Tips for Success in Online Classes
Welcome back Dragons! As you all know, we officially started our online classes Monday. You’ve probably received a lot of information from your professors about how you’re moving forward with the semester. Below we’ll share our tips and resources for how to make the most of your spring semester despite the disruptions and finish strong!
Maintain a schedule
You’ve probably heard this a lot right now and there’s a reason for that: It works! Even though you might not have to physically be in class during your regular class time, taking that designated time to do work for your class will help you feel a little more motivated. Along with keeping up with your normal schedule, add in some time to walk around and take a break from screens. Whether it’s a short walk around your home or a walk outside, it’s nice to stay even a little bit active. So keep up with your regular sleep schedule, have a break for lunch and walks, and “go” to class on time.
Keep a to do list
Make sure you continue to update your planner with new due dates so you don’t forget, since there won’t be as many reminders while you’re home alone. A great website to utilize is Trello, where not only can you keep a personal to do list but you can keep a to do list with a group of people. If you are still doing a group project, this can be a good way to assign roles and work together even when you can’t meet face to face.
Become a master Zoomer
Zoom is huge right now. You may or may not have a class that is using it, but even if you’re not it’s an amazing resource. If you’re in a student organization, you can use Zoom to keep up your meetings or get creative with events. Student Life, the Dragon Entertainment Group, and the Career Development Center (to name a few) are all planning events that you can attend by using Zoom. Wanna know something amazing? You can have backgrounds in Zoom and MSUM Marketing created MSUM pics just for us. Go check them out and feel like you’re back on campus! To learn how to change your background on Zoom, go here.
Here is an article for how to use Zoom: 10 Tips and Tricks for Using Zoom
You can also check out Zoom’s help center which is a great resource for any questions you have about the program.
Check your email and D2L
This is incredibly important. With email being the main point of contact for most professors, your email will be the best resource for you. It also happens to be the easiest to use. If you didn’t use your school email much before, now’s the time to get used to using it. You can also add events or meetings to your schedule so you don’t miss anything even while you’re at home.
Along with your email, make sure you’re checking D2L for any due dates or announcements your professors may have left on there. If email isn’t their primary point of contact, D2L is likely how they’ll be contacting you. On the sidebar you can see due dates that are coming up, but when you have multiple classes online it can be a lot. Pair up checking D2L with writing in your planner so you have another place to check due dates that aren’t online.
Utilize MSUM’s Academic Support Center
We know this is a difficult time, especially for students that are adjusting to being online. The road may be bumpy as you try to adapt and it might not be easy keeping up with your regular schedule. You may do better with in person classes and it’s okay to admit that online courses are out of your comfort zone. If you find yourself struggling with schoolwork, don’t be afraid to contact the Academic Support Center. During this time they are offering online tutoring options, so check out their website to schedule a meeting. They also have their own Zoom Room, which you can go to here to talk with a Student Specialist. The Zoom Room is open Monday-Thursday 9 am to 8 pm and Friday 9 am to 3 pm.
Talk to MSUM Counseling Services
Like we’ve mentioned above, this isn’t an easy time. If you are struggling emotionally, whether or not it is related to the current situation and changes, MSUM Counseling Services are still operating. MSUM Counseling Services is meeting face-to-face with students as long as they follow the CDC guidelines. You can also schedule a meeting over the phone. For more information on how you can access their services during this time, check out their website.
Stay active with the MSUM Wellness Center
The MSUM Wellness Center is closed, but they are still working to make sure that you can get your exercise in! From podcasts to livestreams to challenges, the Wellness Center has many activities students can still participate in. To see their full schedule for the week, make sure to look them up on social media @MSUMRecWell.
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For more information on resources available to students, check out our blog post Resources for Students during COVID-19 Disruption. Stay safe, healthy, and happy!