Since the pandemic began, many students have not been used to remote learning causing a big challenge even to those with good study habits.

Fortunately, the Center for Academic Innovation of the University of Michigan released a guide for students to help them regain control over the situation.

Here are some recommendations that can help students develop their study habits:

1. Stay Organized

It is essential for students to know how to organize schoolwork. They might also want to check the important dates for each class, know when the remote classes are held and include the links to lectures and office hours for handy retrieval.

2. Don’t Multitask

Doing multiple things at once seems beneficial. However, studies show that performing multiple tasks at once actually takes a lot of time.

Students must focus on one thing at a time, take breaks between tasks and try focusing on work for 25-minute to 50-minute periods, and use a 5 to 10-minute break as a reward.

3. Make the Most of Video Lectures

Students must stick to the instructors’ schedules to keep a routine going and to prevent falling behind. They must close any distracting tabs and apps that might compete for their attention.

Students should take notes as if they were in a typical classroom, and they must watch lectures at normal speed to ensure they’re learning and retaining the material.

4. Set a Schedule

During remote learning, students’ time is less structured, but they can develop it by setting a schedule for their daily activities.  

Being familiar with the schedule makes students feel confident and secure. A weekly or daily calendar or even a spreadsheet can help them organize their study and personal time.

5. Swap Out Study Strategies

An old study from the pre-COVID semester may no longer work. Students can adapt usual habits for the new situation or develop entirely new strategies, by trying to re-create their homes as a good study environment for them. Students who like to study in groups can do the virtual study sessions.

6. Collaborate Remotely

Collaborative learning can develop a higher level of thinking skills, also it can boost students’ confidence and self-esteem. 

Remotely, the students can set up a meeting or check-in at least every few days, to talk about progress and plans with a clear objective or purpose and take notes in a shared document with their classmates. 

Keeping videos open and seeing teammates can help students stay connected to one another, they can check each other and alert the instructor if one of them has been Missing-In-Action (MIA) from meetings.

7. Stay Connected to Others

Students are more likely to succeed academically when they feel connected to their school.

Staying connected using various apps to connect not just with their family and friends, but also with their classmates and instructors during virtual office hours, if necessary can reduce stress, and improve productivity.