Are You Prepared for Online Learning?
Touro Dean Offers Top Tips To Help Students Adapt to Distance Learning
As colleges and universities move to online classes in the wake of COVID-19, both students and faculty are challenged to adapt. And quickly. Many students have never taken any online classes and are now struggling with a full load. Dr. Marian Stoltz-Loike, vice president for online education at Touro College and dean of Touro’s Lander College for Women, has tips to help students to ease the process.
Use a laptop or desktop instead of a phone.
You may need to join several hours of classes online each day. It will be much easier to stay focused if you have a bigger screen.
Arrive on time to your class, as you would in person.
Log in from a quiet place, where family members and others will not interrupt. This will make it easier for both you and your professor to concentrate.
Test the technology in advance so you know how to use it.
Get a backup phone number to use if you have problems with the web video function. Make sure you have enough bandwidth from your home. (That may require asking your siblings to stay offline during your class.)
Always watch the class live rather than relying on the recorded version.
It is a more dynamic and engaging experience. It also will give you a chance to ask questions and contribute to the discussion. Save the recorded versions for review afterwards.
Learn to use the chat function to ask questions or make comments.
Keep your video function on so your professor can see that you are watching and engaged.
Ask your professor for novel assignments that take advantage of online classrooms.
For example, you could create an infographic or video rather than an in-class presentation or paper.
If you had to leave campus quickly, you may not have all of the materials you need.
Ask your professor to share course material, particularly texts and articles, through your school’s learning management system. Also ask if there are Open Educational Resources you can use if you can’t access the text. These are free and accessible over the internet. If you have recitation sections for math or science, familiarize yourself with the whiteboard function on your learning management system. You can use it to do problems and contribute to class. Ask the TA to record the session and share the link so you can review the problems.
Set up an online group with some fellow students.
Us WhatsApp, Facebook and Slack, or similar technologies so you can chat about the course and help each other with homework.
