Your instructors are working hard to figure out how best to move face-to-face classes online. Expect ongoing changes as instructors and students adjust to the new learning environment. Be patient, flexible, and understanding, since some technologies or activities may not work as planned. Be helpful to other students, too. And of course, ask questions if you don’t understand something.

Before you prepare your weekly schedule for your learning, you need to answer the following questions for each course that you are taking:

• Is your instructor lecturing live during regular class time using a web conferencing tool, like Zoom?
• Are you expected to attend the live session? What time?
• Do you know how to access the links to watch the live stream?
• Is your computer ready (bandwidth, camera, microphone) to access/view the live stream?
• What changes were made to your course schedule, in terms of assignments and deadlines?
• What are the new due dates for assignments?
• How are you going to submit your assignments (Blackboard, email)?
• How are you going to take your quizzes and exams?
• Do you know how to ask for help?

Once you have answered these questions, prepare a schedule like this one:

	Class 1	Class 2	Class 3
Access to live lecture
Access to a recorded lecture
Quizzes
Exams
Discussion
Labs
Changes to assignments
Major due dates

• Practice healthy habits, including sleeping and eating well, and moving or exercising regularly
• Build regular breaks into your schedule: activeminds.org/selfcare
• Communicate with your instructor regularly, and check your email and Blackboard announcement daily. If you don’t understand the content or an assignment, or if you just need extra help, don’t guess. Ask questions that will be useful for your learning.
• Stay connected with your classmates and friends.
• Reduce your news consumption and seek news from reliable sources.
• Avoid procrastination. Don’t wait until the last minute. You may encounter hurdles as you complete your work.
• Keep a regular schedule. Dedicate consistent blocs of time to each course based on the overall course workload.
• Make a good study plan: watch this video and prepare your plan. See example:

Time	Scheduled Activity	Course Tasks	Personal Self-care
7:00 – 7:30			Breakfast
7:30 – 8:00		Prepare for course
8:00 – 9:00	Watch live lecture
9:00 – 10:00		Read Chapter 7
10:00 – 10:30			Break – Video call with a friend
10:30 – 12:00		Work on project

You will need to use effective time management – both to prevent yourself from falling behind and to develop a consistent routine for completing coursework.

Watch these two short videos on how to manage your time:

• Time Management Strategies for Online Students
• Online Students Share 4 Time Management Tips

Cognitive science research has demonstrated that multitasking is a myth.

You might have the impression that you’re able to multitask, but in reality, you are just switching from one task to another.

Multitasking is a myth, says McGill University Psychology Professor Daniel Levitin

Multitasking leads you to spend more time on assignments. (For example, every time you switch your focus from your reading to check social media, you’re wasting time getting back into your reading.)

Multitasking can cause you to make mistakes – and to remember less.

As you study, focus on one task at a time, while taking occasional breaks.

• The Magic of Monotasking.
• Follow the “Pomodoro method” to help you focus

You must keep up with your instructor and with University emails. Make sure to read them carefully, and ask questions if you don’t understand something. In a fluid situation like the one that we are all experiencing, communicating with your instructor is key to a successful transition.

Provide instructors with your Accomodation Letter, if you have a registered disability. And if you encounter any unanticipated barriers in the online learning environment (such as a need for video transcripts or assistive technologies), please contact the Office of Educational Accessibility.

Keep your instructor informed about your accessibility needs, as well.

Keep in mind that the same Honor Code and academic integrity rules apply to online students as to face-to-face students. If you cheat or plagiarize, you will fail the assignment – if not the entire online course. You will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct & Academic Integrity and you will have to follow its procedures.

To further your skills at practicing academic integrity, visit https://wp.odu.edu/plagiarism/.