It can be easy to get off-task when\nyou transition to being completely online. I have found that it is helpful to\nmake a daily to-do list to keep track of what needs to get done each day. You\ncan do this with your classwork, and also if you\u2019re working from home!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Set a schedule for yourself<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
One of the largest challenges you face when\ntransitioning to online classes is staying motivated to keep working. One of\nthe best ways to combat this challenge is to keep to a schedule throughout the\nday. I have found it easiest to keep your new schedule as similar as possible\nto your normal schedule on campus. For example, try to work on your classwork\nduring the same times you are normally in class. It is also important that you\ncommit a proper amount of time to each class. The university recommends three\nhours per week per credit. While this may seem like a lot, it can be really\nbeneficial to your success. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are multiple apps that will let you\nset a schedule, and some will remind you when you should move on to the next\ntask. I have listed a few options, so you can find one that works the best for\nyou!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Google Calendar<\/a>– This is a favorite for many people and allows you to create events and set reminders. You can even add tasks for the events!<\/li>
- Any.do<\/a>– This is another popular app for scheduling and has a lot of features that make it easier to organize your day. This app also allows you to create lists and set reminders, which would help you make your daily to-do list!<\/li>
- Outlook Calendar<\/a>– The nice thing about this calendar is that UW-Whitewater students already have access through our UW-W emails! You can see your calendar in the corner of the screen when you\u2019re logged into your email! You can also set reminders to alert you when it is time to move onto the next task. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.uww.edu\/ucinfo\/files\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-30-at-8.50.18-AM.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n- My Study Life<\/a>– This is a free calendar app that is specifically made for students and teachers! You can create daily tasks, keep track of exams and homework, and input your schedule! You can also set reminders for events, exams, or homework.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Maintain your morning routine<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
This tip goes along with the tip\nabout setting a schedule every day. It can be difficult to feel motivated to\nwork diligently if you are not in the right mindset. The best way to get in the\nproper mindset for school is to act like you\u2019re still going to campus. Try to\nkeep to your regular morning routine, even if you won\u2019t be leaving your house.\nGet out of bed, get dressed for the day, shower, whatever you would normally do\nto get ready for class. This will help you feel like it is a normal school day,\nand it will be easier to be motivated to get to work and stay working. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Avoid burnout by scheduling breaks and breaking up your work<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
It can be really easy to get burned out\nwhen working online. As a traditional on-campus student, you get built-in\nbreaks normally between each class. It is important that you maintain some\nbreaks while you are working at home. When you take your breaks, try to limit\nthem to 10-15 minutes every hour or so. You should also leave your workspace\nwhile you are having a break, so that you come back feeling more refreshed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Pomodoro Method- A popular time management\ntechnique is the Pomodoro Method. This has been around since the 1980s and\nhelps you break down work into intervals that are separated by short breaks.\nThere are many apps that will help you set timers according to this method, or\nyou can just set timers with your phone. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
You can also avoid burnout by doing\na little bit every day, especially with large projects. This time of year often\nmeans a lot of project deadlines are quickly approaching. It is easier to get\nthese projects done if you don\u2019t save everything for the week, or day, of. Many\nstudents also recommend working ahead, if you can, with online classes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Find a dedicated workspace<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
While you might have dreamed of\nstaying in bed all day during this period of online classes, it is not the most\npractical choice. First, you are more likely to fall back asleep if you work\nfrom bed versus a designated study space. Working from bed can also have\nadverse effects on your sleep schedule. The Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard\nhave argued that \u201ckeeping computers, TVs, and work materials out of the room\nwill strengthen the mental association between your bedroom and sleep.\u201d Once\nyour brain begins to associate your bed with work, it may become more difficult\nto sleep. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is also easier to get distracted\nif you don\u2019t have a dedicated workspace. You don\u2019t necessarily need a desk if\nyou don\u2019t have one already. You just need to find a quiet space that can be\nfocused on studying. I use a desk that is only for schoolwork, but you could\nalso use a kitchen table or other flat surface that will allow you to spread\nall your materials out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Tools for working online<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
The great thing about being a student in\nthe 21st<\/sup> Century is that there are tons of online tools specially\nmade to help students. I have included some already in this post, but I have\nlisted some more tools that I have found helpful! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- UW-W ICIT Tools- UW-Whitewater\u2019s ICIT department has a lot of tools available to UW-Whitewater students, and many will be helpful working online. The campus has also compiled a website that has more tools and tips for working as an online student! I have included the links to the ICIT\u2019s guide to learning remotely!
- ICIT<\/a>: Working, Teaching, and Learning Remotely<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Free online tools
- Quizlet<\/a>– I\u2019m sure most of you have already heard of and used Quizlet, but this is probably one of my favorite free online tools. You can not only learn the material but can study from the flashcards in this application. You can access your study materials on your desktop or even download the mobile app to access it on the go!<\/li><\/ul>
- Evernote<\/a>– This is a note-taking app that allows you to organize notes and assignments. You can sync your account to multiple devices, so it is easy to stop and come back to a note or assignment. The nice thing about Evernote is that you can attach PDF\u2019s, pictures, and even videos to your notes! <\/li><\/ul>
- MindNode<\/a> or SimpleMind<\/a>– These apps are both used to create mind maps. If you\u2019ve never used a mind map before, it can help you lay out your ideas and focus on the information better. These are two options I\u2019ve seen, but MindNode is only available on iOS systems unfortunately!<\/li><\/ul>
- myHomework<\/a>– This is an option for tracking your assignments, projects, tests, and more. It allows you to set due date reminders and can sync between your devices. I have found that every student is different, and we all have different preferences when it comes to these online tools. There are many options online for organizing your homework, and this is just one!<\/li><\/ul>
- Canvas<\/a> app- Something that I\u2019ve found not all students know about is the mobile Canvas app. I love having Canvas on my phone as it makes it easier to see notifications from my professors and to check my grades and assignments. Especially now that everything is online, it is even more important to be checking for announcements for your classes.<\/li><\/ul>
- Focus Booster<\/a>– This is an example of a Pomodoro app that allows you to focus more on your tasks and overcome distractions. There is a free version that allows you 20 sessions a month. <\/li><\/ul>
- Google Drive<\/a>– I\u2019m sure most, if not all, students know about Google Drive at this point, but I still think this is a valuable tool that is available to us. It is much easier to collaborate on group projects and papers with Google Drive.
- Sharepoint<\/a>– This is another collaboration site that allows you to work on team projects using the Microsoft applications. As a UW-Whitewater student we have access to the Microsoft Office applications, and Sharepoint is included. I have found it easiest to access this application by searching the Sharepoint website and logging in with my school credentials. <\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Kahn Academy<\/a>– I don\u2019t know if any of you ever used Kahn Academy for your secondary education, but it can actually still be helpful for college classes! They cover the basic classes like chemistry or biology, but even have some more specialized class topics like microeconomics! The best part is that it is free!<\/li><\/ul>
- SelfControl<\/a>– If you\u2019re like me, you can get easily distracted when working online. SelfControl is a free application that you can download to block your own access to distracting websites and even your email or internet. You set a period of time to block these sites and let the app know which sites to block then click start. Once the timer expires, you\u2019ll be able to access the sites again!<\/li><\/ul>
- Trello<\/a>– This is a great app for organizing tasks and projects. You can create different \u2018boards\u2019 that allow you to collaborate with other team members and even create due dates. You can create lists within the \u2018cards\u2019 and organize what is done and what needs to be done.<\/li><\/ul>
- Mathway<\/a>– This website is great for help on math problems. They have different types of calculators and will walk you through how to solve the problem. <\/li><\/ul>
- Trello<\/a>– This is a great app for organizing tasks and projects. You can create different \u2018boards\u2019 that allow you to collaborate with other team members and even create due dates. You can create lists within the \u2018cards\u2019 and organize what is done and what needs to be done.<\/li><\/ul>
- Kahn Academy<\/a>– I don\u2019t know if any of you ever used Kahn Academy for your secondary education, but it can actually still be helpful for college classes! They cover the basic classes like chemistry or biology, but even have some more specialized class topics like microeconomics! The best part is that it is free!<\/li><\/ul>
- Sharepoint<\/a>– This is another collaboration site that allows you to work on team projects using the Microsoft applications. As a UW-Whitewater student we have access to the Microsoft Office applications, and Sharepoint is included. I have found it easiest to access this application by searching the Sharepoint website and logging in with my school credentials. <\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Google Drive<\/a>– I\u2019m sure most, if not all, students know about Google Drive at this point, but I still think this is a valuable tool that is available to us. It is much easier to collaborate on group projects and papers with Google Drive.
- Focus Booster<\/a>– This is an example of a Pomodoro app that allows you to focus more on your tasks and overcome distractions. There is a free version that allows you 20 sessions a month. <\/li><\/ul>
- Canvas<\/a> app- Something that I\u2019ve found not all students know about is the mobile Canvas app. I love having Canvas on my phone as it makes it easier to see notifications from my professors and to check my grades and assignments. Especially now that everything is online, it is even more important to be checking for announcements for your classes.<\/li><\/ul>
- myHomework<\/a>– This is an option for tracking your assignments, projects, tests, and more. It allows you to set due date reminders and can sync between your devices. I have found that every student is different, and we all have different preferences when it comes to these online tools. There are many options online for organizing your homework, and this is just one!<\/li><\/ul>
- MindNode<\/a> or SimpleMind<\/a>– These apps are both used to create mind maps. If you\u2019ve never used a mind map before, it can help you lay out your ideas and focus on the information better. These are two options I\u2019ve seen, but MindNode is only available on iOS systems unfortunately!<\/li><\/ul>
- Evernote<\/a>– This is a note-taking app that allows you to organize notes and assignments. You can sync your account to multiple devices, so it is easy to stop and come back to a note or assignment. The nice thing about Evernote is that you can attach PDF\u2019s, pictures, and even videos to your notes! <\/li><\/ul>
- Quizlet<\/a>– I\u2019m sure most of you have already heard of and used Quizlet, but this is probably one of my favorite free online tools. You can not only learn the material but can study from the flashcards in this application. You can access your study materials on your desktop or even download the mobile app to access it on the go!<\/li><\/ul>
- Free online tools
- ICIT<\/a>: Working, Teaching, and Learning Remotely<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- UW-W ICIT Tools- UW-Whitewater\u2019s ICIT department has a lot of tools available to UW-Whitewater students, and many will be helpful working online. The campus has also compiled a website that has more tools and tips for working as an online student! I have included the links to the ICIT\u2019s guide to learning remotely!
- Tools for working online<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Find a dedicated workspace<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Pomodoro Method- A popular time management\ntechnique is the Pomodoro Method. This has been around since the 1980s and\nhelps you break down work into intervals that are separated by short breaks.\nThere are many apps that will help you set timers according to this method, or\nyou can just set timers with your phone. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Avoid burnout by scheduling breaks and breaking up your work<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Maintain your morning routine<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Any.do<\/a>– This is another popular app for scheduling and has a lot of features that make it easier to organize your day. This app also allows you to create lists and set reminders, which would help you make your daily to-do list!<\/li>
- Google Calendar<\/a>– This is a favorite for many people and allows you to create events and set reminders. You can even add tasks for the events!<\/li>
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