5 Tips To Help Graduate Students Transition To Online Classes Because Of COVID-19
- Get Familiar With Distance Learning Technology
- Learn To Manage Time More Effectively
- Stay In Touch With Professors
- Keep Working On Research Or Projects
- Ask For Help If Needed
Tips for grad students in the transition to being online students because of COVID-19 may be needed for students used to learning in person. The educational landscape has changed very quickly and many students could likely use some help and advice adjusting. These tips should help.
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1. Get Familiar With Distance Learning Technology
The first hurdle to overcome is unfamiliarity with distance learning technologies. Platforms such as Zoom and Moodle have become popular for teaching online as they provide tools to turn in assignments, have class discussions on a forum and allow professors to lecture over webcam. However, there can be a learning curve. Explore the platform being used by the university to discover and learn its features. Students should look at a platform’s FAQs, tutorials and help features to familiarize themselves with this new learning environment.
2. Learn To Manage Time More Effectively
Distance learning requires students to exercise more discipline over the time they spend at school. This can prove a difficult adjustment for students who don’t do well with this type of learning, which according to HuffPost is a significant drawback of online degree programs. Students should work on developing their own schedule and be on time for lectures or office hours that take place at certain times. Tech tools such as time trackers can be useful. Cultivating good time management skills in grad school will be hugely beneficial once out in the workforce.
3. Stay In Touch With Professors
Going online means not being able to interact with one’s professors as often as might be expected. It will become even more important to stay in contact regarding any ongoing projects, research or classwork while learning remotely. Be sure to have a couple of ways to contact professors and respond to any communications from them promptly. If they are having difficulty with the transition to online learning and distance communication, help them adapt to it.
4. Keep Working On Research Or Projects
Graduate students may have had their research and projects be rudely interrupted by the COVID-19 outbreak. The appropriate response will vary depending on the type of graduate project the student was pursuing. Students simply working on papers that can be researched remotely via libraries and other resources can simply continue on their projects. Those who were doing in-person studies will have to make adjustments and arrangements. In some cases, these studies may have to be halted until next semester. Discuss the issue with professors, deans, and department heads if necessary to find unconventional solutions in these unconventional times.
5. Ask For Help If Needed
This is a very scary, uncertain time. Everyone is having to adjust to a new normal for the time being and it is understandable that help might be needed. Students who need help with anything, whether it is the tech they now need to use, how to stay in touch with their classmates or anything their professor can offer, should ask for it. This is one of the most critical tips for grad students in the transition to being online students because of COVID-19. Students should not be ashamed to reach out, ask for help and get their needs taken care of.
COVID-19 has upended lives overnight and the same is true for graduate students, who now largely need to attend classes online. These tips for grad students in the transition to being online students because of COVID-19 should help ease the strain.
