by Teddy Clementi

The transition from a high school classroom to a University lecture hall can be stressful and time consuming. Now imagine going from a University to an online learning environment during a global pandemic. My name is Theodore “Teddy” Clementi, and I am a freshman at UW Oshkosh. I am originally from the Milwaukee, WI area and graduated from Kaukauna High School. I am going to be talking about five ways to succeed transitioning to the new online learning environment that UW Oshkosh will be adopting for the remainder of the spring 2020 semester.

Create a Schedule

Begin your day at the same time every day. Create a schedule of when you are going to eat, work on homework, interact with your family, and take personal time. Creating a consistent schedule will get you into a routine for the second half of the semester and will ensure that you get to every task that you plan for that day. If something doesn’t work out well within your first schedule, then make a new one and continue to improve your daily routine until it is perfect for you.

Create a specific study space

It’s easier to recall information if you’re in the same place where you first learned it, so having a dedicated space at home to take online courses can make your learning more effective. Whether it be your kitchen table, bedroom, or any other quiet space, this designated learning space will remove any distractions that may come along. If possible, make this study space separate from your bed or sofa. A clear distinction between where you study and where you take breaks can help you focus. Finding that perfect spot to study is completely based on the preference of the student and finding that spot can immensely improve a student’s academic performance.

Treat your online classes like a job

Although you may not be getting paid for your work on your classes, your performance can affect your future immensely. Setting daily goals and making checklists can help you succeed in your courses and projects, allowing you to prove to yourself that you are able to work efficiently and independently. Accomplishing small goals each day and creating a portfolio will help motivate you to keep working on your studies. Making your classes a top priority will ensure that you are spending enough time and putting in enough effort to succeed. 

Limit Distractions

Being at home and in your own space can be very distracting itself. There is no longer a professor physically there to tell you to get off your phone or to stay productive on your laptop. Putting your phone on Do Not Disturb is a great way to ensure that you are using your time wisely and not continuously checking your phone every few minutes like our brains are programmed to do. One thing that has worked for me in the past is to plug my phone in across the room so not only will I not be able to see any notifications while I am studying, but my phone is completely charged once I am done studying so I can reward myself with some time on TikTok. Self control is going to be an imperative skill that us Titans must use to succeed the rest of this semester. 

Use online resources

You have the internet at your fingertips. Use the UW Oshkosh Libraries website to research certain topics, and try out Google Scholar for a search engine that only brings up scholarly and reliable sources. Talk to your friends and work together to create a Quizlet flash card set to study for your next quiz. If you need your paper fixed or just have a question on formatting, the Writing Center can help. Also, make sure you are very comfortable with the Canvas platform, where all of the online classes will be taught. Find information about Canvas on the UWO Canvas website.

Overall, COVID-19 has taken the world by storm and has put UW Oshkosh in the tough position of switching its students to virtual learning methods. Chancellor Andy Leavitt and the UWO faculty and staff believe that us Titans are able to accomplish anything we put our mind to. Don’t forget to be an ally during these hard times, and know that you will succeed in this new online environment if you put your mind to it.