Tips about online learning

July 28, 2020

• Advice for Parents
• / Topical

Our intern Lucy has been having a think about tips for online learning. This is because, as the vast majority of students know very well by now, online learning has become the new norm. Although some students may find themselves getting slightly more distracted through online learning than face-to-face tuition, there are simple measures you can put in place to make your learning experience as effective as possible. She has compiled a list of 10 small ways to keep yourself focussed:

1. Leave your phone in a different room. This is to ensure that you are not tempted by the abundance of content that is readily available whenever a phone is nearby.

2. Get apps to help restrict your phone/computer usage. Forest is a phone app that plants a tree whenever you succeed in not using specific apps. Freedom requires slightly more self-discipline as it installs a timer on set websites (but you can disable it if you so desire…), but have a browse as to what apps would be best suited to you and your learning style.

3. Have water and healthy snacks near your workspace so you can replenish frequently. The brain accounts for nearly 20% of the body’s energy use, so make sure you reward it for its hard work. Treat yourself after an especially tedious history essay with a chocolate bar or something too!

4. Have all your necessities organised and laid out before your lesson, so you do not lose momentum by having to leave the room to retrieve something you have forgotten.

5. Your desk is an allegory for your mind: if your desk is clustered, your thoughts will be completely disordered too! Tidy desk tidy mind.

6. Try to engage in class time conversations, to ensure that you interact with the lessons and course material. This will also allow you to hear the opinions of your peers and create discussion.

7. If your teachers/school privacy regulations allow it, switch your camera on. The prospect of having your classmates and teacher viewing your face at all times may seem daunting at first, but it will really enable you to stay concentrated as you know you are under surveillance!

8. Get up to do exercise frequently or take mini periodic breaks. This will energise you and make you feel less lethargic, which can often be induced by sitting in front of a screen for extended periods time.

9. Maintain regular contact with teachers. This will aid them in supporting your learning virtually and will also clarify any misunderstandings you may have about what has been taught.

10. Try to do homework with someone else, even if this is online. This may make the seemingly insurmountable task of starting 50 worksheets on Pythagoras’ Theorem considerably more appealing. Oftentimes when people are alone, they feel isolated from the rest of the world, but FaceTiming a friend or having a friend come over to work with you may remind you that many others are in a similar position. It can also keep you attentive to your work as you may not want to be playing Animal Crossing with your friend present…