It goes without saying that a sudden switch to online learning can leave many students feeling anxious about their academic progress. The move to online learning has its obstacles, but James Hatten, Ph.D., and Sanghoon Park, Ph.D., faculty members in the USF Instructional Technology department, provide some advice to help you get through it.

Set Yourself Up for Success from the Beginning

Establish a productive learning environment

Working on assignments from a slouched position and streaming Netflix at the same time is not ideal if you aim to be productive. Dr. Hatten, who specializes in online teaching and learning, recommends that students choose an area in their homes that’s free from common distractions.
“The couch is probably not the best place to be,” Dr. Hatten says. “Get up and go to a place in your house where you can make your workplace.”

 Set a schedule for completing and reviewing assignments

An individual may have a high degree of stress if they work on three courses at once, but this may be prevented if you set aside certain times to focus on each course. Dr. Hatten gave the example of working on one class from 11 a.m. until noon. to 3 p.m. Students can design a framework similar to that seen in traditional, in-person classes using this schedule.

According to Dr. Hatten, most people either procrastinate or become overly engrossed to the point where they won’t turn off their computers. So, set aside a specific time. It’s advised to schedule time to review the assignments in addition  to the time allotted for completion of the assignments.

Find Ways to Stay Motivated

Even if there are many actions you can take to establish a routine and sustain productivity, occasionally a lack of desire may set in, making it challenging for you to complete the task at hand. Dr. Park describes the precise reasons why students might encounter this in her research on creating motivational interventions for online learners.

Online classes essentially entail learning in isolation from others, he claims. “Many motivational problems are caused by the impression that you are alienated from your friends and even your instructors—that physical and emotional distance.”

Dr. Park advises people to first notice when they are not motivated and then figure out why. Here are a few tactics he suggests students employ.

Try to increase your interest in the work

You might occasionally review a work or assignment that appears very tedious. Consider how you can make the assignment or work engaging rather than putting it off as the days pass. By employing this technique, you can creatively alter the work you’ll submit.

Make the work you’re doing online more personally significant

When you don’t feel connected to the assignment or task being offered, you could lack motivation. Students who experience this emotion are advised to consider how the project could be able to assist them in the future.

Students are advised, “You have to find a method to tie the task to what you are already interested in.” If you are a graduate student, you might wish to think about using those finished tasks or assignments for the conference presentations.

Problem-Solve on Your Own

It’s essential to keep in mind as you get used to schooling online that the majority of questions may be resolved if you carefully read the directions and thoroughly review each lesson. Despite the fact that academics are willing to respond to your inquiries, it might be more effective to first try to solve the problem yourself by conducting a Google search rather than sending many emails throughout the day for each issue you are having.