Virtual learning is appreciated for conveniences such as flexibility, affordability, and personalized learning. These conveniences have made it possible for many to access education that they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to. With that said, virtual learning does come with its challenges – however, these challenges can be tackled. It takes discipline, effort, and commitment to see through education through virtual learning. Here are a few strategies that you can implement to cope with the struggles of virtual learning.
1.Set Up Working Space
One of the conveniences of virtual learning is that you work from the comfort of your home.
However, you run the risk of becoming too comfortable.
You must set up a workspace in your home that is conducive for you to learn efficiently, to be mindful, and to be alert.
Each individual has a preferred style of working space.
One may prefer a table and desk set-up in a room, another might enjoy an outdoor setting in the yard by the pool, while another finds working from the couch is conducive.
The point is to mark whichever type of workspace you prefer as the go-to when engaging in virtual learning courses from providers like Integral Learning Academy.
Continuously working in your preferred working space conditions your mind that, when in that space, it is time to pay attention and become productive.
Schools normally provide things like flashcards, exercise books, and planners, so be ready to supply these yourself if necessary.
2. Clear Your Space
Now that you have determined the space that is most conducive for your learning, you need to clear the space.
Distractions such as phones, tablets, and televisions can slow down your learning process.
Whenever you hear a notification on your phone, you may get tempted to attend to it, which can lead to hours of gadget attention.
The further away from distractions are from you, the more productive you may be.
3. Productive Learning Hours
Productive learning hours is the time during the day where you find you are the most attentive.
Some students enjoy learning in the early hours of the morning or late in the evening when the environment is quiet.
Others find that they learn better during the day as they will need to rest in the evening to continue with the following day’s responsibilities.
You will have to figure out the most productive learning hours while taking into account other mandates and responsibilities you may have.
Try working on your studies during different hours of the day to find out which hours work best for you.
4. Set a Schedule
The flexibility of virtual learning is an appreciated convenience.
This can, however, lead to procrastination.
Knowing that you can begin a learning session at any time of day means you might put it off for too long and, before you know it, you’ve suddenly reached exam season.
Drawing up a schedule may help you be mindful of the time that you have to finish a course and prepare for any examinations.
Your schedule can be based on your lifestyle and mandates.
You then need to be disciplined enough to stick to your personalized learning schedule.
You may have to draw up a few options for you to figure out the schedule that works best for you, considering your lifestyle and responsibilities.
Without the structure of the school day and without the engagement of peers, motivation and energy can take a dive.
Help your child set up a timetable that’ll work for them and covers the subjects they need.
Divide up periods of study with active breaks.
Make sure your child moves, goes outside, eats meals appropriately, and has offline conversations.
5. Adapt to the Environment
You might not be able to control the environment in which you must learn online.
For example, if you are an adult learner and have young children, they will spend the day active, as is the nature of children.
They cannot sit quietly until you have completed your learning sessions.
Or, you might live in an area with ongoing construction, meaning you have to live with the bangs and clangs that come with construction.
Regardless of your environment, it would be best if you adapted to situations that are out of your control.
One way of adapting is to find ways to work with the environment. For example, the one who has to learn to construct noises can use earphones that block out external sound.
Those working around children in the home can find ways to keep the children busy, look for child-minding help, or work when the children are down for a nap.
Finding ways to work with your environment can help with productivity.
6. Be Flexible
When learning through virtual platforms, remember that no two days are the same.
Some days may go according to plan, while others don’t.
You may be more distracted on one day and very productive on another.
If you see that a certain factor isn’t yielding results, such as workspace or working hours, you have to try different scenarios until you find a routine that settles in well.
7. Keep an Eye on Their Mental Health
If you have to homeschool your child, don’t panic.
Thanks to technology, we’re more set up than ever before to manage a situation like this.
Remember, you’re not alone, even before the pandemic of 2020, about 50,000 parents opt to homeschool their children.
It’s important to watch for signs that your child isn’t mentally coping with the home setup.
Pay attention to despondency, withdrawal or anger, and higher-than-usual levels of irritability.
These all point to stress.
Take a break when you see these things.
Keep the door open to conversation.
If necessary, there are great services for the support you can utilize in your community.
Conclusion
Virtual learning requires a sense of independence, motivation, and determination because the success thereof is self-paced.
You can tackle virtual learning struggles by setting up a workspace, clearing your space, working during productive hours, drawing up a schedule, adapting to your unique environment, says HuffPost, and being open to flexibility.
Enjoy the conveniences of virtual learning by learning how to be most productive in your space.