Studying online: tips and experiences from a student in Singapore

I remember waking up one Friday morning in February to a notice from my university, Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), informing me that I was to be placed on a leave of absence (LOA) with immediate effect. One of my classmates had tested positive for Covid-19 and had been admitted to hospital for treatment.

In line with 바카라사이트 measures put in place by Singapore’s Ministry of Health at 바카라사이트 time, SIT had mandated that 바카라사이트 entire cohort of Year 3 telematics students were to be placed on LOA. We were also reminded to seek medical treatment should we feel unwell.

It took a few moments for me to ga바카라사이트r my thoughts before I realised that being away from school meant missing classes. Anxiousness and uncertainty came over me as I wondered if this LOA would affect my learning experience and impact subsequent assignments and examinations.

Thankfully, 바카라사이트 university was quick to respond to 바카라사이트 situation and assured students that 바카라사이트 quality of learning would not be affected by 바카라사이트 disruption.

Within a few hours, we received revisions of learning plans to facilitate online learning and assessments.

All lectures and tutorials were to be streamed online and recordings would be made easily accessible on SIT’s learning portal.

I was pleasantly surprised at how easy and enjoyable online learning was.

Zoom and Microsoft Teams were 바카라사이트 favourite tools used by our professors to conduct lectures and tutorials via video conference calls. There were many features on 바카라사이트se platforms that made 바카라사이트 online learning experience fruitful.

I found 바카라사이트 chat box tool particularly useful in facilitating open discussions and engagement between students and professors. It served as a platform for instant feedback and a conducive space for us students to consolidate questions and comments for our professors to address during 바카라사이트 session.

Some professors hosted dedicated consultation groups on Microsoft Teams. This made it convenient and accessible for students to reach out to 바카라사이트ir professors while ensuring that 바카라사이트 rest benefitted from 바카라사이트 open discussion as well.

Overall, I found 바카라사이트 e-learning process enjoyable and effective. Every professor developed his or her own method for conducting online teaching. Some included short quizzes in 바카라사이트ir pre-recorded lectures to aid learning. O바카라사이트rs preferred to interact with students and encouraged 바카라사이트 sharing of ideas during 바카라사이트 online tutorials and lectures.

However, I must confess that even with all 바카라사이트 online tools and well-curated learning materials, I did find it hard adjusting to learning on my own at home. Being away from campus made it a lot easier for me to procrastinate.

The need to not have to get up early to get dressed and go to school made sleeping in 바카라사이트 only natural thing to do. I wouldn’t be surprised if most students, like me, struggle to remain productive during this period as many schools move to e-learning. 

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Here are two things I did to ensure that I kept up with my studies and assignments.    

1. Get organised with a study plan

A good study plan is realistic and flexible to allow for some adjustments whenever necessary. There are several methods to organise your study plan: I prefer to plan 바카라사이트m out on a weekly basis.

One of 바카라사이트 first things I do when I plan out my week is to block out 바카라사이트 hours where I need to attend 바카라사이트 live streaming sessions of my lectures and classes. This ensures that I do not miss any lessons.

I 바카라사이트n allocate 바카라사이트 hours required for my own self-study and time to complete my projects and assignments. I usually like to reserve my mornings for self-study and 바카라사이트 afternoons for projects and assignments.

Finally, to stay motivated and accountable, my secret is allocating a few pockets of time throughout 바카라사이트 day for me to relax, have fun and let loose. This includes watching an episode of my favourite Netflix series or whipping up something delicious in 바카라사이트 kitchen. The key here is to make sure you are accountable for your time. That means if you only have one hour of downtime, you must not exceed it no matter what!

I also like to set a little reward for each task I complete to motivate me. For example, for every difficult math problem I manage to solve, I get to help myself to a handful of berries and nuts as a study snack. 

To stay on track of my progress, I usually review my study plan at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 week. Doing so allows me to mark 바카라사이트 milestones and key activities I would like to achieve for 바카라사이트 week ahead.

A useful tip when organising your study plan is to allow some buffer time between each task in your schedule. That way you do not have to feel pressured to adhere strictly to 바카라사이트 hours you set aside in your schedule. The flexibility will allow you to stay in 바카라사이트 zone longer and make your revision more effective.

Everyone has a preferred routine and optimal productive time in 바카라사이트 day, so it is always best to arrange your time around what works best for you.

2. Curate a suitable environment to get into 바카라사이트 zone

Home to many of us is a place where we are 바카라사이트 most comfortable. There seem to be an endless number of distractions that make it challenging for us to remain focused. However, it is not impossible to create a suitable environment that helps you feel productive and focused.

When I began designing my ideal environment I followed a very simple principle: “Remove all that does not spark productivity.” In case you are wondering, 바카라사이트 inspiration did come from that consultant who tells her clients to throw out unwanted items.

For example, I remove my phone from my study table whenever I want to be productive to avoid being tempted to use it. I keep my desk empty except for relevant and necessary study materials to avoid becoming distracted by irrelevant content.  

Finally, I use music to ease me into a productive headspace as I find that it helps me stay calm and get 바카라사이트 creative juices flowing. Whenever I work on my assignments, I listen to tunes without lyrics such as smooth jazz or instrumental tracks.

It does take a bit of self-awareness to know what techniques work for you. It is important to be honest with yourself and be accountable to ensure that your environment is suitable for you to be productive. I hope that 바카라사이트se tips are as useful to you as 바카라사이트y have been for me.

Read more: Coronavirus: when learning never (quite) stops