Keeping up with your studies during the national lockdown? Whether you’re a seasoned homeschooler or usually attend a traditional school, keeping up with your studies during lockdown can be challenging. You’re confined to your home with family members around. To succeed in studying at home, you need to be prepared and become actively involved in your studies.
The list of tips below will help you study from home during the national lockdown. If you want to add to this list, share your tips on Impaq’s Facebook page. You could win R1000.
Create a dedicated study space
Your study space needs to be as private and secluded as possible. Switch off devices that can distract you and ask family members not to bother you when you are in your study space.
It should be a comfortable and inviting space – so that it can become your “happy space”. You can even test different locations to determine what suits you best. Having a dedicated study space will help you focus. Try not to study on your bed or other areas that you associate with relaxation and entertainment as you have trained your brain to expect these things in this environment.
Plan your time
Everyone has a different study schedule. Some learners want to get a head start and start studying early in the morning while others function better later in the day. Determine YOUR best time to work and study. You don’t have to follow a strict timetable but to cope with school closures, it might help to have some sort of plan in place. Here’s how:
- Work out a timetable and try to stick to it as far as possible
- Account for extra time for subjects that you know requires additional attention
- Schedule 15-minute breaks every hour or hour-and-a-half
- Provide for time to exercise and relax (this will ensure that you don’t feel guilty when doing so)
- Do not procrastinate
Be organised
Being organised means setting up a planner (hard copy or electronically) with reminders on what should be completed and when. Ensure that you give yourself ample time to reach your deadlines. If you miss a deadline, give yourself a penalty and put in extra time over weekends. This will ensure that you don’t fall behind with your studies. But don’t forget to reward yourself for sticking to your deadlines or finishing a task before the deadline. Reward yourself with something you like doing. This will keep you motivated!
Keep your books and material orderly, so that you don’t waste time trying to find your books or study notes. You can use sticky notes to easily track where you left off or where to find important information (like formulas or definitions).
Use communication tools to your advantage
Not only can you use technology to stay in touch with friends, but you can also use it to study from home. Stay in contact with your peers and facilitators with the help of technology.
- Join WhatsApp subject groups
- Join Impaq’s Facebook pages for the various subjects
- Access my.Impaq for additional notes and past examination papers
- Be guided by the Guided Learning platform to track your planned progress
- Use TutaMe for online tutoring services
For more study from home tips and more information on home education, join Impaq’s free Home Education 101 webinar on 7 April 2020.
Stay actively involved in your studies
Stay actively involved in your studies by setting goals for each day/session. Put a time limit on mastering a piece of work and make sure to take breaks when you need them. Also, try one of the following:
- Make flashcards to be used for refreshing your memory (e.g. formulae, definitions, core concepts, etc.)
- Test yourself (ask questions such as: what are the core concepts I need to remember, do I understand how this part fits into the bigger context, can I explain this in my own words, what do I need to review again?)
- Draw mind maps
Take care of yourself
Staying healthy and taking care of yourself is now more important than ever.
- Get enough sleep
- Eat healthily
- Get regular exercise
It might feel overwhelming to study from home during the national lockdown but follow the tips above and you’re sure to make it a success. And, remember the quote by Creighton Abrams: “When eating an elephant take one bite at a time”. Doing smaller chunks of work every day will help you remember the work better.
by Elmien Ackerman
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