The spring semester of 2020 definitely took a turn that none of us college students were expecting. For some, online classes were a choice that they had made for their college career. For those that live in their college town and attend face to face classes though, the whole idea of online remote learning seemed like a world of confusion. Many of us signed up to walk to our classes, sit down next to our classmates and have face to face interactions with our professors. The term “zoom university” has taken over our college world today as we know it. From online quizzes to virtually meeting at class times in the comfort of your home, this remote learning is uncharted territory for many of us.
And now we have to prepare for online finals?
This thought can be daunting because we are so accustomed to putting our pen to paper for examinations and presenting final projects in front of the class. The week of finals this semester will be quite different. It will be an experience that we have never had before, it may even be more difficult, but it is something college students from around the country are taking on.
To prepare for the upcoming online exam week it’s important to stay organized, get plenty of rest and prepare by studying the material. Most of us are used to camping out in the library during exam week, finding a quiet and cozy corner to study for hours. Although the library isn’t an option for most students now, finding a quiet space in your house or apartment is an important first step in preparing for exam week. Rid this area of distractions to focus solely on the material in front of you, just like you would at the library.
Taking a step back and reminding yourself that you’ve got this is important too. This is a situation that many college students haven’t faced before. So taking a step back, breathing and telling yourself you’re doing a great job is the best way to motivate yourself. You’re doing the best that you can.
It’s easy to worry about how well you’re prepared for your exams. In a classroom setting, you may have the option to ask your professor for clarity on a question. This may not be an option now for your online exams. Making sure that you’re prepared with the materials your professor has given you will be very important. It might even be a good idea to review final exam material and email or set up an appointment to zoom with your professor to discuss any questions that you have prior to taking the exam. Preparing your study materials and contacting your professor to ask questions can help alleviate any stress that may arise when thinking about the exam.
This is a stressful time for many of us, and even more stressful now that we have had to adjust to a new way of learning. But making sure to give yourself a quiet place to study and focus, motivating yourself through reassurance and being well prepared by studying and asking questions before the exam is the key to success with this online exam week coming up. Remember, you’ve got this and good luck.