How to Be Successful at Remote Learning – 16 Incredible Tips

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have had to learn how to adapt quickly to new changes all while continuing with our daily lives. 

Although remote learning and online education already existed before the pandemic, companies like EdTech (Educational Technology) have grown in popularity – paving the way in digitizing education.

Having this format of learning as the new norm, it is important that we get the most out of it.

The following 16 tips can help you improve your performance as a student of remote learning.

  1. Time management: It’s important to remember that even though you are not attending in-person classes, it does not mean that you do not have assigned work to complete everyday. On the contrary, if you think that you have more time now, you are wrong. You must be aware that you still have homework, that you have to participate in forums, and complete group projects. Thus, it is important that you have the disciplined mentality to distribute your time correctly.
  1. Small tasks: Even if you are not attending classes in-person, you must still find a balance between attending online classes and completing assignments. Therefore, try to set yourself up for success with reachable goals and not overwhelm yourself with trying to complete everything all at once. After all, with every assignment you finish, you will continue to motivate yourself to complete the next one. 
  2. Stay connected: With online classes taking place, seeing your classmates and maintaining contact with them has been harder. You need your classmates to ask questions and solve problems together. Therefore, reach out to them so you can continue to support each other, especially during these difficult times. 
  1. Contact your professors: Always be sure to ask questions on concepts and lessons you don’t understand. Your teachers are aware that completing assignments may be more difficult now and that it may take students more effort. Be sure to always reach out to your teachers to clear any confusion on concepts or receive extra support.
  1. Review your work: You will continue to have assigned work and lessons in distance learning, and sometimes it may feel like it is more work or it never ends. Be sure to review your class material in manageable time chunks, and, of course, ask your teacher or classmates questions when they arise. This will help you understand subjects more easily and be prepared for the next lessons.
  1. Take notes and summarize topics: Before class, take notes on the material and try to summarize what you learned. This way, you are prepared for class the next day with new knowledge and any questions that came up while preparing. The day of class, be sure to also take notes in case you may have missed anything the day before. Lastly, don’t forget to ask questions. 
  1. Optional work: Distance learning can be as beneficial as you make it to be. Sometimes, teachers assign extra homework and projects that are optional or worth extra credit. It’s recommended to complete the optional work. Take some time to schedule the optional assignments in your day’s work. You’ll feel more prepared, learn more, and set yourself up for success.
  1. Always keep your agenda up to date: Make a list and keep track of all the concepts you will cover in class and assignments that need to be completed. It’s important to take some time to create this list because it can help you be organized, avoid cramming, and never have you miss an assignment. 
  1. Create a study plan: Take some time to create a study plan, including the subject and  time you wish to study, that you can devote to everyday. Ideally, you want to study at the same time of day for the same amount of time to help you create that routine. Distance learning can give you more time and flexibility with studying. Creating this plan and establishing a routine can help you keep track of your learning and avoid falling behind.  
  1. Have a study space: You want to work in an area that can keep you focused and motivated, so pick a spot in your home that can help you recreate this. Choose an area that is a quiet, well-lit area, and with no distractions. 
  1. Use a calendar: Define your studying goals and use a calendar where you can write in your weekly classes and assignments that are due. Using a calendar can give you a bird’s-eye view of how your week will look like. This can help you distribute your assignments and keep you organized.
  1. Choose the right tech tools: There are tons of online educational platforms and courses that you can use to supplement your learning at home. Be sure to pick the right ones that you believe will meet your needs and match your material in class.      

It’s also always good to check that your headphones, webcam, and internet are working. You don’t want your internet to crash during an important part of a lecture or have your video camera freeze while you’re presenting a project! 

  1. Take well-deserved breaks: It’s important that when you study you are being as productive as you can. To help you stay concentrated during each study session, make sure to pause and take breaks so that when you study again, you feel refreshed and ready. This is especially important as a lot of screen time can cause you to feel more tired and fatigued, negatively affecting your learning. 
  1. Work in teams: Just like in in-person classes, you may still be assigned group projects in distance learning. This can break the monotony in solo learning and make completing group assignments more enjoyable. And as mentioned previously, this can also help with maintaining contact and connections with your peers.
  1. Maintain your health: Just as you make schedules for your classes and assignments, you must also make time and put effort into maintaining your health. You must find a balance between classes and health. Create a routine for physical activities and eating healthy meals. 

For the majority of the time you will be sitting in front of a screen for long periods of time. From time to time, get up, stretch, and move around. Your mind and body will be grateful for the small breaks in between classes.

  1. Motivation and discipline: Don’t forget about the goals you set and want to achieve. Your goals and objectives and how to achieve them should always be clear. Maintaining motivation and discipline can get you to where you want to be. As you complete more and more assignments, you are becoming more disciplined and motivated to continue working towards your learning objectives. 

We cannot ignore that distance learning has its advantages. Some of the advantages are having flexible schedules, time for other activities, and planning our daily routines. 

However, you must be very clear in your goals and objectives that you want to achieve. Your success depends on your planning, organization, discipline, and committed effort.


10 Tips For Parents in the Digital Age

Our children are currently growing and developing in a world that is rapidly advancing its technology – a world that us parents are not used to.

It is important to work hand in hand with our children to teach them how to properly use technology. Families should facilitate their children’s learning in each developmental stage. Taking this role, families establish habits, rules, and monitor online content. 

Us parents should be aware that current technology and online applications, such as Kharty, are powerful learning tools. It also allows us to help our children develop different skills.

Applying the following 10 tips can help parents facilitate their children’s learning and use of technology:

  1. Families must know what devices their children are using and what online information they consume: Parents must have an understanding of what online platforms their children utilize, how they communicate, what information they consume, and the pros and cons of each platform. Knowing all this, parents can ensure that these  types of platforms correspond with their family values all while making sure these platforms are not distracting and take away from family time. 
  2. Limiting technology and outdoor play: It is important that children have breaks from screens and limit their exposure to technology. Making time for outdoor activities can help children stimulate their creativity. There is no one-size-fits-all formula for limiting the use of technology – it depends on each child and their environment. Limiting technology daily should be a priority, especially for younger children. 
  3. Family game participation: It is important for children at a young age to play with their parents, learn how to socialize with others, develop their sportsmanship, and understand basic social norms. When allowing children to use technology, we must participate in the learning development and contribute our experiences.
  4. Online etiquette and friendliness: Being role models play a huge role in children’s learning and development. In modeling kindness, friendliness, and good manners, children can, too, learn how to also be kind, friendly, and display good manners online.  
  5. Appreciation of face-to-face communication: Children absorb knowledge around them very quickly, and as they grow older they tend to wonder more. Maintaining face-to-face communication is important and having two-way conversations with children is when they learn. Technology can help families stay connected when family members live far or tend to travel a lot; however, it should not replace face-to-face communication. 
  6. Establishing technology-free zones: Establishing technology-free spaces can help children maintain healthy relationships with devices and limit online media consumption.  Keeping meal times and social gatherings device-free and even charging devices outside of children’s rooms can help foster healthy tech habits, which also helps their overall well-being. 
  7. Avoid using technology improperly: Often, parents resort to giving their children devices so they are less bothersome or to simply entertain them. By giving them the device to use, we think that the problem is solved. However, this offers a short-term solution. Controlling your children’s emotions can offer a longer-term solution. 
  8. Choosing apps for children: There are many educational apps out there, so it is important to research beforehand on what the best app is by age and educational content. Parents can also consult with teachers on what apps can be used and which are best for learning. 
  9. Our children’s online environment: For children and adolescents who grew up digitally-versed, their environment often consisted of making connections online with devices. As parents we must know how to avoid this and teach the difference between the digital world and the real world. We must remind them that online platforms are not really private and whatever is shared and communicated online leaves a permanent digital footprint. 
  10. Preparing and learning from mistakes: Just like adults, children also make mistakes throughout their learning development. Just like children can make mistakes when playing with their friends, they can also make mistakes online. The most important aspect to focus on is to reflect on how a certain mistake can be a teaching lesson. 

Knowing the types of digital media and devices is becoming much more crucial as they are an integral part of our daily lives. Using technology as an educational platform will expand children’s knowledge. 

Kharty is an application that allows our children to learn educational material while playing in a fun and interactive way. You can guide and supervise these exercises with your child while also strengthening your bond with them. 


5 Tips Teachers Should Know in E-Learning

The numerous technological changes that have occurred in recent years have made us rethink the skills that we need in order to be able to progress in our daily work. 

As teachers, it is important for us to be able to navigate the digital world effectively and improve our knowledge in online learning. This will allow us to gain student learning benefits and be successful in our teaching. These 5 tips can help improve and strengthen e-learning skills. 

Us educators should be aware of two significant changes that are present in learning: the role and methodology that is used during instruction. Our main role is to be facilitators that help develop learning spaces with our students. 

Teachers already have the knowledge and training to teach, but we must also be able to have the skills that will allow us to teach via technology successfully. 

Adapting to new learning technologies is never easy; however, the following 5 tips can help us in reaching our e-learning goals:

  1. Digital literacy: Us teachers should know how to identify, save, organize, analyze, and evaluate the importance of digital information. This can be supplemented with attending workshops to learn about the importance of educational technology. An example of using technology in the classroom is working with Google Drive, which allows students to create, edit, and share online projects with each other. 
  2. Share Knowledge: Knowing about the best practices and e-learning technologies allows the teacher to foster an informed and collaborative community. With Kharty, teachers can create learning content, assign game quizzes, and track students’ learning progress. 
  3. Prepare for changes: One of the most fundamental skills needed is adaptability to change. And to help with becoming more versed in the digital world, platforms such as Coursera, Udemy, and Google Activate offer many courses that can help improve our digital skills. 
  4. Create content for learning: Knowing how to create and edit new content and translate previous material to digital platforms can provide students with a more diverse and dynamic learning style. For example, using Canvas as a digital tool can help with creating content in multiple visual formats. 
  5. Resolve problems and learn from students: Technical issues can arise, such as the internet crashing, device malfunctioning, or the platform being used for teaching freezes. To help avoid these issues, we can use www.speedtest.net to check our network speed and performance. However, emphasis should be placed on reaching a solution and not losing the focus of learning. It is also important to have students to help us and allow them to demonstrate their tech savvy skills. 

Kharty allows us to apply these 5 tips. It is an online application that looks to support teachers and students with e-learning through game quizzes in which both teachers and students can create. Teachers can assign quizzes and track students’ learning progress while students can learn at home and in class while encouraging a little bit of friendly competition. Remember to download Kharty and start using it in your classrooms.