The covid era has brought about a myriad of changes in everything we do, including how we participate in college classes.
2024 has been the year where we have been trying to resume a normal lifestyle as we did pre-covid times. One of the solutions that higher educational institutions, colleges and universities have come up with is a hybrid education system.
A hybrid education system entails that class be conducted in a mix of online or in person. While this is a better alternative to a complete online system, it might still take some getting used to.
This is because students have been cooped up in their houses for the longest time, and this year they will be returning to colleges and universities like how it was intended.
It will take a time to get out of that mindset which we were in for more than a year, that had become the “new normal” for most of us. Students like you and me, spent the majority of last year attending classes from the comforts of our rooms and even beds!
There might be a mix of emotions we are going through regarding the hybrid education system that is supposed to take place in colleges, and it is completely justified. The point of this guide is to help you ease into the transition as smoothly as possible, so we can all live our best academic lives in college.
Let’s get into all the tips that will help you adjust in a hybrid class system so you get the most out of the whole thing:
1. Have a structured routine in place
Online class or in person, you need to have a routine established starting from when you wake up.
You cannot choose to just “go with the flow” as you did in the entirety of last year. If setting a routine is difficult for you, you can start small and work your way up.
Start by getting up at a decent hour, even if you don’t have morning classes. Make it a point to have a filling breakfast, so it will keep you energized for the day.
A morning routine will help immensely in getting into the college mindset that we so terribly lacked last year. Plus, it is a great way to get you motivated for the rest of the day.
2. Make use of a planner
If you have never been the type to use a planner, now is the time to get one. A planner is a great way to keep everything organized, such as your daily to-dos, any deadlines to meet, or even for small things to remember.
Since last year, I noticed that I was completely out of the habit of noting things down, because I didn’t feel the need to but it is important that we make it a point to get in the habit of jotting things down in a planner.
More importantly, things are going to get a lot more intense with the hybrid system compared to how they were last year so it is best to have a planner to stay on top of things.
It is also a great feeling crossing things off a to-do list at the end of the day!
3. Hang with like minded people
Now that we have the opportunity to socialize (at a distance) again, it is time to make some new friends who will be your allies throughout your college years.
Join some clubs and groups that you are interested in, so that you can find some like minded people to befriend.
This will not only help in the socializing department but it will also stimulate you intellectually.
4. Reach out for help
There might be moments where the whole hybrid system is going to get overwhelming, and in those moments it is perfectly acceptable to reach out for help.
If you are confused about who to go to, you can simply talk to a professor. If you are feeling overwhelmed with the workload, talk to the professor who is leading that course.
You can find various materials at your campus, but that may prove to be difficult from time to time. There are also resources available online such as wowessays that will help you with course related things.
5. Take classes that you are comfortable with
If you prefer online classes over in person classes, then you will have the option to choose one over the other.
If you think you preferred the online class system, then there will be a way for you to continue your semester like that. It might be practical for you in different ways, and you might just prefer it because you feel safe.
And if you feel like you have missed the in-person class system, and you liked being in the classroom, then your schedule can have more in person classes rather than online.
6. Have a designated space to study
Whether you are taking in person classes, or online classes, you need to have a designated space where you can do all your studying.
This will also allow you to be more disciplined in terms of your education, and it will allow you to keep things organized.
If you are the type of person who doesn’t do well with studying in the room, or library, you can try switching things up by going to a cafe nearby.
There will be lots of local cafes that students like yourself go to, that will motivate you to study as well as you sit around them.
7. Take everything seriously
It is time to take your courses, all of them, as seriously as you can. In the end you will be graded and judged on your performance in the same way as you used to before.
So it is best to take all your assignments, projects and exams seriously so that you are rewarded accordingly.
If there is any type of assignment or homework that you are struggling with, discuss it with your professor and there will be a very big chance that you find a middle ground.
