None of us thought we would be finishing the school year from our houses, but here we are. COVID-19 has brought on the challenges of navigating online courses and new policies. For now, all we can do is try our best to prepare ourselves for taking classes online. Whether you are stuck in the house you grew up in or you are still in Providence, you inevitably need to make a plan for yourself as an online student. Here are some of my ideas to make the transition as smooth as possible:
Determine a work space
Since it may not be safe to go to your favorite coffee shop or local library, find a spot in your home for taking classes and doing assignments. There may be a desk in your house that you like, or maybe you prefer being at the kitchen table. Wherever you choose, make sure it is quiet enough for you to focus and that there is no background noise. You will need to be able to hear your classmates and professors on Zoom.
Treat each day like a normal day of classes
Wake up when you usually do for class, and try your best to stay in the routine that you developed throughout the “normal” school year. Obviously, this routine may shift in certain ways, but if you have a schedule where you usually work out or eat breakfast before your first class, then you should continue to do so. Keeping your eating, exercising, and leisure routine on the same pattern will help you continue on the same path with your classes and assignments.
Distinguish between school time and home time
This tip goes along with establishing your work area in your home. If you can, you should try not to take your 9 AM Economics class from the bed where you sleep or the couch where you watch TV. Setting specific times and places where you interact with your classes and do assignments ensures that you will be focused when you need to be. However, mixing the places and times that you devote to school versus relaxation will make it more difficult to be productive when it is time for school.
Communicate with the people you live with
It will be key to set boundaries and expectations with your family. Most students have at least one parent working from home or a sibling taking online classes. Personally, I have two parents working from home and a brother doing online classes as well. It is not easy for every person to find a quiet area that they can designate as their own for working, but it is a necessary conversation to have with your family to ensure that everyone can have the space they need when they need it.
Stay optimistic
Try your best to stay positive and hope that this tragic, scary pandemic will pass quickly. Hopefully people will stop suffering and we will all be safe and healthy very soon. Once the virus has passed, it will become much easier to focus on schoolwork and find areas outside of our homes where we can be productive.[
School should not be at the top of your worry list right now. There are clearly more important concerns, but when we start online classes on March 30, keep these tips in mind to help you finish the school year as best as you can. Stay safe and healthy!