COVID-19 has fundamentally transformed the school scene. As elementary, middle, and high schools transition back to in-person classes while taking the necessary precautions, in-person learning for higher education institutions still seem like a distant reality. With the foreseeable continuation of remote learning, here are some tips and tricks to better and benefit your online learning experience.
Download Snap Camera and be camera-ready
Snap Camera is the answer to your needs. Besides classes with mandatory camera policies, we all have experienced being caught off-guard when a professor asks you to put on your camera.
You have already attended a few classes and have an understanding of which classes to look presentable for, and one random day, at a random class, the professor asks you to put on your camera with no advance notice. You swiftly run your fingers through your hair, sit up in an upright position, and silently pray that you look okay.
Does this situation sound familiar? If yes, you have been blessed. Snap Camera has your back.
Snap Camera, a free desktop application created by Snapchat, allows users to utilize different filters in streaming or video chat platforms. After downloading the application via the official website and setting Snap Camera as your webcam device, your chosen filter will be activated whenever your camera is on. Snap Camera lenses are the same filters on the Snapchat app, which offers a wide range of filters from natural beauty-enhancing filters to fun filters that transform your face into a pizza. Depending on the occasion, you can choose the appropriate filter to fulfill your needs to look, however the way you want to look.
Block blue light WITHOUT the glasses
Blocking blue light with eyewear is so yesterday (no offense). Online schooling mandates students to be in front of a screen continually, which can severely deteriorate your physical health. One significant harm of facing a screen for a prolonged period is exposure to blue light. Although not all blue light is harmful, excessive exposure can ultimately contribute to eye strain and the disruption of organs. Blue light glasses are a preventative; however, affordable alternatives get the job done at ease. Specifically, blue light screen protectors for laptops are inexpensive and easy to use. Some screen protectors can be applied by sticking the filter onto your laptop screen, while other screen protectors are magnetic and can be applied and removed easily. Moreover, most of these anti-blue light filters offer perks beyond blocking blue light, such as preventing glare, scratches, and prying eyes. Blue light screen protectors are an all-in-one.
Take digital notes, but don’t ditch pen and paper
This one is for the tablet users out there. Tablets can be a useful tool for reading digital texts and taking notes, both handwritten and typed. When writing handwritten notes on a tablet, the writing experience is undeniably distinct from writing notes on paper. Writing on glass is a process that entails a lot of getting used to, but fear not! You can go paperless with the same paper-like writing experience. To begin with, using a stylus for tablets can be physically painful. The slippery pen is hard to grip on and can lead to cramps due to gripping too hard. The solution is simple: pencil grips. Pencil grips can be purchased or DIY-ed easily and will instantly enhance your writing experience. Hand cramps, who? Secondly, the “paper” aspect of digital note-taking can be a headache as well. The writing surface for tablets is glass, which is in no way the same as paper, but why not combine the two? Paper-like screen protectors are available to make writing notes on tablets feel natural. The method of application does not differ from that of standard screen protectors, but the matte and rougher texture contrasts with the glossy feel of regular protectors. Pencil grips and paper-like screen protectors are highly recommended because no notes are worth physical pain.
As university students, we battle an immense amount of pressure with our studies. Combined with academic hardships, the unique challenges we face during the current pandemic make university life increasingly difficult. Although much is beyond our control, why not find the small opportunities to diminish the stress we combat and make life a little easier?