Studying online has become a popular norm post the pandemic and with each passing day, more and more students are opting for online classes. Online classes can be beneficial, especially because students can access education from the safety of their homes but the lack of physical classes can come with its own challenges and tribulations. Virtual distractions are some of the main hindrances students face while studying online and here we discuss ways to minimize them:
1. Switching off phone: Perhaps the best way to minimize virtual distractions while attending online study courses is to switch off your mobile phone or keep it out of your sight/reach. Students are often slaves to their habits of unlocking and checking their phones frequently – which can easily be curbed if the phone is switched off or is out of reach. Switching on a mobile phone takes time, and thus, it dampens the student’s obsession of checking the phone every two minutes.
2. Closing all social media: Social media distractions in online learning have plagued students ever since the advent of smart devices. Therefore, the most effective way to separate social media and distraction, is to close all social media apps during the course of the online class. Not only social media on your smartphone but also social media apps on your laptop or desktop must be closed if you truly want to have singular focus on your virtual class.
3. Limiting screen time: Not only the use of social media, distraction problems in online class can arise when you have unlimited and unrestricted access to screen time. Even if social media is closed, students often can’t resist the urge to check their phone/laptop screens for random pop-ups and notifications. Hence, the only way to control this temptation is to limit your screen time. If you lack the discipline or the commitment to do so yourself, use apps like ‘Screen Time’ that do it for you.
4. Monitor virtual time usage: One of the most effective techniques to minimize virtual distractions while studying online is to do a thorough research on how you are spending or wasting your virtual time. There are screen time and activity measuring apps that can tell you where and how you’re spending most time online. These statistics will help you recognize your own virtual pattern and will tell you where you should impose limits to increase your productivity.
Lack of a physical classroom or lack of proximity to an educator may lead to students being ill-focused on their virtual training but these distraction-minimizing tips, if followed, will help you concentrate and achieve your academic goals.