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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at FIU chapter.

As you know, many universities have required their students to transition to remote classes at home rather than physical. Shifting from sitting physically in class to suddenly needing to hop online for class at 10:30 AM can be difficult if you have never taken online courses before. Here is some of the best advice I can recommend for managing online classes from someone who has taken them before.

1. Make a to-do list

Whether you make one physically, or just decide on using the Sticky Notes on your Mac, make a to-do list of all the assignments you have to do. I use the sticky notes on my laptop so I can easily erase the assignment I just completed.

Scrabble tiles spell out \"To Do\" on a blue background above a yellow sticky note
Pexels
I bold the class title, then list underneath everything I have due for the week. It looks overwhelming to see a bunch of assignments in one list, but you would’ve done all of those in class (or maybe even more!). This is the best tip I have for staying organized.

2. Keep in contact with classmates

I know, class group chats. You either love them or you hate them. However, those chats are filled with students who are in the same exact boat as you. Keep in contact with classmates in case you are unclear with any of the assignments, have a question about the submission, or want to double-check something you’re unsure about. 

3. Read your assignments carefully

It can be hard to translate an in-person course to an online classroom. For this reason, many students avoid enrolling in online classes because of the benefits that sitting in class can bring. Make sure you read all the assignments carefully to ensure that you do not miss any important details, such as a draft deadline or instructions of the assignment.

4. Set an alarm

white and black alarm clock with hand on gray table
Maks Styazhkin on Unsplash
Just because classes are online doesn’t mean that they’re canceled for the semester. Many teachers are requiring you to still attend their lectures from home using programs like Zoom. If you set an advisor appointment, it may not be canceled (send an email if you haven’t received one already to see if you will be “meeting” online). Your professor may have just posted all the work online and requires you to submit it by the deadline; make sure to see if your professor updated their syllabus or sent an email requiring you to attend the online lecture. If you feel like you’d miss it, set an alarm to remind you to get to your virtual class!

5. Stay on top of your work

This last piece of advice is the most important- stay on top of your work. As I said, online classes do not equal class cancellations. Don’t get lost binging that show you’ve been wanting to watch and forget about the importance of schoolwork. You want to get good grades after all! A combination of the four mentioned tips will ensure that you’ll stay on top of your work no matter how distracted you may get along the way.

Emma is a sophomore at Florida International University studying Broadcast Media. She is from Miami and loves entertainment (music, tv shows, movies) and hopes to become an entertainment reporter after college. She is also involved on campus in her Panhellenic Council organization.
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