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SpongeBob, a university student, has an online semester coming up and he's not sure how he'll make it through:
Not to worry, SpongeBob, hope is not lost!
While online learning can be even more rigorous and time-consuming than in-person learning, a few small changes to his schedule will have SpongeBob on his way to acing the semester!
What Is Expected Of You?
Before the first day of class, make sure you know:
Will the class be live or recorded?
What time is the class?
What platform will they use?
Where will course content (assignments, grades, discussions, etc.) be posted?
Don't be caught off guard on the first day:
Did you know?
Work Backwards To Plan Ahead
Get a calendar for the whole semester and start with your biggest deadlines. Then, work backwards to plan your schedule.
For example, if you know you have a short paper due on Friday, your plan could be:
Friday: Submit paper
Thursday: Edit paper
Wednesday: Ask a classmate to review your paper (and offer to review theirs!)
Tuesday: Second draft
Monday: Read assignment and write first draft
Quiz
It's Monday night, and SpongeBob has an assignment due on Tuesday, a group project due on Wednesday, and a quiz on Thursday. What should he do first?
There will likely be multiple priorities during your term. Planning in advance will help you juggle them all! Spongebob can definitely watch some TV or study for Thursday's quiz, but focusing on the most pressing deadline first makes the most sense. And he really doesn't need to panic - he's a master of planning now!
Track Your Time
Set specific time goals for each class, such as "I will study math every day for one hour, 10-11am."
Keep track of how much time you are actually studying. Set a timer when you begin, and turn it off each time you get distracted.
Quiz
What are some ways we can avoid distractions to make our time tracking more efficient?
Think about what distracts you, then work to "hide" from that distraction until the task is done! The best strategy is one that works for YOU.
Did you know?
Reward Yourself
Reward yourself for focused studying with an activity you enjoy! This will help you find work-life balance and avoid burnout.
Take Action
That's the right idea, Spongebob!
Are you ready to conquer your online semester?
This Byte has been authored by
D'Jeane Peters
Creative, Cross Cultural ID and HPT Practitioner