice candle or a comfortable chair.

Plan something to look forward to each week

Making plans with friends or family will help you stay motivated to finish your work on time so that you can enjoy some time away. Socializing with others will also be very important to make sure that you do not become too isolated, which is very important for your mental health. Just make sure your plans also follow public health recommendations and social distancing guidelines to protect yourself and the people around you!

Engage with classmates and professors when possible

Being that I am entering my third year at the U of S, I am fortunate that I have made friends in my classes, which has allowed me to connect with them while working through my online classes. Group projects also offer a good opportunity to connect with others and engage in learning at the same time. For first year students, you may face some obstacles in engaging with classmates. I encourage you to seek out information from your college on how they are establishing opportunities for students to connect. Once you have met some of the people in your class, don’t forget to connect with your professors (this will come in handy later on in the term when you need assistance or have questions)! Being that classes are remote, most professors are missing their interactions with students and will likely appreciate you reaching out. Engaging with professors to clarify class materials or to get help with concepts will also help improve your understanding.

Join a club

Campus groups are a valuable resource for students. Joining a club will help you meet new people, learn new skills and so much more. Campus clubs will be utilizing unique methods to engage with students and new members this year so keep an eye out. If there is a particular club that you are interested in, try searching for their social media account or connecting with a current member. If you want to check out Young Women in Business and learn more about what we do, visit our Instagram account (@ywibusask) or Facebook page (YWiB Usask).

Have fun, work at your own pace and know that you have got this!

Above all, you are entering university because you want to and because there is something that you want to achieve here. Remember that although this fall is not going to look like you may have planned, you are still taking another step towards a future that you want! Keep your chin up, take your time, take breaks when you need to and celebrate every small success. Did you make it through your first midterm? Ace an assignment? Make a new friend? Find the small things that you can celebrate to keep your spirits up. This won’t be forever, but we need to find a way to make the best out of what we have.

I hope you found at least one thing to take from this list that will help you conquer this fall. Do you have any other tips for your fellow students? Try sharing some of the ways that you have adapted to online learning to help make another person’s fall more successful. Good luck to everyone starting classes this week- you’ve got this!