Dedicated Work Space
Using common areas like the dining room table, or family room couch, can add unnecessary distraction, and force a student to accommodate the demands of the family. A dedicated work area ensures their ability to focus on their studies.
Printed Syllabus
Printing the syllabus or course outline helps everyone (parents and students) understand the assignment schedule and due dates. Consider posting a copy of due dates on the fridge to keep everyone aware.
Single Email Address
Ensure the email associated with your student’s account is the only account used for their scholarly communication. Avoid emailing teachers or other students from multiple addresses to avoid confusion or delays.
Prompt Responses
Delayed responses to emails, or online forums, can cause classmates and teachers to think you didn’t receive the messages. Acknowledgments like “Good Question! I’ll get back to you?” maintain your visibility and presence in an online environment.
Participate
Participating is vital during online instruction. Teachers rely on their students’ visual cues to ensure they understand the material. During a live online class period, be sure to speak up and ask for clarification so that the teacher knows to stop and clarify.
Log-in Often
An online student should log in to the academic portal at least once a day. This routine will ensure they get the latest announcements and can respond to posts from other students.
Use Headphones
Broadcasting live lectures throughout the household will provide distractions to other students in the home. Be considerate to others who learn from home, or work from home.
Take Paper Notes
Just because the material is now online, doesn’t mean you have to change your study habits. Continue to take paper notes just as you would if you were in a physical classroom. The no reason to reinvent the wheel, just because the vehicle has changed.
Dress For School
Online education can offer tremendous convenience and flexibility; however, daily habits are still relevant. Consider yourself a professional student who always must prepare for the day as they would if they were physically attending class. These little steps will go a long way to ensure online education gets the respect it deserves.
Strong Internet
The challenges of online learning will increase because of an inadequate internet connection. Although many of the top learning platforms will scale down the quality to accommodate slow internet speeds, the quality reduction could reduce your ability to understand the teacher’s lesson. A minimum internet speed of 50Mbps is recommended for households with video streaming, multiple users, and numerous devices.
