The transition to remote learning has been tough on many, students and educators alike. The oddity of logging on minutes or even seconds before your class, spending your day staring at a screen for hours on end can be disorientating for the best of us. Add to that the chaos of being in an entirely different time zone and you’re left with a pretty challenging semester on your hands. As someone who is taking all of my classes synchronously from India, which is nine and a half hours ahead of my university in Washington D.C., there are a few things that I have learned along the way about long distance learning.
Add your time zone to your email signature
It’s a simple little line that makes a large difference. Adding the region where you’re currently located and the time zone difference in comparison to the time zone your university is in, makes a world of a difference and serves as a gentle yet helpful reminder to those you are in communication with.
Connect with others in different time zones
It’s always comforting to be able to talk to others and know that you are not the only one. Reach out to friends or classmates who are in a similar situation and support each other through this experience. If you are a student at AU and do not know anyone who is attending their classes from a different time zone, check out their new Eagles Everywhere site, created to connect with other AU community members in different parts of the country and world.
Create a schedule for yourself
When you have classes at odd hours of the night, it can be easy to log on to your zoom calls and call it a day, but we all know that there is more to it than just attending class. The best way to make sure you’re not falling behind and to establish a sense of normalcy is to create a schedule for yourself. This can look different depending on your needs, your morning routine and your goals but be sure to set aside a few hours dedicated to working on assignments and studying independent of class time.
Communicate with your professors
Never be afraid to reach out to your professors for guidance or help. Make it a point to attend their office hours or email them so that they are aware of your situation. You will find that in most (if not all) cases, they will be very understanding and willing to help you make the best of your situation, but this will only happen if you communicate with them and let them know what that situation looks like.
Keep your Calendar updated
With the transition of time zones, it can be tough to remember what is happening and when. One of the easiest ways to resolve this issue is to make sure you put all of your scheduled plans such as classes, meetings and events down in your calendar. Google calendar even lets you put in two different time zones per event which is helpful to avoid confusion when your comparing your time zone to the one the event is occurring in.
Take care of yourself!
Lastly but most importantly, remember to take care of yourself. It can be easy to neglect your needs and focus on your education, but it is essential to take a step back from your tasks and take some time for yourself. Go outside and take a walk or spend time with your loved ones in a safe and socially distant manner. Set up things to look forward to and allot some time to relax in your busy schedule.
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Photos: Her Campus Media