Flexibility Comes With Responsibility
The flexibility that online education offers is one of the huge draws, but staying on Pace can be difficult for some virtual learners. Many people have jobs, sports, or other concerns. Not to mention you don’t have in-person reminders from teachers that deadlines are coming.
Independent study comes with more personal responsibility than traditional education – it will be incredibly beneficial to make an effort early on to put practices in place that will help you remain on pace. This will not only help you greatly in your online learning, but it will prepare you immensely for life after you graduate.
Strategies for Staying on Pace:
Make a daily schedule
Independent study means that you are much more in charge of your daily Schedule than having to be on a bell schedule from 8am to 3pm everyday. While your coursework is available to you 24/7, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make a plan for when you will be completing it!
Start your week off writing down what work you need to Complete and finish by the end of each day. Then take it one step further by breaking down each day. What hours are you most productive? Schedule your work around those time frames! Be sure to write down your live sessions as well as any tutoring or online clubs you will have.
If you have fallen behind and need to utilize a catch-up plan, use that as your guide and put a time to each subject. That starts from 9a and goes until 4pm. Make sure to take small breaks and a lunch.
Make Your Space
Because your studies take place in a virtual classroom, where you access that classroom is up to you! Find a place where you are able to be most productive. This can be different from person to person. Some people need complete silence in order to focus, others do their best work in a busy coffee shop with their headphones in.
It’s important to know yourself and find a space that benefits you, where distractions are limited and you are able to do your best work. Your local library can be a great place to get online and get working. If you need to be based at home, talk to to your parent or guardian about finding a space within your home that can be dedicated as a “learning station”.
Be Prepared
Would you show up to in-person school with nothing in hand? No! You would have everything you need for that day – it’s important to do the same for your online school days. Have all your resources that are needed to complete your school work at the ready.
Make sure your devices are fully charged (best to keep your charger close as well). Keep a pen and paper in your learning space so that you are able to quickly jot down some notes when needed.
Another great idea would be to do a bit a food prepping before you start your online work. Have a few snacks pre-made that you can quickly grab when you are ready for a snack. This can be a real time saver!
Get Ahead & Ask for Help When Needed
Another huge benefit of working in an online environment is that you can get ahead! Try focusing on one course a day – complete a weeks’ worth of work on that day plus 1-3 additional lessons per week. Many students choose to do this on the day of their lives session. It’s a great way to not only stay on pace but get yourself ahead of the curve!
If you find that you are having trouble completing your online work, think about asking your teacher for a tutoring session once a week. These are generally short sessions where you can review information that you may lack the understanding to complete. CalPac faculty care about you being the best you can be – we will help put a plan in place to ensure that you are able to stay on track and succeed in your online classes.
Reward Your Hard Work
Putting in all this effort should not go unrewarded! It can also be a great incentive to complete your work in a timely manner. Setup at reward for yourself to have once all the work on your weekly schedule is completed – like hanging out with friends or having a movie night! Looking forward to fun things will keep you motivated to complete your work in time to be able to enjoy your plans!
Find What Works for You!
While all of these tips are things we have seen work for plenty of online students, we recognize that everyone is different – personalization is huge part of what makes CalPac work for so many students!
Start by putting some of these basic things in place for yourself and tweak them as you discover how it works best for you. Do you need to take a 5 minute dance break every hour? Or take yourself on a midday walk? Do it!
Personalizing your productivity plan is going to be what gives it longevity, so don’t be afraid to change things so that they work best for you – and never be afraid to reach out to your online teachers and counselors if you find yourself struggling. We are here to help!
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