Written by Ribby Suh
Scrolling through Instagram and Facebook, I noticed how different my friends’ 2020 graduation looked from mine only two years ago. Graduation may just be a single day, but ever since COVID-19, your everyday life probably has changed drastically, from housing to social gatherings. Most importantly, your learning environment! I am here to share with you how to effectively use virtual learning environments at UCI. I have consolidated my own personal experiences, my peers’, and even my partner’s and younger siblings’!
Setting a routine schedule is KEY. Keep a detailed calendar with meetings and assignment due dates and schedule your day as if you were to physically go to class or lab. The onset of laziness is extremely probable when you are staying at home, maybe you don’t even change out of your pajamas, stay in bed or sleep at your desk. Yes, there are the regular Zoom lectures you’ll ‘have’ to attend. No, you’ll rarely feel the immediate engagement being present in a physical classroom offers. Yes, your professor will record the lectures for the students’ convenience. No, these recordings are not for you to leave until the end of the week to binge-watch like your favorite Netflix shows. They are to supplement, not replace the actual lectures.
Notification settings, I’d say, come second. As UCI utilizes the Canvas platform, you should familiarize yourself with it as soon as possible. Go to ‘Account’ and then ‘Notification Settings.’ In this page, you can individually adjust the time you want to receive notifications (‘Due Date’ should probably be checked ‘Notify me right away’). While you should be checking your email inbox on a more regular basis now, you should also be checking your Canvas pages.
Adjust your physical setting to simulate non-virtual learning. You might achieve this by studying in a different room rid of distractions. Your PI (personal investigator or professor in charge of the lab) may open their lab with a staggered schedule between lab-mates. When you were on campus, you had to walk from class to class. Some of your friends may have preferred studying at the library or anywhere that’s not home because they knew they’d get too comfortable back home. At least, keep out only materials that are relevant for the current task or lecture you are attending to. The time may have come for you to finally clean off that crusty pizza box in the corner and organize your desk.
Re-evaluate your posture at your desk. Adjust your chair to the ergonomically right height, angle, and lumbar support. You’ll be working at your desk for a long time, so don’t forget to get up and stretch once in a while. Buy a monitor and a keyboard (if you can afford it). With Zoom opened on one screen, you would have another screen to freely navigate through Canvas and PDF textbook.
Maintain the usual, physical YOU. Wear your usual outing clothes. As I’ve mentioned before, you may be tempted to work in your pajamas all day. In 9 out of 10 cases, you’d be on Youtube for hours on end, or ironically, watching videos on ‘How to be productive.’
Motivate yourself. Remind yourself of the fact you are still paying for this education. If this monetary aspect isn’t the kind of motivation you want to use, find your own reason for continuing with education. Instead of complaining about how virtual learning isn’t just enough, search for additional resources. UCI grants free access to otherwise charged resources through the library. “[I] get through hard courses by just reading some recognized textbook, papers, blogs, and organize this information into my own toolkit,” said my friend studying computer science. I’m sure you’ve heard of free venues such as TedX or Khan Academy, too (no, I am not sponsored for advertising!).
Work together. Motivate yourself with fellow classmates. ‘Discord’ is one platform I’ve seen my students use to collaborate on homework and projects. Not only will collaborating allow you to power through difficult material, it will keep everyone motivated. These online platforms are the new methods to find friends as you would normally have with the person sitting next to you in class.
Until COVID-19 goes away, we may need to use this format of virtual learning for an indefinite amount of time, or who knows, this may become the new norm of learning. Most importantly, exercise and eat well. Education can only happen with a healthy physical and mental state.