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Distance learning has become an indispensable part of our life since the nineteenth century. Today, you can take academic courses on just any subject imaginable from the comfort of your room.
In the times of pandemic, online classes have made education accessible to every student, which means they don’t have to hit pause on their studies.
For all their advantages, however, virtual classes also offer some challenges compared to in-person study sessions. It’s something new to most undergrads, which means your performance could suffer without a proper plan for dealing with these challenges.
Below, we have listed some of the simplest tips on how to overcome some of the most common challenges of virtual classes.
#1 Go to Class
Without regular meetings of traditional classes, it’s easy to forget that you even have these classes. As a result, you get behind on your assignments and overall academic progress.
Even if your class doesn’t meet each week in college, make sure to set a particular time on your calendar to know when you have this or that class. Have the same routine that you would if your college group were going to meet in-person.
Wake up at the same time every day, workout, get properly dresses, have a snack, and “go to the virtual classroom.” This simple routine will make a huge difference in your productivity, motivation, and success.
#2 Use Your Professor’s Resources
Just like with face-to-face classes, college success is about more than going to class, writing essays, and reading books. To boost your knowledge, you have to use all the resources at your disposal. For example, if your tutor offers online classes, don’t skip them. Ask questions, participate, do your homework, prepare for online tests.
At the same time, if your college tutor offers any additional academic resources to help you grasp the material, ensure to use them. There’s no need to go to college or the local library to check additional resources, which means there’s no excuse for fooling around.
#3 Study with Other People
If you’re used to studying with your peers, then make sure to benefit from online classes to the fullest. Get a bit more creative and start a regular video conference. If your college class participates in any online discussion forum, look for potential members of your study group there. And once you have several candidates, ensure to form a study group to meet each week at the same time online. Thus, you’ll experience all the benefits of studying in a group. What is more, there will always be someone to keep you on track.
If there’s no chance for you to find study partners among your actual college class, feel free to look for accountability partners on the internet. Check Facebook or any other social media platforms to find people who would like to study in a group.
#4 Beware of Deadline
When you have face-to-face classes, your tutor probably reminds you of all the projects that you have to submit on time. But when it comes to virtual classes, you don’t get regular reminders. That is why thoughts like, “I can’t believe I have to write my paper for tomorrow!” are common to many undergrads studying online right now. Therefore, you have to keep your deadline in mind.
Before the classes start, ensure to check the syllabus to make sure you put all deadlines on the calendar. Check your calendar regularly to make changes accordingly. Of course, having all the deadline at hand is not a 100% guarantee that you will submit all papers within the deadline. However, it will help you avoid academic failures just because you forgot your book review was due.
#5 Take Notes
Without regular in-person study sessions, taking notes doesn’t seem like an important thing to do. After all, all materials are available on the web, which means you can use them at any time. But the reality is that you still have to take notes. The point is that the main value of the process is that it helps you remember the material as you put it using your own words.
While virtual classes may pose challenges to the rhythm of life that you got used to, distance learning also has a range of benefits. Use this time to get more creative and productive since you’re not surrounded by that many distractions anymore. You have an opportunity to work at your own pace, having rest whenever you feel like, and rewinding online lectures what you don’t understand (something you just can’t do when it comes to face-to-face classes). If you view distance learning this way, then online classes can be as useful and rewarding as traditional study sessions.
