Normally when I think about preparing for a new semester, it includes going to the office supply store or back to school section of the big box shop and stocking up on the various things one might need for a normal semester.. and I have written posts like that before. But, here we are in the middle of a pandemic with many schools starting the semester online or having committed to a full semester of online instruction. So, this time I want to focus on the various tools that I've found for making online courses work for me. Recognize the patternsHaving worked in IT project management in my past life, I found that most things can be duplicated for efficiency. Rarely is there a situation that does not have a consistent pattern. Every class and every professor tend to have a structure to the material, teaching style, and even quiz/exam formats. Personally I like to think of myself like Sherlock Holmes trying to get a feel for those patterns in the first couple of weeks. Generally, they are the best indicators of how I will not only organize my physical space but my thinking for that class. For instance, I once had a music appreciation course online and noticed that the quizzes and review questions had certain things in common. I was able to create an Excel spreadsheet filling in the various columns and found myself very successful in that class. Then, a sociology professor was good about providing key information in an unexpected but same place each week that helped me organize my thinking and in turn figuring out what would be on the quizzes and exams became a weekly game. Finding the patterns for that class and professor is a game changer. One Note by Office 365This is just my opinion, and one I am not paid for.. This is honestly a fantastic tool that I use and feel that not enough students know about. Plus, it is free to students if you visit the link at the bottom of this article. The thing I love about this program is that it is very much like the typical spiral bound notebooks that I ordinarily will use to take notes in, but I can re-arrange things, add additional information, or even paste a screenshot capture right into the notebook page. Best of all, as I'm preparing for exams or looking through to see if my notes are complete, there is a search function that makes it easier than a physical notebook to double check or find information. My school uses canvas as the online platform, so generally I will wait until the professor puts out the first module to determine whether or not I'm going to organize the virtual notebook by chapter, week, or topic. Staying flexible and finding an organization pattern that goes with the course contents has always been helpful for me. If your professor posts PDF or Word documents, they can be added to OneNote by "printing to OneNote" and inserting the document where you want to send it. Then, just take notes right there on the slides. Super helpful! Another fantastic tool that OneNote has is the dictation feature. So, oftentimes as I'm reading instead of typing I will dictate my notes then go back and just make sure that autocorrect has not run amok. Personally, I like to take my notes on the chapter or reading before lecture and then fill in while on a video class with the professor with anything that I may have missed. No matter what, I always try to make sure that key vocabulary, learning objectives, and concepts are well covered in my notes just as if it was a handwritten notebook. If I have gone on to YouTube, Pinterest, Khan academy, or other websites I make sure to bookmark and link those resources right into my notebook for future reference as well. A physical calendarIn previous posts I have talked about the importance of finding a planner and an organization method that works best for you. Personally, because I have so much on my plate and things are fluid with my husband also working from home, (6 feet away), a teenager starting his freshman year of high school this fall and being the designated errand runner for our pod, my preference is to organize by task list rather than day. Basically, I use my weekly spread to notate specific appointments or time frames that are non-negotiables. Then, I make sure that my planner always has a horizontal layout with days of the week on one side of the spread and list making space on the right page. If you are looking for something like that, click here for an instant download option An exercise trackerOkay, so maybe nobody else thinks that this relates to getting ready for this semester, but I insist that it is a necessity! I don't know about anyone else but this pandemic has given me more than a few excuses for not leaving the house and getting my body moving. So, I created a tracker for me to fill in so that I can challenge myself to get at least 20 minutes of walking in per day. Again, link below. Maintaining physical health by eating right and getting at least a few minutes of exercise per day can go a long way towards making certain that our brains are functioning at a high level and we are able to best absorb information while keeping our mental health in check. If hot yoga, Pilates, running, jump roping, underwater basket weaving, or some other activity is more up your alley then by all means make that your daily goal! Regardless of the activity it's just important that we move. Quizlet, Crowdsource, and Study BudsHere's the thing - when we're on campus we end up meeting people before or after class who are like-minded, look like us, or have similar interests. We tend to form groups and make connections easily under these circumstances. However, without being able to really see and interact with our classmates as easily with an online course or forum, we need to find new ways to bounce thoughts and ideas off of others. I have found that searching Quizlet, chegg, or other platforms allow me to see how other students think, absorb the information, or What might be relevant for an upcoming exam. If your professor provides discussion boards, a Piazza site, or other forms of communication for the class, I implore you to be open to participating in those as well. During the spring 2020 semester I paid attention to who was asking intelligent questions during the zoom lectures and reached out to those people individually on chat. They became part of my core study group and we would often spend hours discussing the course content. We were a great group in that we all brought a unique take, way of thinking, and set of strengths to the table. By working together and collaborating while doing homework and studying, we all were able to make it out of a very difficult course with an A. Tutoring OpportunitiesThis one really hits home for me because I am a peer tutor. What most people don't understand is that had I not gone to tutoring and found the value, I may have never stumbled upon this opportunity. Many schools offer tutoring services free of charge to their students. You just have to know where to look! I highly recommend that if you are school website has a search bar you type in "tutoring" and see what pops up. Chances are you can get at least a couple of sessions free per week as opposed to paying for somebody to help you in your studies. Now, I have to warn you that they may only be available during "normal business hours" so, I encourage you to be flexible and willing to see what you can do to make it work. Additionally, many professors will give extra credit for going to their recommended tutor or beacon sessions. Good LightingMy last suggestion goes back to physical health. It is important that when we are studying we have proper lighting so that we can stay engaged in the material, not strain our eyes, and help to offset some of the blue light that we will undeniably be subject to due to the increased number of hours in front of a screen. Most of the time I wear glasses, so I make sure that my lenses have a blue blocker in them. (Shout out to zenni for being awesome, cheap and stylish) If I didn't wear glasses before, I would probably wear these just to protect my eyes from the incessant blue screen viewing I do. However, I'm also keen on being sure that I have natural light as well as other light sources besides just my computer monitor with which to study by. Since we have no idea how long this pandemic will last or what changes will come technologically because of it, it is important that we take care of our eyes in the short-term so that we don't wear them out unnecessarily long-term. Hope these tips were helpful Xoxo, Michelle Other Blog Posts to Consider168 Hours - How Do You Use Yours? How to Read Your Textbook and Understand It How I Study for College Exams The Best Test Prep Advice All the linksOneNote for Students: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/education/products/office How to Use OneNote Videos: https://bit.ly/3kLfCG7 Weekly Planner Option 1: https://bit.ly/3kGzqur Weekly Planner Option 2: https://etsy.me/3aBRIs3 Walk Tracker; https://bit.ly/3kEwkae Quizlet: https://quizlet.com/ Chegg: https://www.chegg.com/study StudyBlue: https://www.studyblue.com/ Blue Light Block Glasses: https://www.zennioptical.com/blokz-blue-light-glasses More Reading and Videos from CCCCalifornia Community Colleges: https://cvc.edu/keeplearning/
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AuthorI'm Michelle, and I've got a full plate! As a full-time dietetics student, step-mom, wife, study coach, and tutor in my late 30's, some days I'm barely scraping by. But, no matter what is on my plate, it's always gluten free! Categories
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