Surviving the Semester Online
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) to operate online in an effort to slow the spread of the infection.
“I have yet to take a class online and personally, I enjoy going to class. I understand and fully support why the university made the decision to move online but I’m scared that I may not be able to get the same experience online as I would in-person,” Brenna Heenan, a freshman at UNR, said.
Online classes often add extra stress to students. Here are a few tips in hopes to alleviate the stress of online classes:
Time management
Set time aside for each class and act as if you were attending the class in person. Create a structured schedule to follow in weeks to come.
Hold yourself accountable.
You had probably set goals at the beginning of the semester. Review those goals and make any modifications if they are no longer align with the online course. Set visual reminders of upcoming due dates and create to-do lists.
Eliminate distractions.
Assess your environment and identify suitable work locations in your home. Students often turn off their phone or leave it in another room to prevent distractions. Plug-ins, such as Cold Turkey and Freedom, help students from visiting distracting websites or receive notifications on their computer.
Communicate with your professor regularly.
Creating effective lines of communication will benefit you during the course. Do not hesitate to ask your professor questions and ask for clarification.
Get dressed and “show up.”
Individuals who work from home regularly built habits to get dressed and go to their designated workspace. It allows the individual to get in the work mindset and detach from their surroundings.
Online classes do not have to be as challenging as they seem. Use this time as an opportunity to learn more about your study habits and yourself.
Helpful Resources:
Wi-Fi Access – Spectrum broadband is offering free Wi-FI access to households with K-12 and/or college students for 60 days.
Mobile data – Major U.S. carriers agreed to open Wi-FI hotspots to individuals in need of them. Some carriers offer unlimited data to its users.
Adobe Licensing for UNR Students – Students now have remote access to the Adobe Creative Cloud until May 31. Visit the link to learn more about the free service.