Five tips for staying focused during online classes

We’ve been discussing online learning ad nauseam, but have we actually learned to concentrate in digital lectures and seminars? Pi Media has compiled 5 top tips for staying focused during online class.

Make your workspace comfortable and organised

Some say that a messy desk is a sign of genius; others think that a cluttered desk is a cluttered mind (Einstein allegedly quipped “if a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what then is an empty desk a sign?” But I digress.) If you can, try and work somewhere quiet, and dedicate some time each day to clearing and organising your workspace. What’s more, bad lighting causes fatigue, eye strain and headaches, so make sure that you have adequate light. If you are sitting down for hours a day, check that your chair provides good back support.

Get rid of distractions

We have all been in a lecture and seen rows of people in front of us mindlessly scrolling through Facebook rather than listening to the lecturer. It’s tempting to pop open another tab and check the latest football scores but try not to succumb to the urge. Set your phone to Do Not Disturb; better yet, turn it off and leave it in another room. There are also multiple website blocker apps that disable access to certain websites and allow you to set a schedule or timer for when you can use them. If you live with other people, tell them what time you have classes and ask them not to bother you.

Make a routine

Main benefit of online learning = no commute. It’s so tempting to roll out of bed five minutes before class starts – that’s if you do leave bed at all – and to stay in your pyjamas. However, now that our living space and working space have merged into one, a productive mindset is all the more important. Getting dressed helps you mentally prepare for the day, and we all know that breakfast is the most important meal. And if you’re that sort of person, a morning run helps boost your energy and prepare you for the day.

Stretch your legs

Research shows that sitting for long periods of time has negative effects on both your physical and mental health. Don’t stay sitting at your desk between classes; get up, stretch your legs, and maybe even get some fresh air. What’s more, according to The Vision Council, 59 per cent of people who routinely use computers and other digital devices experience symptoms such as eye fatigue, headaches, blurred vision and eye twitching. Try not to use your computer or phone during your breaks in order to give your eyes a rest. For more tips, check out Studydrive’s “Health and Fitness” group.

Try taking handwritten notes

You’d be forgiven for thinking that typed notes are better than handwritten notes; you can probably type quicker than you can write, and you’re less likely to accidentally throw them away. However, a 2014 study found that using laptops to write notes impaired learning because it resulted in “shallower processing” and found that students who typed notes performed worse on conceptual questions than the students who theirs by hand. Glancing away from the screen to look at your paper and pen allows your eyes to relax; it also means that you’re less likely to “accidentally” open Twitter. In fact, the Studydrive app features a scanning function to capture your handwritten notes and convert them into a PDF, so no need to worry about losing all of your loose-leaf documents.

Check out Studydrive here.