by Salma
The sudden transition to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic has been a tricky one for both teachers and students to adapt to. Being removed from the classroom environment that everyone knew so well, it’s easy to appreciate the struggles the sudden change can have on individuals. In-person education gives you a rigid structure to your day, with constant interaction between classmates and teachers providing you with a healthy amount of social interactions. Having people around that make sure you keep on top of your work is also a benefit, with personal help on hand from staff whenever you need it. As the school routine has been designed to suit all learning needs, the rapid change of situation can take its toll on students as well as teachers. Although it is a difficult transition to adapt to, there are many benefits that come with online learning.
The COVID-19 situation is very uncertain and there is no guarantee when or how things will go back to what we know as ‘normal’. Despite this, it can be expected that remote online learning will continue for a while, which is beneficial in many ways. Even with no pandemic, online learning can prove to be much more effective than in-person classes, as it provides you with lifelong skills whilst simultaneously upholding the same high standard of education. Even if in-person classes do restart in the future, hopefully you will be able to appreciate your teachers a lot more and put more effort into your lessons after having experienced a different system. You can also apply the skills you developed during the period of remote learning when completing your homework and extra work, including really useful lessons in time management and self-discipline.
One of the best things about remote learning and being able to study from the comfort of your own home, where you can feel more comfortable than you do in any other environment. This will increase productivity and hopefully make you produce a higher quality of work, providing you get rid of all distractions! Disruptions such as your phone, the TV or even your siblings can often make it harder for you to focus on your studies, but then again this is another opportunity to practise self-discipline and responsibility, and they are great skills to master. Learning to become more responsible for your own education instead of following instructions blindly can help build self-motivation and teach you how to manage your time effectively, both of which will come in very useful as you progress through to secondary school and further. Online learning can allow you to study without the distractions of an external environment, and I would recommend having a quiet study space that you dedicate to learning which you can think of as your ‘mini classroom’.
Studying online also means that you are able to work around your own schedule and save so much time (and money) on travel! The flexibility it allows is great for again practicing your time management skills, as it means you study at your own pace and in a way that works for you. You are in control of the pace you go at, so it’s all in your hands! With so many resources at hand on the internet, it’s easy to spend more time on topics that you struggle with by simply going over extra material. The internet provides so many different ways of learning the content in effective ways, including videos, articles, quizzes and so much more! The vast amount of content available can help simplify complex concepts, so there really is no excuse to be slacking! A quick google search can help you find explanations to questions that you might have been too shy to ask your teacher (even though you should never be shy of asking questions!) so get familiar with finding and using these resources, because they will make your life a whole lot easier.
One difficulty that you can experience with independent study is coping with mistakes or the inability to grasp certain topics. Self-teaching can be difficult at times, and you might find yourself feeling frustrated or annoyed, which is completely understandable. However, you need to take a step back and acknowledge that self-learning is a difficult thing to master, and you need incredible amounts of motivation and discipline to power through. Therefore, it’s really important that you don’t beat yourself up about slow progress or any mistakes you do make, it’s a learning curve and it takes time to get used to this new style of learning! One thing that I like to remind myself is that slow progress is better than no progress, so even if you find yourself slacking or having an unproductive day, applaud your small achievements and always strive to do better the following day.
Developing self-discipline is such an important life-long skill that you will be able to develop through studying online, since you will be responsible for managing your time and tasks. Although it can be difficult, there are certain actions that you can take to make it easier for you. Recording your tasks for the day in the form of a ‘to do’ list can make you feel more productive as you complete each task, or alternatively you can designate tasks for yourself in a calendar to keep up to date with. Having a routine is important to make sure you don’t fall behind in your work, so I would definitely recommend having a timetable that works for you that you can stick to. Once you find the right balance and get into a routine you like, you’ll find that you’re a lot more motivated to complete your tasks, and I personally find the feeling of crossing off a piece of work from my ‘to-do’ list to be incomparable to any other feeling! Timetables give you so much flexibility when you adjust it to suit you, and the good thing is you don’t have to compromise all your hobbies or free time, as long as you plan accordingly, you can do everything!
