As we enter our second month in quarantine, many students are struggling with adjusting to remote learning. While we are aided by helpful tools such as Google Classroom and other digital learning platforms, it is agreed among many students that this period has been a difficult adjustment: “It’s hard to keep on track with schoolwork when we’re not following a set schedule,” says Molly, a grade 11 student. So, what steps can we take to create a manageable system of organization for ourselves that allows us to keep up academically?
1. Planning, planning, planning!
Working from home can feel overwhelming, especially for students who rely on school’s daily structure to stay on top of their work. Daily block rotations offer a sense of stability and organization for many students, an element that we now, clearly, are lacking. However, wherever possible, we can still attempt to plan and schedule our time. Some students are choosing to follow the block rotation that they would if school was in session, in order to ensure that they spend the same amounts of time on each subject-- of course, this is not a strategy that will work for everyone. Simply creating day plans, or weekly check-lists with goals that need to be accomplished, can divide school work into manageable chunks and help us to keep up with all of our classes.
2. Consider your learning style!
One thing that’s important to acknowledge while we learn from home is that it won’t look the same for everyone. Whether you are a visual, aural, verbal, physical, logical, social, or solitary learner, there are different ways you can approach your schoolwork. While difficult in many ways, quarantine offers the space to make those choices for yourself. Perhaps you can teach yourself material best through finding educational videos, or perhaps writing detailed notes helps you retain information better-- either way, being aware of your personal strengths and weaknesses is important. Some students, especially those who prefer to work in groups and collaborate with others, may find that remote learning poses a particular challenge. However, many are choosing to use the technology available to them in order to simulate their ideal learning environment, through using tools like FaceTime and Zoom.
3. Stay connected!
Communication between students, teachers, and peers is key in a time of isolation. While we are learning without the collaborative environment that we are used to, that does not mean we have to do everything on our own. Most teachers encourage students to connect with them, give updates, and ask questions, whether it be over email, on Google Classroom, or in live digital meet-ups. Connecting with teachers and with classmates can allow students to better understand what is expected of us and to manage our workload.
Ultimately, this is an entirely new situation for everyone-- though it can feel overwhelming, we are all in this uncharted territory together. Through making our best efforts to stay organized and up to date with class work, through adjusting how we work to do what’s best for us, and through staying connected however we can, we can do the best we can to succeed in our new learning environment.
Works Referenced
● Overview of learning styles. (2020). Learning-styles-online.com. Retrieved 6 May 2020, from https://www.learning-styles-online.com/overview/
● Team, T. (2020). Study Tips for High School & College Students During Coronavirus Self-Quarantine - Life made EC. Life made EC. Retrieved 6 May 2020, from https://www.erincondren.com/blog/study-tips-for-highschool-and-college-students/
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