5 Virtual Learning Ideas for Better Grades

We are living in crazy times right now. Being stuck at home for quarantine has its pros and cons. Some people can learn best at home and some can’t. In this blog article, I wanted to give you some virtual learning ideas to be as productive as possible.

There are many distractions at home. Our parents, our siblings, television, video games, or our fridge can call our names. We can easily slip away from learning.

Fall 2020 has a lot of uncertainty. Some states and countries are opening schools for in-person, while others are all virtual. Some give you the option, and some schools are half-half.

For those who will continue school online, here are five ideas for virtual learning success.

Set up a quiet learning station

Depending on where you live and who lives with you, your house may be loud. Television can be going off, people talking, or noise from outside. Make sure you find a room or a section in your house where you block off all the noise. With a lot of noise in the background, you can quickly get distracted and irritated, not a great learning environment. Distraction and irritation can lead.

According to the Journal of Neuroscience, studies show that noise in the environment can affect your brain from taking in new information. If you can’t find a quiet place to learn, you need to have a serious talk with people who live with you on keeping the levels of noise down.

Set up a routine

It can be easy to wake up 15 – 30 minutes before class to attend class. All you have to do is brush, have a quick breakfast, and sit on your desk. When you do that, you don’t set your day up for success. A rushed morning can lead to anxiety and worry.

It is essential to create habitual morning routines. Your morning routines can involve exercising, reading, meditating, singing, calling a loved one, drawing, writing in a journal. Make sure you allocate at least 30-minutes to a morning routine.

According to Jodi Clarke, MA, LPC/MHSP, “Having a morning routine helps set the stage for better prioritizing, more effective time-management, and greater productivity. All of this, in turn, is likely to have a positive impact on our self-efficacy.”

Eliminate all distractions 

It’s easier to get distracted at home. For example, it can be tempting to lie down on our couch. We can continuously take trips to the kitchen for quick snacks. We have access to our phones to check. If you were at school, you wouldn’t have access to any of those, so why would you take advantage of it when you are home?

Put your phone on silent in your pocket, close your room door if you are in your room, and clear your desk to only your school material. Make sure to turn off the TV, and there is nothing else that can distract you. If there are distractions, you cannot be fully attentive. Start observing what takes your attention if you do get distracted. Then eliminate it or minimize it as much as possible.

Dress up like you are going to school

It can be easy just wearing a T-shirt and shorts or being in our pajamas if you have to sit in front of a computer. There is something about dressing up that helps lift our confidence and makes us feel good. When we feel good, we tend to perform better on tests and assignments.

Wear your favorite outfit during important days. Make sure you have your outfits ready the night before, so it is easier to get prepared for the morning. It is also important to notice what makes you most comfortable. Some people prefer dressing in jeans and a polo. Some people like to dress fancier or less fancy than that. Sometimes it’s even good to keep a journal of how certain outfits make you feel.

Give yourself some breaks

If you are anything like me and want to get everything done, it isn’t easy to take breaks. That can lead to being burnt out or tired for the day. Any chance you get to take a break, take it. MIT recommends every 50 minutes of studying to a 10-minute break. When taking a break, don’t go on your phone; instead, go for a walk or do breathing exercises.

After 2 – 4 hours, take a 30 – 45-minute break. Breaks allow you to rejuvenate and bring your complete focus back. Without it, you can see yourself to be more distracted.

Wrapping up

I hope you enjoyed these virtual learning ideas. As you are learning from home, remember we are all going through this together. It may not be easy, but with the right techniques, you can effectively learn online.

When I first started working from home, I was not too fond of it. I barely had an interaction and felt stuck. Then from time to time, I would check on my friends to see how they are doing. Please make sure you also check on your classmates and have as much interaction with them online. It will be going to school online a little bit enjoyable because of those interactions.

You will have to experiment a little bit with what works for you and what doesn’t. Some of these virtual learning ideas will not work for you, and that’s ok. Implement the ones that work for you. Everyone is different.

Best of luck!

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