Mastering Virtual Classes
It’s that time of year again! The fall semester officially begins on Tuesday September 8th and while some students may have taken a couple courses during the summer, most of us are facing the same challenge - adapting to a full course load completely online. While a virtual semester has its perks, like not having to commute to school anymore (insert happy dance) … learning to adapt to a semester's worth of online learning isn’t going to be a walk in the park. In order to help students, prepare for these unique challenges, here’s a list of tips & tricks to get the most out of online classes.
Practicing Time Management
Online classes means that a lot of us (especially commuters) have a lot more time and flexibility in our calendars. However, even with the increased free time, it is important to develop a routine and create a proper schedule that accounts for your other responsibilities (like full/part time jobs, volunteer work or recreational activities). Some ways to improve your time management skills include:
At the start of the semester, make note of all assignments/tests outlined in each course's syllabus in your calendar. Having a snapshot of all your deadlines will allow you to start creating a study schedule to avoid any burnout or cramming during the year.
Plan goals/objectives you want to achieve and create reasonable timelines to achieve them
Create a list of tasks and activities (such as jobs, student group events, bootcamps, etc.) each week and order each item from highest to lowest priority
Try time-blocking when working on assignments or studying for tests. Designating a certain amount of time to complete tasks can help keep you accountable.
We suggest utilizing certain applications/platforms that will help you manage your schedules and time management. Google Calendar is a great choice. It offers the ability to customize your schedules and directly connects to your Ryerson email, meaning all of your lectures/labs/tutorials and special events you may have within the upcoming semester will automatically be synced. As you utilize calendars, do not only plan for the due dates of the examinations. You should also plan how you will be organizing your time before each deadline, so that you can ensure you are allocating sufficient time to complete assignments without having to cram. At the same time, you should also plan for breaks between study periods in order to avoid burning out. Balance is key!
2. Create a Study Space for Yourself
Putting in the time to create a space for yourself to study is very important. Create a space for yourself that is for studying/attending classes and ensure that this is different than the space you plan to retreat to during study breaks or in the evenings when you’re ready to unwind. Set rules for those spaces - for example, turning off your phone in your study room, or committing to spending X amount of hours away from this space so that you’re allowing yourself time to rest and recharge. This is also so important for getting into the right habits for your online classes - without being in the direct line of sight of your professors, it will be that much harder to resist the urge to check your messages or scroll through Instagram. And if you find yourself struggling to stay focused on your work try using a website blocker like Chrome Site Blocker. This is a productivity tool that you can customize to block access to websites such as Facebook or YouTube during certain time periods you’ve booked for focused learning.
3. Take Advantage of Virtual Resources
The Academic Success Centre provides services such as Virtual Study Halls, tip sheets and a Writing Centre where you can schedule online appointments for help with assignments. TRSM students also have access to the Business Career Hub for those who seek career advice/consultations. Specific resources provided by the Business Career Hub include networking/interview/resumé workshops, career showcases, one-on-one career, and self-discovery consultations.
Another resource all students should make use of is the Ryerson Library. Through the Ryerson Library website, you will be able to gain access to a massive database of books/journal articles. We also highly recommend that you check out VApps (virtual applications). Through VApps, you will be able to access licensed software applications that help you throughout the semester without having to install them on your computer. The different programs accessible through VApps include:
AutoDesk Revit
MATLAB
NVivo
R for Windows (R-Project)
SPSS Statistics (will be needed for Stats, QMS 210 for first year students)
SAS Foundation with Enterprise Guide
4. Stay Connected!
Make a list of short-term and long-term academic goals you’d like to achieve this year and increase the likelihood that you’ll achieve them by finding an accountability buddy (or buddies). How do you go about this? Consider using your classroom discussion board or joining Facebook course pages to form study circles or connect with potential study buddies. Besides the social connection, you can also share study techniques and help each other make sense of course material. Study circles are key to developing self-motivation, as you hold each other accountable for keeping up with assignments and deadlines. To attain success, students need to create motivating factors for themselves, and we cannot emphasize enough the power of creating community!
5. Participate In Class (Seriously.)
With classes online it’ll be easier than ever to just take notes while listening to lectures, and more tempting than ever to put on Netflix in the background. But don’t do it! Try to actively participate in class by typing questions in the chat box or asking them during breaks and at the end. This will help you stay engaged with the material and is an optimal use of time. It’s also easier to participate when you’re sending a message through a chat box, versus speaking up in a large lecture hall … so don’t let the opportunity to ask questions or clarify content slip by! Devoting your full attention to your classes also makes studying for exams later in the semester a less daunting task, because you will have already engaged with the material. Overall, it will help foster effective study habits throughout the semester in order to succeed.
For every university student, there will be many obstacles on their path towards success. Especially with the upcoming semester, students will need to be able to adapt and learn through virtual learning and online modules. We understand that the global pandemic has impacted all of our lives and society as a whole. As the future of the COVID-19 situation becomes uncertain, let’s do our best as students to adapt to the current situation of the world and maintain the motivation to learn and grow.