5 tips for studying at home during the coronavirus lockdown
JOBURG – NECT gives learners tips to study during the national lockdown to stay on top of things
After a few weeks away from the classroom, the national lockdown may have started to feel like a holiday; but if you are a learner, it is important to remember that the academic year is still in effect. You have the responsibility to stay focused on your academic work.
The National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT) has provided these tips to stay on track with all your projects and preparations for exams and don’t get left behind:
1. Take responsibility
You have to take charge of all your assignments and tasks. Set yourself a daily schedule that has included time to study, relax, spend time with family and do some physical activity. Even though your parents and guardians may also be home, you shouldn’t have to be reminded every day to do your work. Remember, it still falls on you to get good marks at the end of the year.
2. 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 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 lessons from your teacher via WhatsApp or mobile phone or landline at home, show up on time and prepared with questions.
3. Look for creative ways to study
In the age of technology, there are many resources to support you. 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 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. 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 learners’ videos of themselves while they read, take notes and prep for exams. If the cost of data is a problem, you can access free platforms like www.learn.mindset.africa and Siyavula Education any time.
4. Team up with others
While you studied alone for a while, it 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 classmates 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 distract members. Also, agree ‘active’ times, for example, between 8am and 5pm daily, so that you don’t get messages all day and night.
5. Take care of yourself
In order to study well, you need to be well rested and have energy. Pay attention to your physical health with a good amount of sleep and exercise. If you are worried about the Covid- 19 pandemic and how it has impacted your life, find ways to reduce anxiety such as physical activity or talking to an adult you trust.
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