HOW TO SUCCEED IN ONLINE COLLEGE CLASSES | 10+ TIPS & TRICKS | alexia martin

Summary

In this informative video, Alexia shares her personal tips and tricks for succeeding in online college classes amidst the coronavirus shift to remote learning. She emphasizes the importance of getting dressed, avoiding working in bed, using a planner, and setting a schedule to stay organized and productive. Alexia also recommends setting reminders, checking emails and online platforms daily, practicing email etiquette, and using tools like the focus timer app for better concentration. Additionally, she suggests using white noise or background music for a familiar study environment and highlights the benefits of blue light glasses for reducing eye strain during long hours of screen time.

Takeaways

• 😀 Get up and get dressed to feel more productive at home.
• 🛌 Avoid working in bed to prevent falling asleep and losing productivity.
• 📅 Use a planner or Google Calendar to keep track of assignments and events.
• ⏰ Create a schedule to organize your time for each class and task.
• 🔔 Set reminders for due dates and tasks using apps or calendar notifications.
• 📝 Use the Notes app or a checklist to organize and prioritize tasks.
• 📧 Check your email and online school system daily for updates and announcements.
• 📝 Maintain proper email etiquette when communicating with professors.
• 🕒 Use the focus timer app for focused work sessions and regular breaks.
• 🎧 Listen to white noise or background music to simulate a study-friendly environment.
• 👓 Consider using blue light glasses to reduce eye strain from prolonged screen time.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video by Alexia?

The main topic of the video is tips and tricks for succeeding in online college classes, especially in the context of the shift to online learning due to the coronavirus.

Why does Alexia recommend getting up and getting dressed for online classes?

Alexia recommends getting up and getting dressed to feel more productive, as it helps create a mental shift from being in a relaxed state to being ready for work.

What is the issue with doing work in bed according to Alexia?

The issue with doing work in bed is that it's easy to fall back asleep, leading to a cycle of procrastination and decreased productivity.

Why is using a planner suggested as a tip for online classes?

Using a planner helps to keep track of assignments and deadlines, preventing students from losing track of their responsibilities in the less structured environment of online classes.

How does Alexia suggest creating a schedule for online classes?

Alexia suggests creating a schedule by assigning specific times for different activities, such as exercise, homework, and leisure, to stay organized and on track.

What is the purpose of setting reminders for online class assignments?

Setting reminders helps to keep students accountable and aware of upcoming due dates and tasks, ensuring they stay on top of their coursework.

Why is it important to check email and online school systems regularly?

It is important to check email and online school systems regularly to stay updated on any changes in assignment due dates, announcements, and other important information that may not be sent via email.

What is the focus timer app that Alexia recommends for staying focused on assignments?

The focus timer app Alexia recommends is a tool that helps block off time for focused work and breaks, improving concentration and productivity on assignments.

Why should students avoid multitasking while engaging with lecture recordings?

Students should avoid multitasking while listening to lecture recordings to ensure they fully understand and retain the information, as multitasking can lead to missing important details and needing to re-listen to the material.

What is the purpose of using a white noise app or background music for studying?

Using a white noise app or background music can help recreate a familiar environment for students who are used to studying in places with background noise, such as coffee shops, and can improve focus and concentration.

What is the benefit of wearing blue light glasses while working on a computer?

Wearing blue light glasses blocks out harmful blue light from computer screens, reducing eye strain and headaches, which is especially beneficial for students who spend long hours working on computers.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Embracing Online Learning: Tips for Success

In this paragraph, Alexia introduces her video on tips for succeeding in online college classes, prompted by the shift to online learning due to the coronavirus. She shares her preference for online classes and acknowledges the concerns of those who may struggle with the transition. Alexia offers her experience from taking online AP courses in high school and multiple online college courses, aiming to help viewers stay productive and organized in an online learning environment.

05:02

👚 Dressing for Productivity and Avoiding Distractions

Alexia emphasizes the importance of getting up and getting dressed as a means to increase productivity when working from home. She also advises against working in bed due to the risk of falling asleep and losing track of time. She shares her personal experience of how being in bed can lead to procrastination and the temptation to take naps, which can derail the day's productivity.

10:03

🗓️ Staying Organized with Planners and Reminders

This paragraph focuses on the use of planners and reminders to keep track of assignments and due dates in an online class setting. Alexia discusses her shift from physical planners to digital tools like Google Calendar for convenience and accessibility. She also mentions setting reminders for different categories of tasks and using the Notes app for creating checklists, which helps her stay organized and prepared for the next day's tasks.

📧 Communication and Etiquette in Online Classes

Alexia stresses the importance of checking emails and online school systems daily for updates and announcements from professors. She also touches on the topic of email etiquette, explaining how adhering to proper email communication standards can be crucial for receiving responses from professors, especially if they have specific preferences for how they should be addressed and communicated with.

⏱️ Focusing with Time Management Techniques

In this paragraph, Alexia introduces the use of the focus timer app as a method to manage time effectively and maintain focus on assignments. She describes the Pomodoro Technique, which involves working for 25 minutes followed by a 5-minute break, as a way to stay motivated and avoid distractions. The paragraph also includes a general advice against multitasking, especially during lectures or while completing assignments.

🎶 Enhancing Focus with Background Noise and Music

Alexia suggests using white noise apps or background music to mimic the environment of places like coffee shops, which some people find conducive to their focus. She shares her personal preference for listening to music while working, studying, or taking quizzes, and recommends finding a noise level that helps maintain concentration.

👓 Protecting Eyes with Blue Light Glasses

The final paragraph discusses the use of blue light glasses to reduce eye strain and headaches from prolonged screen time. Alexia shares her experience of using these glasses for graphic design work and suggests that they could be beneficial for anyone transitioning to online classes, which typically involve extensive computer use.

Keywords

💡Online Classes

Online classes refer to educational courses that are conducted over the internet rather than in a traditional classroom setting. They are a central theme in the video, as the creator discusses tips for succeeding in such an environment, especially in light of the shift to online learning due to the coronavirus pandemic. The script mentions that many universities have switched to online classes, making this term essential for understanding the context of the advice being shared.

💡Productivity

Productivity in the context of the video pertains to the efficiency and effectiveness with which students can complete their academic tasks in an online learning environment. The creator expresses concerns that some people might be less productive online and offers tips to counteract this, such as getting dressed, not working in bed, and using a planner. The term is used to address the common apprehension about the potential decrease in work efficiency while taking online classes.

💡Planner

A planner is a tool used for organizing and managing time and tasks. In the video, the creator recommends using a planner to keep track of assignments and due dates, which is crucial for staying organized in online classes. The term is exemplified by the creator's personal shift to using Google Calendar for academic planning, illustrating its importance in managing schoolwork and maintaining productivity.

💡Schedule

A schedule is a plan for carrying out a sequence of activities or tasks over a period of time. The video emphasizes the importance of creating a schedule to allocate specific times for work, exercise, and leisure. The creator's own schedule is shared as an example, highlighting the significance of routine and time management in successfully navigating online college classes.

💡Reminders

Reminders are notifications or signals that prompt individuals to remember or complete a task. The script discusses the use of reminders, such as those on a smartphone, to keep track of assignments and deadlines. This is integral to the video's theme as it helps students stay on top of their responsibilities in an online learning environment where they might otherwise lose track of time-sensitive academic tasks.

💡Email Etiquette

Email etiquette refers to the conventions and guidelines for writing and sending professional and respectful emails. The video mentions the importance of adhering to proper email etiquette when communicating with professors, especially in an online setting where written communication is the primary mode of interaction. The creator provides an example of a professor who will not respond if the email does not follow specific etiquette rules.

💡Focus Timer

A focus timer is a tool used to enhance concentration by dividing work into focused intervals with breaks in between. The creator recommends the use of a focus timer app to maintain motivation and prevent distractions while working on assignments. The term is exemplified by the creator's personal use of the timer for tasks they find less enjoyable, illustrating its role in boosting productivity during online classes.

💡Multitasking

Multitasking is the act of performing multiple tasks simultaneously. The video advises against multitasking during lectures or while completing assignments, as it can lead to distractions and a decrease in the quality of work. The creator emphasizes the importance of focusing solely on the task at hand to ensure comprehension and efficiency, especially in an online learning context.

💡White Noise App

A white noise app is a software application that plays soothing, ambient sounds to help users concentrate or relax. The video suggests using a white noise app for individuals who prefer working in environments with background noise, such as coffee shops. The creator recommends this app to mimic the familiar sounds that can aid in focus and productivity while studying online.

💡Blue Light Glasses

Blue light glasses are a type of eyewear designed to filter out blue light emitted by digital screens, reducing eye strain and discomfort. The creator mentions using blue light glasses to protect their eyes from the prolonged screen time associated with online classes. The term is used to highlight the importance of ergonomic considerations and self-care in the context of increased computer use for education.

Highlights

Alexia shares personal tips for succeeding in online college classes amidst the transition to online learning due to the coronavirus.

The importance of getting up and getting dressed to feel more productive when working from home.

Avoid working in bed to prevent falling asleep and maintain productivity.

Using a planner or Google Calendar to keep track of assignments and due dates.

Creating a schedule to allocate specific times for work and other activities.

Setting reminders for assignments and tasks to stay organized and on top of deadlines.

Utilizing the Notes app for creating to-do lists and organizing tasks by urgency.

Checking email and online school systems daily for updates and announcements.

Practicing proper email etiquette when communicating with professors.

Using the Focus Timer app to improve focus and productivity in assignments.

Avoiding multitasking while attending lectures or working on assignments.

Using white noise apps or background music to recreate a familiar study environment.

The benefits of wearing blue light glasses to reduce eye strain during long hours of screen time.

Alexia's personal experience with online AP courses in high school and college.

The video's intention to help those who are new to online classes or struggling with the transition.

Engaging with the audience by encouraging likes, subscriptions, and following on social media for more content.

Alexia's humorous commentary on the challenges of creating engaging thumbnails for educational content.

Transcripts

you know what I'm writing the bed I

might as well just take a 30 minute nap

and then that 30 minute that turns into

three hours hey guys welcome back or

welcome to my channel if you're new my

name is Alexia and today I'm doing a

little bit of a different video but

considering the circumstances that we're

in right now considering that everybody

who's in a university is now switching

to online classes because of the

coronavirus I decided to make a video on

tips and tricks that I've learned over

time to help you succeed in online

college class

I prefer online classes actually I love

online classes they're like they're

great for me but I know a lot of people

do much better in face-to-face classes

and my people haven't taken online

classes and a lot of people are afraid

that like they're gonna be less

productive they're gonna be you know

distracted they're not gonna get their

work done and so on and so forth so I

thought it would be helpful to make a

video with tips and tricks that I've

learned over the years to take online

classes so this is the second semester

of my junior year and I took online AP

courses in high school and then pretty

much I've taken at least one online

class in college every semester that I

have been in college some semesters I

took more but long story short I have

taken quite a few online courses in

college or at least college level so I

just thought that I would share some

things that I've learned and hopefully

you find it helpful so if you would like

to know some of my tips for taking

online college classes then just keep on

watching so my first tip is to get up

and get dressed it sounds simple but

like when you're at home all day it's

really easy to just like get up and stay

in your pajamas all day

but I do recommend like getting up and

putting on some actual clothes don't

have to be like jeans and a cute shirt

or whatever you don't have to like it

fancy but I do like I've been putting on

real clothes for me personally when I

get up and I get dressed I'm just I just

feel more productive even if I'm doing

the exact same thing as I would if I

would have been in my pajamas I

second tip kind of goes along with that

and that is don't do your work in your

bed so I know you know most people know

this in general because I mean even

during the school year like if you're

actually taking classes it's easy to

just stay in bed into your work but it's

even easier when all your classes are

online but it's so easy to just fall

back asleep and I know you've probably

experienced that I do it all the time if

I sit in my bed and do work I will end

up closing my laptop and taking a nap

even if I'm not even that tired just

being in the bed makes you feel tired so

you know if you are especially for

weather on an assignment that you don't

like or a class that you don't like it

is so easy just be like you know what

I'm writing to bed I might as well just

take a 30 minute nap and in that

30-minute net turns into three hours and

then you get up and you're like oh you

know I'm hungry also to make some dinner

now you make some dinner then you've got

the itis and you don't feel like going

back to work so you know what it's just

a cycle you just need to not do your

work in your bed so my third tip is to

use a planner again this is pretty basic

but a lot of people don't use planners

personally I have kind of shifted to

using Google Calendar more than like a

physical planner I use a physical

planner for planning out YouTube stuff

but as far as schoolwork goes and like

my schedule and events and stuff I find

it really easy to use Google Calendar

just because you know I got Google

Calendar on my phone and my laptop so I

always have the army and like I can be

anywhere and just pull out my calendar

and be like oh wait where I have to go

what I have to do you can you know give

them times you can make them all day you

can set yourself reminder so like your

phone will remind you oh hey you have an

assignment due tomorrow hey you have an

assignment due in an hour hey do the

freaking assignment so whatever works

for you but I do highly recommend a

playing hurt just because with online

classes it's way easier to lose track of

when your assignments are due if you

don't have them written down somewhere

my fourth tip is to create a schedule so

this kind of goes with all the other

tips that I kind of just said by forcing

yourself to do stuff at a specific time

makes it really easy to get stuff done

so for example today I got up at 10:30 I

ran now I'm filming I'm going to Homer

for this whatever so my schedule during

the week like Monday through Friday is

to get up around 11:00 go exercise do

something of the sort if I have to film

then I'll film and then I'll do homework

if I don't have to sound I'll go

straight from you know working out to

doing homework and then the weekends I

sleep in relax

whatever just keep yourself like on

track and like hey from this period to

this period I need to do this from this

period in this period I need to do this

that way you can organize your time and

just block off specific periods for each

class that you have my fifth tip is to

set reminders so this kind of goes with

the Google Calendar if you use that to

set reminders but I also use the actual

reminders app in my phone so I have like

a school category a YouTube category of

clubs and organizations category and

then like a random category and I'll set

reminders I don't have them remind me

every hour on the hour so I kind of have

to remember like no matter when I look

at my phone I have a notification that

says oh remember to do this I'll

remember to do this so I find them

really helpful another tip along the

lines of organization and like reminding

yourself or whatever is to use the Notes

app on your phone or make some type of

checklist so if you prefer writing stuff

down you can do it on paper but I love

the Notes app like I use the Notes app

24/7 I have a note that is called to do

and I have it organized by what I need

to do today what I need to do ASAP what

I need to do this week and what I need

to do in the future

so that just works for me on the way I

need to organize my stuff for example my

today slot might say I need to do this

assignment I need to do this assignment

I need to film I need to do laundry and

then ASAP is like not today but like the

next few days and then by the end of the

week or like this week okay maybe this

week I need to clean my room

maybe this week I need to start on this

paper that's due next week and then

future is stuff that I don't want to

forget but is not you know urgent so I

would recommend you know if you're the

type of person that wants an actual

checklist to try to make that check

list at night that way you're set up for

the next day my seventh tip is kind of

obvious and kind of whatever but it's to

check your email and blackboard I mean I

use blackboard but like canvas whatever

you use it's a called canvas whatever

but check your email and whatever type

of like online school system you're

using every single day so you might not

always get notifications or

announcements or whatever but I

recommend getting in the habit of

checking those daily just because

professors can quickly be like hey this

assignment is a now to earlier than it

was hey this assignment is due at this

time and then teachers can also put

announcements on blackboard that they

might not email you so I recommend just

checking both of those I do it in the

morning when I like you don't start to

do my work whenever I have that blocked

off period for work I'm gonna do my H

tip is kind of random but it's to

remember email etiquette a lot of

professors aren't that like strict on

how you email them but some are one of

my professors is really strict about how

you like have something in the subject

how you address her in the email that

you have full sentences no like hey like

whatever and you have to you know use a

proper signature all this that third and

so just a tip is to remember if your

professor does have a specific email

etiquette that they want you to use or

just like general proper email etiquette

because for my professor specifically if

you don't use her proper email etiquette

you will not get a response from her

just remembering to be like you know if

they're a doctor address them by doctor

not mister and missus and then make sure

you sign your name make sure it's not

painless up when says do like stuff like

that just you know keep it professional

between you two since your only

interaction is online

my ninth tip is one of my favorites to

use for classes that I don't like so I

use the app focus timer it's free I'll

put a little like screen recording up

here showing how I use it or whatever

but basically you can block off time

that you want to focus on an assignment

don't look at your phone and do anything

else and then it gives you a break

so you can adjust the time that you want

to focus for just the time that you want

to break for but I typically do it in

blocks of 25 minutes so I'll work for 25

minutes and then I'll take a five minute

break and then I'll work for 25 minutes

take a five minute break until it's over

so for example I really don't like doing

my law assignments it just motivates me

like hey okay I only have to do is for

25 minutes and then I can you know

scroll through Twitter or whatever now I

only have to do this for 25 minutes and

then I can scroll through instrument

whatever the case may be but it really

helps me because if I just sit down

without it and try to do my work I'm

distracted the entire time and I have no

motivation to like stay on track with

the assignment and I'll just you know

what I wrote a sentence now I'm gonna go

on Twitter for 45 minutes you know I've

thought about it so now I'm gonna go eat

a snack so using this timer kind of

motivates me to be like hey you only

have this much time and keep your focus

my intent is to not multitask so if you

have face-to-face classes or lecture

recordings for anything please don't

play the lecture and then like do

something else because you'll have to

end up oh wait I missed that and now I

have to like take a quiz on it so let me

rewind and listen to it again and then I

just tracked it again so just don't

multitask when you're doing stuff that

you can get away with multitasking it's

annoying because it's so easy to just

sit there on your phone while you're

listening to the lecture but in the end

you get your assignments done quicker if

you just pay attention and really focus

on the assignment while you're supposed

to be you know my next tip is for people

who like to work in Starbucks or if you

like to you know go to coffee shops or

anywhere public to do your work um just

cause you like the environment or

whatever I recommend getting a write

noise app of some sort or playing like

chill study music I know there's a whole

YouTube channel with videos or hours

long of like chill study music but if

you're someone who's used to you know

being in an environment where there's

background noise if that helps you focus

I know I like to listen to music when

I'm working or taking quizzes or

studying whatever so if you're someone

who likes background noise I would

recommend a white noise app or some sort

of

like background music that kind of

mimics the sounds that you're used to my

last tip is you know not a necessity and

just really have anything to do with

productivity or whatever but it's to get

blue light glasses so I got some of

these in the summer for this school year

because I do a lot of work anyway on my

computer was like graphic design and

stuff and staring at a computer screen

or hours and hours and hours can really

like hurt your eyes

what black glasses do basically is it

blocks out the light that makes your

eyes hurt basically so if you wear them

you're you don't get as many headaches

and your eyes don't you know feel bad

after staring at a computer screen for a

really long time because you know

transitioning from face-to-face classes

to online classes is going to be a lot

more work on the computer screen that is

my last tip I hope you guys enjoy this I

hope you guys you know learn something

new or like sound something that might

work for you or you might try I know

it's a little different kind of video

that I normally do but you know I just

wanted to try to help anybody who is

struggling with online classes or have

never taken an online class just because

I'm taking so many but if you enjoy this

video but please give this video a

thumbs up and subscribe to my channel I

post new videos every Wednesday and some

Sundays so if you would like to you know

subscribe and come back for more videos

that would be great and follow me on my

social medias down below and I hope you

have a great day bye it is crazy these

talking videos because my mouth is dry I

this stomach is rumbling and grumbling

how do you even make a thumbnail about

online classes like what am I supposed

to hold up in the camera

[Music]