Lessons from Online Learning and Teaching: An Acronym for Online Education

The bell is ringing, but it’s not telling you to hurry to the classroom, it's telling you your zoom meeting is starting. Most of my students are about to start the school year online. As more schools are increasingly choosing online education, I am encouraging students to be BRASS. I offer a lot of tutoring services, but you might have noticed science is not one of them. However, thanks to ThoughtCo, I know that BRASS resists corrosion, so you can remember to emulate BRASS because we do not want the pandemic to corrode our educational experiences. So, what exactly is BRASS?

Be Flexible

Keep an open mindset about online education. Teachers are adjusting the best they can. Not all teachers are tech savvy, but just about all teachers want you to have the best experience possible, so try to find the positives. Parents are also adjusting since they have to juggle new work norms and your online education. Be patient with your parents when asking them for help because, like your teachers, they are trying to do the best they can with what they have. The final person you need to be patient with is yourself. It can be draining to spend so much time on a screen, so remember to give yourself breaks to stretch and get some fresh air.

Reflect on your Needs

Online education is an opportunity to get to know yourself as both a learner and a worker. Figure out what style of learning is best for you by looking to Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences. After determining your learning style, find studying methods that work for you. For instance, as an artist and a dancer, I have found that I respond positively to visuals and songs. I also do well when I set up a reward system for myself. For example, after solving a difficult problem set or writing a lengthy response, give yourself a piece of chocolate or a couple of minutes of Netflix as positive reinforcement. You are most likely missing comments from teachers, so find a way to reward good work. You might also be missing a quiet workspace, so reduce distractions. If your phone is more tempting with online classes, consider having a family member hold onto it until classes are over. If you have a loud dog, see if someone else in the house can walk the dog while you focus on your lesson. If you don’t have the luxury of having your own workspace, try to invest in earbuds or headphones to cancel out the noise.

Act like your Online Course is a Real Course

When my school made the switch to online last spring, a lot of my peers were quick to say it’s just online. The word “just” suggesting online courses are not real courses. However, even if you feel less pressure with online classes, you should still take your classes seriously. Hold yourself accountable for completing assignments and try your best to submit your work on time. If you have trouble with an assignment, problems with technology, or anxiety over these trying times, you or a guardian should reach out to the teacher. If you feel as though you are managing your online classes, take the next step and engage! Remember participation comes in different forms. You can not only ask and answer questions, but you can also follow along by taking notes, preferably on paper since your classes are on the screen.

Stay Organized

Learn to organize your school supplies and your time. Try to create a separate study space. Consider investing in a new desk or repurposing an existing one. If your only option is working from bed, I have advice for that too. Do not work under the covers, instead work on top of your bed, so underneath the covers is sleep mode and above the covers is work mode. Consider investing in back support and a laptop tray in order to avoid straining your back. Remember to get up and stretch every hour or so. No matter where you work, you should find a way to organize your stuff. One option is to invest in a large binder with separators for each subject. Another possibility is to have separate materials for each subject. You can also use color to divide subjects. You can even color code your supplies and your schedule. Maintaining a schedule is important. It is a good way to develop time management skills. Also, a regular routine with time to get ready, take breaks, and divide your assignments will help when in person classes resume.

Spend time on Social Media in Positive Ways

Social media can be a distraction, which is why you should limit your use during the school day. However, social media also has its benefits. You can find quality educational content on social media. Recently, I have found parodies of famous songs that reinforce math concepts. In addition, the “Tik Tok Tutor” is a useful way to learn math on social media. Social media is also a great way to stay in contact with friends during the pandemic, especially if you are missing the socialization that occurs at school. You also might be missing the opportunity for group study, so reach out through social media to form studygroup group chats. You should also consider reaching out to your teacher who may appreciate the effort and miss the relationships that develop in traditional classrooms.

To ensure your education stays intact be non corrosive like BRASS. In other words, your best bet at online education is being flexible, reflecting on your needs, acting like your online course is a real course, staying organized, and spending positive time on social media. At this point, you know BRASS and why it is important, but you might be wondering how did I develop it? I created BRASS from my experiences with online learning last semester. Also, I turned to the USA Today for a news group’s perspective, Northeastern for a university’s take, and Healthy Children for doctors’ advice.