10 mistakes students make with online learning

It’s hard to believe, but many of us are heading into our 5th week of online classes due to the COVID-19 shutdown.

While some students haven’t had much trouble adjusting to the new “normal,” a lot of students are struggling with the change. And that’s understandable! They weren’t prepared for this — none of us were. 

When schools first announced they were closing for a couple of weeks, it was easy to assume that this was a short-term solution and everything would be back to normal soon. 

But now that an increasing number of schools are officially closed for the rest of the school year, it’s clear that this new online learning format is here to stay. 

So, it’s going to be important for students to ensure they’re doing their best to establish effective habits and routines in this new virtual learning environment. This is a big change for students who are used to learning in person, so it’s easy to make mistakes along the way. 

To help your teen avoid these pitfalls, I wanted to share the 10 biggest mistakes we’ve seen other students making so you can make sure to avoid them.

Here are the 10 biggest mistakes we’ve seen students make during this shift to online learning,…

Here are the 10 biggest mistakes we’ve seen students make during this shift to online learning…

1. Not thinking of it as “real school”
   

   There are a lot of factors that can contribute to schoolwork not feeling “real” right now…  spending all day at home, having very little (if any) face-to-face interaction with teachers, few (or no) live classes or scheduled activities, the weather getting increasingly warmer…ALL of this can make students feel more like they’re on summer break rather than in the middle of a school semester. But now that we know this isn’t just a 2-week break and is going to be our “new normal” for the rest of the semester, students need to find a way to shift their mindset about online classes and put the same level of effort into their learning process that they would if they were attending school in person. Depending on their school’s policies, students who don’t take their online classes seriously could end up failing to master the material, frustrating their teachers, falling behind their peers, and negatively affecting their GPA.

2. Missing important updates
   

   In this new era of uncertainty, teachers are posting assignments and updates more frequently than ever, and are often changing policies and due dates for work even after it has been assigned. So, it’s important for students to be on the lookout for these changes and check for updates frequently to ensure they aren’t missing anything important. If your teen hasn’t done so yet, encourage them to make a list of places their teachers might post information – including email, Remind, their class websites, Google Classroom, etc. – and set a reminder to check each of these locations at least once a day. A lot of the updates teachers are sending are also very long and detailed, so it’s also important for students to resist the temptation to skim and make sure to read through each message, announcement, and email carefully as soon as it’s posted, to ensure they are not missing or overlooking important information.

3. Not asking questions
   

   A lot of teens struggle with advocating for themselves, and are reluctant to email or message teachers with questions or concerns. But now that students can’t ask questions or get clarification from teachers in person, it’s essential for them to practice reaching out to their teachers…even if it’s not something that comes easily to them. Getting into the habit of proactively asking questions about assignments before they’re due, letting teachers know if they have issues with opening or submitting their work online, speaking up if they see a grade posted that looks incorrect, and so on can go a long way towards helping students have a more positive experience in their online classes.

4. Skipping help sessions + office hours
   

   A lot of teachers are offering online office hours and help sessions during the shutdown. Unfortunately, a lot of students are skipping them because they feel like they don’t have questions or need any additional help. But what many students don’t realize is that the benefits of attending these sessions go beyond making sure they’re clear on all assignment details and expectations. Showing up for these office hours can make a really positive impression on their teachers and demonstrate students’ commitment to doing a good job in their class. Even if students don’t have any questions, teachers sometimes share tips during these sessions that can help make upcoming assignments and assessments easier. Making the effort to attend these optional meetings can also help increase the chances that teachers will be more forgiving if they miss details or assignments. And even if they don’t stay for the entire time, showing up for a few minutes to connect face-to-face can increase their connection to the class and help them feel closer to their teacher, which will help increase their motivation to try hard and put their best foot forward in the class.

5. Forgetting to submit things online
   

   Now that students aren’t attending school in person, teachers aren’t able to remind students to turn in assignments when they get to class. So, students have a lot more responsibility now for creating their own reminders about due dates and assignments that need to get submitted. Some students think they don’t need to write down due dates because they’re all posted online now, but there is so much information to keep track of it’s easy to miss something. If your teen doesn’t already have a planner, calendar, to-do list, or reminder system set up to ensure that they are getting things submitted on time, this would be a perfect time to create one. And keep in mind that the system they have for keeping track of deadlines for online classes may look different than the one they used when attending classes in person. The key is to find something that will work as effectively as possible for them in this new virtual learning environment.

6. Not creating a structure for their school days
   

   While some schools have set up Zoom classes students are required to attend, a lot of schools don’t have any live meetings scheduled, and are instead providing pre-recorded lessons and/or assignments for students to complete on their own time. This lack of structure can make it very difficult for students to focus on getting things done, and resist the temptation to put work off until later. Creating a more structured schedule and constraining the time they spend on schoolwork to specific hours of the day can help make the school day feel a bit more “real”. This doesn’t mean students have to wake up at 6 am and start school at 7:30 am…but creating a consistent sleep schedule and “school hours” and doing their best to stick to them can help preserve a sense of normalcy and make it easier for students to resist the urge to chat with friends or play video games all day instead of completing their assignments.

7. Not having a dedicated study space
   

   When you’re doing school work at home, it can be SO tempting for students to stay in pajamas all day and work on assignments in bed! But studying and relaxing in the same locations makes it harder for their brain to know what to focus on (“hmm, we’re in bed…are we supposed to be sleeping, browsing social media, or doing schoolwork?”) Students’ study environments can have a powerful impact on their mood and motivation, so setting up a dedicated study space where they can focus on schoolwork can help students create a clearer distinction between “school hours” and “downtime”…especially now that they are spending ALL of their time at home. Depending on what they have available this could be a desk, a specific spot at the kitchen table, or even a beanbag chair in their room…as long as it’s a location they can go consistently “during “school hours” and not during times when they’re relaxing or taking time off, they’ll be able to create an association between this study space and schoolwork so their brain will know it’s time to get things done as soon as they sit down in that spot.

8. Not being proactive about minimizing distractions
   

   Being home brings a whole new wave of possible distractions for students. Television, siblings, pets, being able to use their phones, video games, the list goes on! Even students who are normally able to study with distractions around may find it more difficult to resist the temptation to get sidetracked now that they’re spending their entire “school day” at home. So, when students are choosing places to study, it is a good idea to think ahead about potential distractions and consider how they will avoid temptations that could pull them off track. Having a plan in advance for what they’ll do if a sibling is distracting them, or how they’ll respond if their phone is pulling them off track can help make it easier to respond effectively in the moment.

9. Not managing their energy
   

   Students are used to thinking about how to manage their time but aren’t always as aware of how they’re managing their energy. Now that they’re working from home, this is an important distinction. Normally, students switch classes during the day and take a break for lunch which gives them an opportunity to get up, move around, socialize with friends, and re-engage their brain. Students who are working from home won’t have this activity built into the day automatically, and may end up sitting in front of screens for long periods of time, which can leave them feeling sluggish and tired. So, it’s important for students who are attending classes online to find ways to keep their energy level high throughout the day. This could involve taking “brain breaks” to get up and move their body after each assignment they complete, building in healthy meals and snacks throughout the day, making time to exercise consistently, getting plenty of sleep, and making time to engage in productive hobbies and fun activities after “school” that leave them feeling happy and fulfilled instead of tired and drained at the end of the day.

10. Not asking for help
    

    Students often have a hard time admitting when they need help. This is often based on the incorrect assumption that doing things on their own will prove they are better or stronger than people who reach out for support. But the truth is that asking for advice and seeking feedback takes a lot of courage, and shows much more emotional maturity than stubbornly trying to tough things out on your own. And while they may never experience a shutdown like this again, they will experience new learning environments on a consistent basis…whether they’re taking their first really challenging AP course in high school, starting their freshman year of college, beginning their first internship, or stepping into their first full-time job. Every time they move into a new environment, they can fast-track their learning and adjust more quickly and easily by reaching out for support and guidance from people who can help them with the transition. So, this is a great time to encourage students to get into the habit of seeking help and support.

We know a lot of students are struggling with the transition to online school right now, but learning to thrive in online classes is achievable! And avoiding these mistakes can go a long way towards helping to make that possible.

We’ve expanded our services during the shutdown to help provide students with the extra support and resources they need right now to cope with the transition to online learning. To learn more about how academic coaching can help your teen succeed in online classes, click here to set up a free consultation.

Join 11,000+ parents helping their students earn better grades with less stress!

About The Author

Dr. Maggie Wray is a certified ADHD Coach & Academic Life Coach with a Ph.D. in Neurobiology and Behavior from Cornell and a Bachelor’s degree in Astrophysics from Princeton. She founded Creating Positive Futures in 2012 to help high school and college students learn how to earn better grades with less stress. Her team of dedicated coaches is on a mission to empower students to develop the mindset, organization, time management, and study skills they need to achieve their goals.