How to stay organised during remote/distance learning?
Distance learning is one of the biggest challenges for students who started this new academic year. Staying organised can be the key to your online success! In this week's blog post, we share tips on how how to keep yourself on track so that you stay on top of everything and successfully balance your work, family and online classes.
Authors: Yulia Kudryavtseva, Elochukwu (Elo) Uzor, Tam Nguyen, Kirsten Johnson and Hannah Sayono.
Prelims of Kant get Marx 2.0: a general politics quiz
Online Learning Organisation Presentation
1. Tips to StayTips to Stay
OrganisedOrganised
During OnlineDuring Online
LearningLearning
By Elochukwu (Elo) Uzor
Kirsten Johnson
Hannah Sayono
Tam Nguyen
Yulia Kudryavtseva
01
2. Minimise the desk space. Keep only things you really need
Remove the junk. Get rid of items which serve no purpose
to your productivity, such as stacks of meaningless
paperwork, food items, etc.
Keep your desk organised
Personalise Your Workspace
02
Comfortable
Undisturbed & Quiet
Private room (ideally)
Away from easy distractions such as internet, social media,
TV or... your bed.
Location
Your performance coincides with your workspace. When your
workspace is organised, you have the mindset and motivation
to work.
3. Revise
Your Email and
Computer Filing
System
03
Create a meeting folder: Place all items that need to be discussed
in a separate folder to help prepare for meetings and save time.
Do your best to eliminate, clear, and reorganize your files
and folders you've used in the past and transition from hard
copies to digital.
Here are some storage ideas to create a smooth filing
system:
Add a reading folder: Designate a folder for print articles or any
documents you want to read or save but are not urgent.
Create a WFR folder: Cluttered inboxes can be a nightmare. Use
WFR (Waiting for Response) folder and check it every few days.
Don’t let your filing pile up: Continuously organize your files. It
may be helpful to put new files into a “do to” and file everything
once or twice a week.
4. Leverage Software/Productivity AppsLeverage Software/Productivity Apps
Issue: Accumulated lots of open tabs
and windows during the day.
Purpose: A great tool for saving your
tabs, windows, and bookmarks, leaving
you free to exit out and return to them at
any time.
https://sessionbuddy.com
Issue: Brainstorming ideas and managing ideas
for group/individual projects during remote
learning.
Purpose: Google’s collaborative digital
whiteboard to enhance your meetings and
workflows. Features: Pen, marker, highlighter,
sticky notes, laser, and many more!
https://jamboard.google.com/ 04
Session Buddy1. 2. Jamboard 3. Momentum
Purpose: Tab page that gives you a
moment of calm, inspires you to be
productive and displays a reminder of your
focus for the day and to do list.
Other features: Offers a selection of
beautiful desktop images and inspiring
quotations.
https://momentumdash.com/
Task management softwares may help you in getting through the week and to keep on top of your seemingly never-
ending to-do’s. These are 3 amazing FREE tools that will be useful to stay organised during online learning:
5. Develop a weekly schedule around the deadlines
Make sure to include time for activities that bring
you joy
Set notifications on your phone/laptop about
upcoming deadlines
Preparing Your Work Schedule Ahead
(Include FUN!)
Make a quick list of all your deadlines
Include dates and a brief outline of each
task/project
Cross out or check each completed tasks (it will
make you feel accomplished and satisfied!)
Tracking Your Deadlines
Time Management Strategy (1): Planning
05
6. Time Management Strategy (2): Prioritising
06
A 'to do list' are prioritised lists of all the tasks that you need
to carry out. When used effectively, you'll be much better
organized when working remotely! You'll experience less
stress and feel safe in the knowledge that you haven't
forgotten anything important.
Pick a medium: Choose the right app (or paper)
Make Multiples: Create several lists of things that need to happen
(E.g., master list, weekly project list or high-impact tasks).
Meet the MITs (Most Important Tasks) and Keep it Simple
Time it and Don't Stress
Preparing a To Do List: