Making the Best of a Bad Situation - Lily Hoffman

    

Making the Best of a Bad Situation

Lily Hoffman

Online school is tough. The overwhelming complaint kids have this school year most likely has to do with the struggles of being online. Kids of all ages hate online school so much that it has become a long running joke across the internet. In March people were excited thinking that the virus would delay school for a week or two. Unfortunately it is September and most kids still haven't attended an in-person class since March. I can say from personal experience that staying motivated and not wanting to bang your head against the wall is hard when taking online classes. 

But even though this school year isn't going the way that most expected to go, it is important to still keep a positive outlook. A student can be just as successful online when doing it right for them. Here are 6 tips that I have tried and that work for me when taking online classes.

1. Practice Time Management- When at home sometimes it can be hard to keep up with assignments. Just because kids are at home does not mean that procrastination is a good idea. Some ways to help your time management is getting a calendar or agenda. These can be important tools that can help you keep up with your school work. Sticking to a designated schedule can keep you on top of your game when it comes to getting your assignments done.

2. Participate - When online, one can get stuck in the trap of spacing out during class. You zone out one minute and then all of a sudden the class is almost over. In addition, as the teacher continues to teach, a student that is having trouble with the material can zone out and later do poorly on an assignment. Participating in online classes can solve both issues. Answering the questions that the teacher asks can keep a student attentive and engaged. Participating by asking questions can help a kid keep up with the teacher and fully retain all the information.

3. Reward Yourself- Getting started on an assignment can be a drag for most people in or out of school but during online school that dread can be even worse. One way that I use to motivate myself is by giving myself little rewards for completing a set of assignments. The award doesn't have to be big. It can be as simple as rewarding yourself with an extra hour of TV time after turning in some really hard assignment. Or a student could reward themselves if they get a good grade on an assignment. For example, if you get an A on a test, you give yourself an extra hour watching TV or Youtube.

4. Having a Designated Space- Where you have your online meetings is very important. Picking the right place can greatly improve your online experience, while picking the wrong place can greatly hinder your online experience. The best place can look different for everyone. For one person it might be a desk and for another it might sitting on a bed. Once you pick a place to have your meetings, don't be afraid to make it as comfortable and nice as you can. For example if you have a corner that you like to do your classes in, put up some sting lights or wall decorations. Make it a place that you want to learn in.

5. Staying Organized - One way to keep your online experience stress-free is to keep your materials and surroundings organized. Make sure you know exactly where everything is. Having an organized space can keep you motivated to work. An unorganized work space can lead to an unorganized way of keep up with school work. Staying organized can help kids to not forget assignments as well.

6. Having a Daily Schedule- Using a daily schedule can include things like waking up at a specific time, getting dressed, and having certain breaks when doing homework. This can help with procrastination because you have a certain schedule that you need to follow with certain times where you are allowed to take breaks. Since you are at home doing school work all day ,having times where you are scheduled for a break can keep your brain from burning out after school.

Keep in mind that not all these tips might work for you. Online school is very tough to navigate and it will be different for every person. For example, if sticking to a schedule works for one person, it might not work for another. These are just some tips that have greatly helped me throughout quarantine. Remember that online school might not be the optimal situation but it is up to the individual to make the best of what they are given.