{"id":125,"date":"2020-06-27T19:32:58","date_gmt":"2020-06-27T19:32:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/anyaforestell.com\/?p=125"},"modified":"2020-08-16T17:47:22","modified_gmt":"2020-08-16T17:47:22","slug":"so-youre-taking-an-online-class-heres-how-to-prepare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/anyaforestell.com\/fr\/so-youre-taking-an-online-class-heres-how-to-prepare\/","title":{"rendered":"So you’re taking an online class? Here’s how to prepare"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Version fran\u00e7aise.<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

So you\u2019re a student stuck at home. You may have to take online classes in the Fall, or are currently taking one. Maybe you\u2019ve taken an online class before, and didn\u2019t like it- or did, but not as much as your classes in-person. Maybe you were planning on taking an online class anyway, for fun, or because it best suited your needs. Whatever your case may be, you might be wondering how you can make the best of it, and prepare for success! If so, this is the article for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve taken several online classes, both for fun, pre-COVID-19, and also once COVID-19 shut down my university last winter. Currently, I\u2019m taking an online class on the HarvardX<\/a> platform for fun (my class is called Tangible Things: Discovering History Through Artworks, Artifacts, Scientific Specimens, and the Stuff Around You<\/a>; <\/em>come join me in the class!). I\u2019ve learned a few things about how to tackle online classes throughout my degree:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. If the class has pre-recorded lectures, like many regular online courses, set yourself a schedule<\/strong>. Pretend that it\u2019s a live class, pick two or three times a week to be your class time, \u201cgo to class\u201d and listen to the lectures! This also means doing the assigned reading before your set class time. This will ensure you don\u2019t put this course on the backburner and forget about it until your midterms or final exam. If the class offers live online lectures, this step should be easier, the schedule will already be set for you: go to class<\/strong>!<\/li>
  2. Pick the right location<\/strong>. You may be tempted to stay in bed- I\u2019ll admit, I\u2019ve attended online classes from the comfort of my own bedroom at times. But you\u2019ll be setting yourself up for an unexpected nap! Ask yourself what you\u2019ll need to be at your best during class- where does your home have the best Internet connection? Where will you be comfortable, but not fall asleep? Will you need a hard surface to write on? I suggest clearing some desk or table space specifically for school and studying.<\/li>
  3. Turn off your distractions<\/strong>– seriously! Even if your teacher can\u2019t see what you\u2019re doing, don\u2019t scroll through Instagram or play a video game in the background. When you\u2019re not focused, it\u2019s hard to retain anything you may have learned in the long-term. I like to switch my phone to airplane mode, and close any computer tabs that aren\u2019t necessary (even if I say I won\u2019t look at them, a distracting notification might still pop up on the tab!).<\/li>
  4. Take notes!<\/strong> Even if you feel like all the material will be right at your fingertips on your computer, it\u2019s still a lot more helpful to have your thoughts organized in a way that helps you specifically. Writing things out also helps to cement what you\u2019ve learned in your longer-term memory. Plus, when the time comes to study for an exam, you won\u2019t want to listen to dozens of lecture hours all over again; you\u2019ll want to have concise notes that highlight the most important topics.<\/li>
  5. Have an agenda or calendar<\/strong>. With live classes, your professor might regularly remind you about upcoming assignments or exams. If your class is prerecorded, you won\u2019t be getting those reminders. Make sure you keep track of all your deadlines (assignments, midterms, exams, readings) in your agenda or calendar, and check it at least once a day. I love having a physical one where I can scratch out tasks that I\u2019ve accomplished, but a virtual one works too.<\/li>
  6. Don\u2019t be afraid to ask questions!<\/strong> Your professor may have set up an online forum for questions, or you could simply email them or the class TA. You may feel detached from the professor of an online class, but they really are there for you! Reach out if you need help.<\/li>
  7. If you love the social aspect of classes and meeting new people through them, get involved in the online discussion boards<\/strong>. You can even start an online study group<\/strong>. Some schools provide a list of your classmates with their emails so you can reach out to each other individually, too. That\u2019s how I met one of my current best friends, she reached out to me through an online class list to discuss an assignment back in my first year!<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Really, these can all be boiled down to one piece of advice: treat it like an in-person class! Attend your classes, turn off distractions, take notes, ask questions, reach out to your classmates\u2026 I\u2019ve had wonderful experiences with my online classes, and I hope these tips help you as well!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For more school\/university life content, bookmark this blog, and follow me on my social media accounts, linked below (Instagram: @anyaforestell, Twitter: @anyaforestell, FB page: Anya Forestell). I also offer tutoring<\/a> in various subjects and professional development coaching<\/a> sessions- visit my website<\/a> for more details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n