Study Tips and Tricks for Virtual Learning

Author: Michelle Pansa

After months of quarantine, for millions of students across the world, virtual learning is another struggle that we will be unable to avoid due to the pandemic. Through this, methods of learning have become shifted. Motivation has also become astray within many children and teens. What are some ways that can increase effective studying with online learning?

To start off, put away your cell phone and tuck it away somewhere far away! Eliminating distractions is the first step needed in order to maximize your attention. If your phone was close by, it is far more tempting to reach for it rather than if it were to be in a room over. Cell phones are one of the biggest explanations as for why sticking to a task all the way through may be difficult. It also provides us with frequent disruptions that catch our attention quickly. With the majority of our time being spent at home, I believe we all can take at least an hour break to study without needing to update ourselves on Snapchat or Instagram. By blocking out social media during your time studying, you condition yourself to deter your attention to what’s at hand. Creating a study place or a designated location to work is my next recommendation. Your bed is not the best place for honing down with your schoolwork. As much as you may think you are productive when sitting on your bed, it is not the way to go. Online school is continuously mushing our home and school life to close proximities. A space to work diligently would play a large role in that separation. I visibly notice the difference in what I am able to get down at the

kitchen table in comparison to my bed as well. Truth hurts, but we have to face the reality of our situation and do the best on our part to keep ourselves on top of our academics.

Now, the one rule I personally live by is rewriting my notes and implementing artistic elements in my studies. Though I do not mean simply copy and paste what you have already written down from class, but rather test yourself with every subtopic and come up with questions as you create another set of notes. It goes by the term “Active recall” and it is the process of remembering information. This requires you to focus and try to draw the knowledge from what you know to answer the questions. If you do not remember, review the information again and repeat the steps until you are able to accurately recall information and effectively answer those questions. This method helps you understand what you actually learn.

Hopefully from some of these tips and reminders your studying routine becomes more effective. I wish you all luck with your studying during these tough times!