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During these uncertain times, many universities are temporarily stopping face-to-face teaching and university students have to give lectures online. For some students this can be quite a challenge.
It may not be easy to organize your own study and take advantage of online lectures to their full potential but here are some of the ways you can do it. This is an overview for all students, but your university may have specific measures in place, so be sure to keep checking your emails and portal for updates.
1. Engage in your own learning
In the same way that you take notes when attending a lecture, it is a good idea to do the same while listening to or watching an online lecture. Sit somewhere comfortable, have a notebook and a pen handy, and try to keep any other distractions to a minimum.
Take some time to look at your schedule and work on a study schedule to make sure you are well prepared to attend all the online seminars and lectures. Read on beforehand and ask questions if there’s anything you’re not sure about.
2. Format for group chats
There are a number of online tools such as Skype, Zoom, Facetime or Watsapp that you can download for free and enable you to coordinate video chats with groups of people. Use these programs to set up study groups with classmates so you can spend time discussing ideas, analyzing texts together, and swapping study tips.
This is a great way to keep in touch with the other students in your class, and to make sure that you maintain the collaborative aspect of your undergraduate studies. It also helps to add some social contact so you don’t feel isolated from studying alone.
Make sure you plan what you’re discussing in advance and try to stick to the topic so the discussion remains productive and the chat doesn’t get distracted by other things.
3. Keep in touch with your teacher and lecturers
You may no longer be able to see your teachers during their normal working hours, but make sure you are in touch with them on a regular basis. Perhaps an email once a week or even every few days to make sure you are aware of any developments. Additionally, if you’re feeling anxious or stressed, talking to your teacher can help alleviate any concerns you may have.
Also, remember to stay in touch with your lecturers to make sure you have up-to-date reading lists and that you’re looking in the right places for your lecture notes and slides. Feel free to call if you have any concerns about your learning, but be patient when anticipating a response. Your teachers may be under tremendous pressure to prepare lectures for online delivery, so give them time to respond to you.
4. Make sure you have all the right tools for studying
Online lectures require a fairly well-functioning computer and a good internet connection. Some students already have these, but if you don’t, talk to your teacher or student services office about how to make this easier. There may be spare laptops that you can borrow, or you can join a small group of other students to study together.
Make sure you have enough stationery (pens, markers, notebooks etc.) and the right books or articles to study from, whether they are hard copies or digital versions.
Check your online portal daily for updates about classes and for any study tools the university provides to help you.
5. Think of a home study space
If you are used to studying in a campus library, you may find it quite difficult to transition to home study most of the time, but there are a few things you can do to put yourself in the study mindset.
Determine the area where you can sit and work. Some students are lucky enough to have a desk, but if you aren’t, any surface you can sit on comfortably with a computer is stationery. Fresh coffee? Bottle of water? Make sure you keep all the things you need nearby so you don’t have to keep getting up. If you try to sit on the floor with your laptop balancing on your knees, you will end up with a sore end. Comfortable study spaces allow you to focus on study materials. When you’re uncomfortable, the pain and stiffness will distract from studying and make it less likely that you’ll return to school.
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