A couple weeks ago we sent our students home, asked our faculty to quickly figure out how to give their finals online, and began the process of switching to remote instruction for the foreseeable future. We are living in strange times and we are so thankful for our Pioneers family who has embraced these changes with hardly a complaint. 

Whether you’re a current PUC student or thinking about becoming one, you’re likely in the same boat, setting up your remote classroom and getting ready to learn in a whole new way. We thought it would be appropriate to share tips for successful online/remote learning.

Fun fact: PUC staff and faculty are also working from home so hopefully this will be beneficial to all of us! 

Remote learning comes in lots of forms. Some classes are taught using a platform like Zoom with regular class time, some have pre-recorded lectures with discussion boards, some will give you lecture notes and deadlines for homework and allowances to work at your own pace. No matter how your professors are choosing to conduct their classes, these tips should help! 

Set up a dedicated space to complete your work

First of all, set up a dedicated “classroom”. It’s important for you to give yourself a workplace where you can learn without distractions. Let your family or roommates know this is your classroom and you need to be allowed the opportunity to work without interruptions. 

Note: Try to add a few things that will brighten your space up! 

Make a schedule and treat your day like a normal school day 

It’s important to set a routine to follow so you don’t end up sleeping the day away even though that sounds very appealing! If you are not having regularly set lectures, use the time when your class normally meets to work on classwork. 

Eliminate distractions

As someone who got distracted by the internet about seven times just while writing this post, I’m no stranger to the need to eliminate distractions while trying to focus. While you’re “in class” turn your phone off and make sure you’re not on social media. Ask your family or roommates to allow you to have some quiet time so you can get the most out of your time. 

Give yourself dedicated homework time

Don’t let yourself fall into bad habits. Make sure you schedule a time to study and do your homework like you normally would. 

Take notes

If you’re a note-taker, keep taking them! If you’re listening to an online lecture, a pre-recorded one, or even if you’re just reading, try keeping track of important information or topics you’ll want to learn more about later on. 

Ask questions

Asking questions is always important but it’s even more important when you’re learning remotely. Don’t hesitate to reach out and ask for clarification or further explanation. 

Stay connected to your classmates  

Keep in touch with your classmates. Whether on discussion boards, or group texts, it’s important to stay connected. You know a great way to do that? Our next tip! 

Create a study group

You don’t have to be together physically to have study groups. Technology has given us so many great ways to connect together, use them! Band together and navigate this new challenge together. Who knows, you might make some incredible friendships while you’re at it. 

Stay in contact with your professor

Not everyone learns the same so make sure you stay in touch with your professors, they will be more than willing to work with you and help you figure out a solution. If you have questions, email or call them. If you don’t have questions, still email or call them. Check-in! They will appreciate it. 

Take frequent breaks

Make sure you take breaks, both mental and physical. Get some exercise, read something fun, watch Netflix, call a friend. Life is extremely stressful right now and you need to make sure you’re taking care of yourself. 

While we miss having our students wandering campus, in the classrooms, and popping in and out of our offices, we know eventually life will get back to normal and we look forward to the day we can welcome the Pioneers back to campus. In the meantime, we just want to say thank you for everyone’s hard work and dedication to weathering this storm together.