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The digital world around us has been evolving and developing for years and in 2021, it’s safe to say that most people find comfort in spending time in front of the screen. Nowadays, we communicate, work, and even learn online conveniently from home or from a cosy place of choice.
The spread of COVID-19 around the world also played a part in the popularity of the online space. Today, it’s completely normal for students to acquire new skills online and to even partially complete their studies in international schools like the British school in Sofia online. As convenient as online learning is, it may take time to adapt to it, especially if you’re a beginner. To make the adaptation process easier and to help you get more out of your online studies, we’ve prepared an article with some tips that can help students prepare for online classes.
Tips for being more efficient during online classes
Studying online can be exciting but it could also tempt you to slack, lose concentration, and distract yourself with other activities. Here are a few helpful tips that will help you prevent this from happening.
- Stay organized
One of the most important things to keep track of when working or studying online is your deadlines. When in a physical environment with others, you are likely to be reminded about the projects that you need to complete. However, studying online requires that you take care of this yourself.
Stay organized by using different tools like online reminders, sticky notes, or alarm clocks. You know yourself best so choose the method that you know will work best for you. Some useful ideas you can use are setting reminders on Google Calendar, using tools like Trello, and more.
- Choose the right setting
Oftentimes, students underestimate the location they choose to do their online studies. The setting and location are vital as they could play a key role in your motivation and productivity levels. Choose a location that is bright, has a limited level of noise, and provides no distractions. A lot of people are tempted to snuggle in bed with their laptop and learn this way. This is proven to be highly ineffective and unproductive.
- Set goals
If you’ve been provided with a curriculum and you know what you’re expected to learn or complete by a certain date, make sure you segment the work down into smaller goals and targets. The best way to stay motivated and track your progress is to create a “to-do list” where you can tick off your achievements. You’ll be surprised to discover how satisfactory the process is.
- Take regular breaks
Sometimes, students get stressed or feel overwhelmed by tasks or projects that they must complete. The natural response is to study for longer and push your brain to its maximum limits. However, this could be extremely counterproductive. Instead, work slowly and methodically, take regular breaks, and make sure you tackle one task at a time. It’s best to try and get up and move once every hour, take 5-minute breaks outside with fresh air, and most importantly, rest your eyes.
- Create a routine
The first thing that students assume once they are informed that learning will be online is that their schedule is freed up. That’s not necessarily true as the only time you are truly saving is from commuting to your school. Don’t get distracted by your new way of studying and create and follow a set routine. This will help you use your free time to the fullest and stay productive at the same time.
- Seek virtual communication
Humans are social creatures and studying online could be a bit uncomfortable at first. However, you can still maintain your social relationships and build on communication with teachers and friends by seeking virtual communication. Speak to your classmates online after the class has ended, exchange ideas, share what you’ve learned, and ask questions. Try to be more social with your teachers or professors too.
- Remove distractions
Lastly, make sure that all distractions are minimized or removed from your surroundings. For example, it could be useful to create the habit of learning in a room where there is no TV set or putting your phone away during your studies. It’s inevitable that you feel tempted to reach out and check your social media profiles during class. You’ll soon realize that while you intended to only spend a minute on your phone, you’ve now been scrolling for longer than you can afford.
Following these tips will help you stay productive and enjoy your online classes more. Learning online opens up doors to new opportunities and it’s up to you to grab them and exploit them to their full potential.