#Lockdown: Expert tips on how to take charge of your studies at home
Remember that if you ask people for help, prove to them that you’re committed to doing well.
The National Education Collaboration Trust, in collaboration with the Department of Basic Education, have shared tips for studying at home during the lockdown.
Every learner has a responsibility to stay tuned into their academic work during the lockdown.
- Take responsibility
You have to take charge of all your assignments and tasks.
Set yourself a daily schedule that includes studying, relaxing, spending time with family and some physical activity.
Even though your parents and guardians may also be home, they shouldn’t have to remind you every day to do your work.
- Don’t hesitate to ask for help, especially now
Ask your parents, siblings, teachers and others to support you.
Look around you and see whose talents or experience you can tap into; if your older cousin is good at maths, ask him/her to coach you for 30 minutes every day.
If you don’t have access to a laptop or mobile phone, see if a parent can allow you to use theirs for your study periods.
Remember that if you ask people for help, prove to them that you’re committed to doing well.
For example if you agree to an hour of coaching from your teacher via WhatsApp or mobile phone or landline at home, show up on time and be prepared with questions.
- Look for creative ways to study
In the age of technology, there are many resources to support you.
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Join virtual classrooms such as Worksheetcloud, which connects learners to a live online classroom with a fully-qualified South African teacher and offers free online lessons for Grades Three, Four, Five, Six and Seven.
The platform covers lessons in mathematics, English and natural sciences.
YouTube also has a “study with me” genre, where you can follow along with other students’ videos of themselves reading, taking notes and prepping for exams.
If the cost of data is a problem, you can access free platform like https://learn.mindset.africa/ and Siyavula Education anytime.
- Team up with others
Studying at home alone can become really boring after a while.
If you find that you’ve lost your motivation, join or create a study group on WhatsApp with your friends and class mates to bring fresh energy to your sessions.
Share links to helpful videos, set up ‘Question and Answer’ sessions and share daily tips and alerts.
However, remember that while study groups are great, they need rules; keep them small enough to manage and ask people not to flood the group with too many jokes, songs and other things that can be distracting.
- Take care of yourself
In order to study well you need to be well rested and have energy.
Pay attention to your physical health by getting a good amount of sleep and exercise.
If you are worried about the Covid- 19 pandemic and how it’s impacting your life, find ways to reduce anxiety such as skipping rope, dancing or talking to an adult you trust.
- Use free materials and channels
The Department of Basic Education has some great resources that are easy to access and are free.
Download study and teaching material, workbooks, textbooks, study and revision guides, the Second Chance Matric Support Programme, previous question papers, among others by visiting www.education.gov.za
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