Read on Twitter
I& #39;m seeing stressed tweets from people diving into their first month of virtual classes.
I just finished four months of full-time graduate courses delivered entirely over Zoom.
It was hard. Here& #39;s what saved my ass:
I just finished four months of full-time graduate courses delivered entirely over Zoom.
It was hard. Here& #39;s what saved my ass:
BREAKS
> if your profs haven& #39;t initiated hourly 5 minute breaks or 10-15 minute breaks every two hours, demand they do.
> Experiment with what refreshes you the fastest. For me it was music&jumping jacks, but sometimes all I could manage was standing up and staring at a wall.
> if your profs haven& #39;t initiated hourly 5 minute breaks or 10-15 minute breaks every two hours, demand they do.
> Experiment with what refreshes you the fastest. For me it was music&jumping jacks, but sometimes all I could manage was standing up and staring at a wall.
EYES
> Get blue light glasses. Before getting them, I ended every day looking like I had been crying and went to bed with a headache. These saved my life plus I looked cute.
> If you can, put a little light (ie. a ring light) behind your monitor. The glow helps somehow.
> Get blue light glasses. Before getting them, I ended every day looking like I had been crying and went to bed with a headache. These saved my life plus I looked cute.
> If you can, put a little light (ie. a ring light) behind your monitor. The glow helps somehow.
FOCUS
I get professional help with ADHD so there& #39;s lots of general tips I could give here, but specific to online school:
> Try to use one monitor during lectures. I know. It killed me at first but the 2nd one tempted my focus way more than it added functionality.
I get professional help with ADHD so there& #39;s lots of general tips I could give here, but specific to online school:
> Try to use one monitor during lectures. I know. It killed me at first but the 2nd one tempted my focus way more than it added functionality.
STUDYING
Your courses weren& #39;t built for this format, they were adapted to it. It& #39;s not ur fault for struggling to engage. Use tools built for online delivery.
>I tutored myself using Khan Academy (free) and LinkedIn Learning (free for Ontario students with you student email)
Your courses weren& #39;t built for this format, they were adapted to it. It& #39;s not ur fault for struggling to engage. Use tools built for online delivery.
>I tutored myself using Khan Academy (free) and LinkedIn Learning (free for Ontario students with you student email)
HEALTH
> Whatever is at your desk you will consume. I set up a tea and coffee station in my room and always had a jug of water with me. I& #39;ve never been so hydrated.
> Because of this, it& #39;s easy to drink coffee literally all day. Bad idea. I started switching to tea after noon.
> Whatever is at your desk you will consume. I set up a tea and coffee station in my room and always had a jug of water with me. I& #39;ve never been so hydrated.
> Because of this, it& #39;s easy to drink coffee literally all day. Bad idea. I started switching to tea after noon.
DESK
> Google desk ergonomics and set-up accordingly.
> My desk was $15 on FB marketplace. I just wanted a big flat surface.
> Raise both monitors to eye level. I struggled with positioning. What eventually worked is one big monitor directly in front of me and ...
> Google desk ergonomics and set-up accordingly.
> My desk was $15 on FB marketplace. I just wanted a big flat surface.
> Raise both monitors to eye level. I struggled with positioning. What eventually worked is one big monitor directly in front of me and ...
DESK (cont.)
... the laptop to my right, tilted diagonally towards me as my "quick google" screen.
> One monitor stand is books, the other is a $2 rack from the dollar store. The rack was great because it saved desk space. (I& #39;ll put a pic in the replies)
... the laptop to my right, tilted diagonally towards me as my "quick google" screen.
> One monitor stand is books, the other is a $2 rack from the dollar store. The rack was great because it saved desk space. (I& #39;ll put a pic in the replies)
SOCIAL
> Your school is probably creating a ton of virtual social events and clubs. Really try to attend some but don& #39;t beat yourself up if you need to shut your laptop the moment class ends.
> I joined one club I liked, participated every week, then let go of the guilt.
> Your school is probably creating a ton of virtual social events and clubs. Really try to attend some but don& #39;t beat yourself up if you need to shut your laptop the moment class ends.
> I joined one club I liked, participated every week, then let go of the guilt.
SOCIAL (cont.)
> Find out which of your classmates are cool. Add them on Insta/Twitter earlier than you normally would. Don& #39;t wait until the end.
> Then add the rest of them on LinkedIn lol
> Find out which of your classmates are cool. Add them on Insta/Twitter earlier than you normally would. Don& #39;t wait until the end.
> Then add the rest of them on LinkedIn lol
TEAMS
> ALL meetings need a Chair to keep a speakers list & call on ppl to talk. Zoom cuts ppl off when they speak at the same time.
> Have 2 chat channels: Updates and Discussions. 1 person posts the outcome of a discussion into the Updates channel so they don& #39;t get lost.
> ALL meetings need a Chair to keep a speakers list & call on ppl to talk. Zoom cuts ppl off when they speak at the same time.
> Have 2 chat channels: Updates and Discussions. 1 person posts the outcome of a discussion into the Updates channel so they don& #39;t get lost.
GENERAL:
> Constantly remind yourself to relax your shoulders and sit up straight.
> Actually... you should do that right now as you read this.
> Constantly remind yourself to relax your shoulders and sit up straight.
> Actually... you should do that right now as you read this.
LASTLY (I think)
> It& #39;s fair as students to be frustrated about paying full tuition for less of an experience, esp. when it& #39;s already way too high.
> It& #39;s fair for faculty to be frustrated about doing 2x the work for the same pay.
> Empathy has never been more important.
> It& #39;s fair as students to be frustrated about paying full tuition for less of an experience, esp. when it& #39;s already way too high.
> It& #39;s fair for faculty to be frustrated about doing 2x the work for the same pay.
> Empathy has never been more important.
OK, that& #39;s all for now. I& #39;d love to hear what worked for other people!
(
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="đź’•" title="Zwei Herzen" aria-label="Emoji: Zwei Herzen">& remember your GPA only measures how well you can deliver what is expected of you, not the value of you or your workhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="đź’•" title="Zwei Herzen" aria-label="Emoji: Zwei Herzen">)
(
Oh, and the desk pic! Very DIY, cheap set-up. I wish the keyboard was bigger.
> Also to keep my legs moving, I kept a basketball under my desk and used it as a foot rest that also forced me to constantly move a little.
> Also to keep my legs moving, I kept a basketball under my desk and used it as a foot rest that also forced me to constantly move a little.
