By Anita Kishore
While the nationwide lockdown is gradually easing, there is still a long way to go before normalcy is restored into our daily lives. Navigating education in these strange times can seem daunting and can be challenging for students everywhere. And learning from home continues for some more time!
Here are a few things students can do to help create the right learning environment and make the most of their time at home:
Create a routine and stick to it:
Having a routine can help you become a consistent and disciplined learner. So make a time-table for the day and allocate a certain amount of time to learn, practise, and revise. To ensure you make the best use of this routine, make sure that you stick to it. Opting for LIVE online classes could also help set a routine to your learning.
Set up camp; create your “study zone”:
Staying all day at home can also mean lots of distractions. So in order to be focused, dedicate a specific area in the house for studies. Ensure this designated area is free of clutter, has good internet connectivity, and is comfortable enough for uninterrupted learning. And to give your study zone a special touch, decorate your space with motivational quotes for that extra push!
Make your surroundings your teacher:
Did you know that James Watt’s inspiration for the steam engine came from a boiling kettle? He noticed how the steam forced the kettle’s lid to rise and realised that he could use steam to power an engine.
What this story tells us is that science is all around us — in your kitchen, the garden, and everywhere else. So be observant of your surroundings, ask questions. If you’re curious to know why certain things work the way they do, look it up online. If you want to go a step further, analyse what you learn and mentally map each of your newly discovered facts to understand how everything is interconnected!
Take up a challenge, strengthen your concepts:
This is your personal time and you need to free yourself from the hesitation of asking questions or accepting difficulties. It’s the best time to revisit lessons, strengthen fundamentals, and master challenging topics. So if you’re struggling with a certain topic, instead of shrugging it off, take the time to understand it. There are various study materials available online — videos and written — that explain concepts in an easy-to-grasp and engaging manner.
Watch videos, learn smarter:
Did you know that visuals are processed 60,000 times faster by your brain than text? And I’m sure that anyone can vouch for the fact that learning from videos is a lot more fun than reading! Learning apps have videos with well-explained animated content and live classes that are designed to help students grasp concepts faster and retain them longer. So take the time to find videos that explain concepts visually so you can learn, understand, and remember them better.
Practise, revise, and practise some more:
There’s no better time than now to master concepts. Once you cover a new topic, practise and revise. There are unlimited practise tests and quizzes available online and on apps such as BYJU’S and more, that can help you practice, ensuring that you have a thorough understanding of every concept and unit. You can also refresh your memory by occasionally revisiting old topics.
Yes, the coronavirus has put all our lives on pause. But that doesn’t mean that learning should meet the same fate, does it? So make the best use of your time indoors to learn, grow, and thrive. Here’s wishing all students good luck and an enriching learn-from-home experience.
(Author is Chief Strategy Officer, BYJU’s)
