Virtual Learning Survival Guide

I never imagined I would spend the year 2020 year quarantined in my own home. But as March turned to April and April turned into May, I became more adept at distance learning. By June, we all had settled into a routine - one that included both mundane and imaginative ways of connecting with one another, as well as weekly individual meetings, and small group sessions. I thought it would be helpful to share some of the tricks of the trade I’ve developed to assist students in surviving remote learning.

Establish the ground rules with your teachers. And please ask questions. Ask about guidelines, deadlines, extra help, and resources that can be used at home. Also, ask if your teacher has time for individual meetings. Being a counselor, every week, I set aside time for one-on-one meetings with students, which I encouraged parents to attend as well. These meetings were critical to student success. In these meetings, we reviewed the previous week’s performance, discussed changes in the home, and anything pertinent to academic success.

Be fully present. It’s perfectly fine for a student to work on the couch, the patio, or even the bed. Comfort is important, but wherever a student works, the expectation remained the same: Sit up straight and engage the camera with your eyes, the same way you would any person speaking to you.

No pajamas allowed. The mindset of students should be that it’s a school day, even if they are not physically present in school. This means getting dressed and ready for the day. Wearing pajamas can cause a serious laziness that can linger throughout the day.

Stay organized. Keep a calendar diary, reminders, post it, about upcoming assignments and test/quiz dates. I have always encouraged students to keep a planner. And boys, planners are not just for girls! These days you can set reminders in your phone or devices as well.

Cameras on. I expect all students to leave their cameras on whenever possible. This shows teachers that you are engaged and ready to learn.

Treat online class like classroom class. Students should not eat while engaged in videoconferencing, nor should they be using their phones or any other software or video game on their computer while class is in session.

Light yourself well. Students should be able to see you clearly, and if you’re recording videos, they should also be well-lit. In doing so you relay a positive message to your teachers regarding your work ethic.

Take a break and stand up! I have the 30-minute rule. Stand up and stretch every 30 minutes. Your energy will translate so much better than if you’re sitting. And if you’re energetic, you are more likely to pay attention and listen.

Avoid using digital backgrounds. Authenticity and vulnerability are much better than an unrealistic or falsified background. For the first time in human history, students can glimpse into the home of their teachers and teachers the students. We all remember thinking as kids that teachers had no life outside the classroom. Make the most of this. Allow your teachers into your life. When the physical distance between us makes it difficult to connect, these little windows into our home life can bridge a bit of that distance and allow us to forge connections in new and interesting ways.

YouTube is your friend. I always tell my students, “You can learn anything on YouTube.” As you record videos for your teachers, YouTube has a wealth of information for how to make them better. When I wanted to make a video of me positioned in the corner of a Word document so that I could explain and demonstrate simultaneously, YouTube helped me!

Retrain your brain to find focus in a distracted remote learning environment. Meditate and BREATHE! An increased level of physical activity can translate into increased engagement. You don’t have to run, jog, plank, do push-ups or sit ups. Just take a few minutes out of the day (I prefer doing it right before starting me day, right before I eat lunch, and right before I sleep) Just five minutes of mindful breathing with relaxing music triggers all kind of happy hormones like serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins. These are famously known as happy hormones/neurotransmitters that promote positive feelings of happiness.

Be Yourself. Take full advantage of this by strategically showing off aspects of your home that would serve you well in this regard. Show your classmates the pile of books you’re reading. If you are in your bedroom make sure that teachers see your bed is made, room is clean, and that there are books on your bedside table.

Get your parents to know your teachers. It’s going to be critical for teachers to make the same kinds of connections with parents. While the teacher-parent partnership has always been important, it’s more important than ever in distance learning. As a teacher, we can only see and do so much through a computer screen. Teachers will need parents to assist as best they can in support, compliance, practice, re-teaching, and so much more.

Distance learning will never be an adequate substitute for the learning that students do so alongside teachers and peers. But as educators, we must ensure that it is as effective as possible. Committing yourself to this remote learning craft will be an important part of every student’s development until this pandemic is in our rearview mirror. I hope that when you find yourself staring into a computer screen during school that you implement these tips alongside with our support at www.vlearn.live This will ensure the best combination for student success.