Student Tips for Transitioning to Distance Learning

Below are some tips for you to consider.

Create accountability checkpoints:

• Estimate the amount of time it will take you to complete an assignment 
• Create an assignment plan by writing down the time of day and amount of time it will take you to complete each assignment 
• Allow yourself to take breaks before resuming more work 
• TIP: When is your mental energy at its height?  In the morning, after lunch, later in the day?  This is the time you should try and complete the most taxing tasks

Create an environment and workspace that facilitates success:

• Make your study space distraction-free.  For example
  • Find a clear/flat surface to complete your work clutter free 
  • Equip your workspace with needed supplies: pencil, pens, paper, calculator 
  • Turn off your phone and place it in another room
  • Wear headphones to listen to the instruction but also reduce background noise

Collaborate with peers 

• Reach out to classmates and use one another as resources to access content and create a sense of community.  For example: 
  • Continue meeting with your peer tutor or peer mentor by phone or video chat 
  • After class, create a collaborative study guide in which everyone contributes
  • After class, have follow-up conversation with a peer to take a deeper dive into the main ideas presented during the online class session 

Speak up when something isn’t working for you: 

• Advocate for yourself by reaching out to your teacher, if you are finding something about this process or the online format of assignments to be challenging. 
• Don’t wait until an assignment is due to share that you’ve been having trouble along the way
• Email your teacher  if you are having technological difficulties

Tip: While some students may grow to love online learning, others may struggle with this format and that’s ok!

Consider how you best learn: 

If you learn best using visual formats, for example, download documents or write by hand. Learn best by listening? Make sure to build time into your schedule to play and replay all audio- and video-based course content.