How to Succeed in Zoom Lectures
By: Sophia Pei ‘22 and Sumaya Hussaini ‘22
Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, USC recently announced that classes will be conducted online via Zoom. This transition will be challenging, and many students are concerned about the quality of online educational instruction. If you’re worried about falling behind with the transition to Zoom, keep reading for some tips on how to succeed in any online college course!
Test out your software before class begins
Before the scheduled class period, be sure to test out your camera, microphone, and internet to make sure things are up and running correctly. This will prevent you from running into technical difficulties, missing out on parts of class, and is particularly helpful for discussion-centered classes.
Find stable WiFi and a quiet space!
Whether this is your room or a study room in your local library, finding a place with stable connection and without distractions is a must to optimize your learning.
Set up a space to do work
While it may seem tempting to roll over from a nap and log into Zoom for lecture, doing work from bed is risky and makes you more prone to falling asleep and zoning out during lecture. Find a set space to do work — whether that’s at a desk, cute coffee shop, or an office — to get you in the right headspace to be productive.
Find sunlight
Being exposed to sunlight as opposed to artificial light/ being in the dark helps me feel energized and awake. Try to do work near a window or even outside, if the weather permits, to feel more awake and lift your mood!
Get dressed
Yes, you can get away with staying in your pajamas or even not be dressed at all, but for your own mental state, get ready, be the best physical you that you can be so you can also be the best mental you! Getting dressed will make you feel like you’re in a class environment and prevent you from dozing off.
Eat meals before!
While no one can stop you from eating during your lecture, so you can give your undivided attention to the lecture, please save meals for before and after. That doesn’t mean you can’t snack!
Turn off your phone
Since some classes don’t require that you keep your camera on, having your phone next to you during class can be a major distraction. While most professors have a no phone policy when it comes to lecture, the ability to get away with texting or refreshing Instagram will be tempting, to say the least. Turn your phone off as soon as class starts so you can give your undivided attention to your professor and class content!
Close other tabs
We’re all guilty of using our laptops to browse other tabs as a distraction from lecture, whether it’s to check social media or catch up on homework for another class. This can be even more tempting for classes online, so make sure to close all other tabs and distractions on your laptop before logging into Zoom!
Attend lectures at the scheduled time even if they’re recorded
While online classes tend to be flexible, you should still stick to the regular routine of classes if possible. This will ensure you don’t fall behind or put off work until the last minute, better preparing you for finals! This also allows you to ask questions directly and participate rather than being a passive listener.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions
I’m sure by now we’ve all been in a Zoom session with someone who was not aware that they were unmuted but the whole point of having microphone access is so that you can participate when you feel the need to. Be an active learner and take advantage of this feature. Don’t be afraid to unmute yourself to ask questions or send questions in the chatbox. You can specifically @ your professor if you don’t believe the question would be relevant to the entire class.
Don’t fall behind on assignments
Whether they’re pre-lecture quizzes or regular worksheets, it can be easy to fall behind without the physical daily routine of lectures and exposure to classmates. Keep a log of all your assignments and their deadlines.
Collaborate with your peers!
Just because you can’t be in the same room as your classmates doesn’t mean you can’t work with them! Whether you’re using Discord, old fashioned phone calls, or even hosting your own Zoom session, maintain those study groups and connections! The best way to learn is to teach so work with each other and study!
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