Learning to Learn Online: Resources, Strategies, and Tips: Get Organized

Check out this blog post about staying organized while learning online from a student at Bowling Green State University.

3 Ways to Stay Organized

In brief, the author suggests her fellow students consider doing the following:

1. Buying a 2020 planner;
2. Utilizing daily or weekly to-do lists;
3. Downloading a planner app.

All of the changes we're experiencing on a daily basis can feel overwhelming, but sticking to a routine, or perhaps establishing a new routine, could help to make staying on top of your classes much more manageable.  Set and maintain a schedule, just as though you were still going to campus throughout the week and spending regular periods of time around your classes studying in the student lounge or Academic Learning Commons.

A few basic things you could do to establish a routine or maintain a schedule include:

• Before you begin your classes each day, make sure you have any textbooks, notes, or other materials that you may need. If you have created a dedicated study and work space, consider keeping your textbooks and notes in that area so that you always know where to find them, and always have them on hand when you need them.
• Check your KSU e-mail through FlashLine at least once (if not twice) a day.  Respond to any e-mails from your instructors in a timely manner. 
• Bookmark important webpages, such as:
  • BlackBoard Learn
  • InfoColumbiana (Important contact information for the East Liverpool and Salem campuses!)
  • Columbiana Campus Libraries and University Libraries
  • Keep On Learning
• Avoid multitasking whenever possible. The University of Michigan put together a great resource called Adjusting Your Study Habits During COVID that does an excellent job explaining why multitasking may not make us as efficient as we often think it does. If you are multitasking, you might actually remember less of the class content, take longer to complete assignments, and make more mistakes.  Instead, try the following:
  • Focus on only one task at a time;
  • Take short breaks between tasks;
  • Utilize the "pomodoro method" to help you focus by working for 25 or 50-minute intervals before taking short 5 or 10-minute breaks.

Remember, this is a new way of working and learning for most of us, and it's okay if you find that you have to adjust your study habits or more thoroughly plan out your day!

Check out the following websites for more great time management tips from friends and colleagues at other colleges, universities, and online publications:

6 Time Management Tips for Online Students by Northeastern University.

Guide to Mastering Time Management for Online Learners from Tulane University.

How to Study Remotely When Your School Closes by Study.Com

Online College and Time Management by The Quad Magazine.

Time Management Strategy for Online College Students by Western Governors University.

Are you more likely to use your phone rather than a pen and print planner?  If so, take a look at these great planner apps that you can use for managing your time and organizing your classes, homework, and tasks.  Best of all?  They're all free!

myHomework: By far the most commonly recommended student planner app, this app is available for both Apple and Android devices.  Additionally, you can also download it to your Windows PC, Mac, or Chromebook. 

eGenda - Homework Manager: This is a snazzy app built by students for students.  One of this app's best features is that you can color code your classes, as well as all of the assignments, exams, and tasks associated with each class.  In addition to being available in the App Store, it is also available for Android devices through Google Play.

iStudiez Pro: Like myHomework, this is an app that's available on almost all major platforms.  

My Study Life: Another great color-coded school planner app that's available for your iPhone, Android device, or Chromebook.