2020 started off quite unexpectedly, and students around the world had to adapt to new kinds of learning methods, going from face-to-face classes on campus to online lessons from home. Discover what Student Ambassador Arianna has to share about her remote learning experience.
Leaving our normal university life and continuing with remote learning has been very unique! It’s been more than five months since we had to return home because of the current pandemic and I’ve tried my best to keep myself connected with friends and family, as well as staying up to date with my studies.
Switching to remote learning was a tricky task for students and teachers all around. At first, we had to figure out the online learning schedule due to time differences and navigate through the new virtual environment. Then, as the weeks went on, it got easier to work completely online, from taking classes and exams to keeping up to date with messages and emails from our professors.
I have been inside my home for the past 5 months, but I found important to have some variety in my daily life. Weather permitting, I like to go on a walk or a run around my neighborhood – it’s especially nice to get outside and take a break from doing school work! One day my family and I went to a national park near our home for a hike, and to just enjoy a change of scenery. During this period, I’ve also taken the time to develop my hobbies. In my free time I’ve enjoyed trying new recipes and painting, both of which have really helped me stay calm during this crazy time.
Thankfully, being in the era of technology, staying in contact with my loved ones was an easy task. With the help of various apps and social media platforms – I was able to have frequent conversations and video calls, even with friends I hadn’t spoken to in years!
Having been in online classes for the past few months I have developed strong habits and maintained good routines, which in my opinion is vital. Here are 5 tips on how to organize your day studying at home.
1. Maintain a Planner
Not being in face-to-face classes means you don’t get the benefit of your teachers reminding you of upcoming deadlines or following your class schedule with your classmates. Having a planner has been extremely helpful for me as I am able to keep track of all my deadlines and track my progress on each assignment. Having it all in one place helps keep yourself more organized. In my planner I also like to note down the classes I need to attend each day and at what time. Sometimes my schedule is confusing as it is in CET, which is a different time zone than my current one. Whilst my journal is plainer in design, my friend is extremely talented and used her art skills to make it more creative!
2. Stay Connected
Don’t be afraid to reach out and keep in touch with your classmates. Having groups on different mobile apps has been the key to our success and we are able to not only keep in touch with one another, but also ask each other questions and share our tips and tricks about the courses. You benefit academically from this, and you also are able to maintain communication with people you would normally be in the classroom with. I’ve seen this was almost crucial to the student morale.
Make sure to stay up to date with all communications coming from your school too! You don’t want to miss out on any important information.
3. Have a Morning Routine
Although you are taking these classes from the comfort of your home, it is important that you don’t allow yourself to become lazy. One habit I try to maintain is having a morning routine in which I get ready for the day, change out of my pajamas and enjoy breakfast with my family. Getting out of my pajamas especially helps me get ready for a day of work rather than lazing in bed. Starting your day on a positive note, helps set a strong foundation for the rest of the day. Dedicate this time to yourself and do something you enjoy, even if it’s jamming to music on your own.
4. Engage in activities outside of school work
Dedicate time during your week to an activity you enjoy. Whether it’s baking, cooking, painting or practicing a sport, it is important to allocate time to do something aside from school. With all the time we have on our hands, it’s good to use some of it for things we enjoy. Although you can’t do all the things you normally would have done with this much time, try and make the most of it! If you can catch up with a friend or take a walk around your area, you might discover something you never knew existed before. Having this balance with school life creates healthy routines.
5. Stay Motivated and Positive
This may seem cliché but the most important thing I’ve learned in the past months is that you have to stay motivated and think positively about the current and future times. Don’t let yourself feel down and don’t give up with the work at hand. Reach out to those around you – they will be willing to lend a helping hand. A positive attitude will always help you overcome even the hardest of times!
This period of our lives has, without doubts, been hard, completely different from the life any of us knew. I miss being able to see my friends and campus life, and I’m excited to be able to go back to that life soon! In the meantime, I hope these tips have been helpful and will help you make your study-from-home experience a little better!
