As we head into this new school year, everyone wants to make their new home feel like, well, home. Whether you live in a dorm or an apartment, this is the space where you will sleep on that bed that’s impossible to climb into, eat Pop-Tarts, watch Gilmore Girls, and participate in virtual classes.
Let’s backtrack to that last point.
I know a lot of people who don’t have any classes online. However, for those of us who do, we either love it or hate it. Personally, I think it’s kind of nice to have a different atmosphere to learn in. I definitely get a little distracted, but I’m always caffeinated and ready to go, thanks to the Starbucks drink sitting next to me.
The biggest question is: how do we make our virtual environment feel as welcoming as our home environment?
The first step would be to put your phone away. It’s so easy to pick it up “just for a second” when you get a text or Snap alert, but it actually isn’t just for a second. Your brain is excited when you get a notification, then you take the time to pick it up and respond, but by the time you’ve done all that, your professor has moved on, and your brain still is thinking about what message you could be getting next or even comprehending the one you just received.
According to an article from Harvard University Center for Teaching and Learning, college students reported using their phones an average of 11 times per day in classes alone. Another study showed 92% of college students reported using their phones to send texts during class. Phone usage is a distraction, and the best way to deal with this issue in the classroom setting is to simply put your phone out of reach or in a backpack pocket.
This might not be an exciting way to make yourself feel welcome in an online classroom, but feeling caught up in classes and aware of the lessons will make you feel better as a student, therefore removing a level of stress in your daily life.
Another way to make your virtual environment feel like home is to make yourself comfortable. I’ve seen classmates in bed, at their desk, or even in places such as Watson Library or another campus building. For me, my most comfortable location is at the CoffeeHouse in The Studio at a table in the corner. I feel professional enough by sitting at a table, but comfortable in knowing no one is watching my screen. The pumpkin spice lattes help too, of course (yes, I’m drinking those already).
Be careful not to get too comfortable, though. Huddling up in a blanket might sound nice for those 8 a.m. Zoom calls, but you run the risk of falling asleep, or at least zoning out a little. Be careful of sitting in bed, too. As long as you know where you work best, use this advice to your own discretion!
Finally, my favorite point for a comfortable virtual environment: make your space YOU! This is whatever makes you excited to pull out your computer, despite the full day of learning.
My laptop case is all decked out in stickers of things that represent me: Disney, Harry Potter, KU, coffee, political views, religion. The list goes on and on. Some of my favorite places to get stickers from are RedBubble and Etsy. This is a great way to support small creators!
I also love to stay organized, so I got an app called Notebook to take notes on. I can customize all of my notebook covers for each of my classes, and then I don’t clutter up my Google Drive any more than it already is.
Having bookmarks for each of my classes in the bookmarks bar is a great way to stay organized too, plus it makes my life a lot easier. I have resources to use here as well, which have come in handy already!
The next time you sit down for that math, film or whatever type of class you participate in via screen, think about what would help you get the most out of each lesson. I certainly have, and now I actually look forward to virtual classes!