How to Get the Most Out of Your Virtual College Course

Ivy League colleges to 2-year schools have moved all or part of their education online this year. (Eh, you know why). This may seem extremely unfair to students who were looking forward to, say, living in a hostel or asking for help from the cutie sitting next to them, and not, for example, their dad.

There is a fine line between helping your child through a school year they never wanted and raising an adult on a helicopter. But if your student comes to you for advice, it’s a good idea to have tips on hand to help them navigate the virtual college.

Michelle Hagan-Short has taught lessons both online and in person throughout her career. She works as Assistant Dean at Ivy Tech Community College in Fort Wayne and Warsaw, Indiana, and this year all classes on her roster are online.

She shared some tips for parents that they can pass on to students who want to make the most of their virtual semester. Or a year. Or a decade (I’m kidding, I think).

Attend opening hours

The fact that students and faculty cannot be together on campus does not mean that there will not be the same help. Hagan-Short has opening hours just like any other semester — only on Zoom.

Let’s say Emily “shows up” during office hours, but Hagan-Short is currently with Michael. She will wait to finish with Michael before letting Emily in her “office”, which ensures the confidentiality of the one-on-one meeting. If Emily made an appointment, she wouldn’t have to wait.

Check out the features of the learning platform

Most schools use an online learning platform like Blackboard or Canvas, or perhaps their own proprietary services like IvyLearn, which are used by Hegan-Short. Whatever the platform, make sure your student is familiar with it. They have to spend time in it, clicking around and checking what is in stock.

Hagan-Short notes that IvyLearn allows students in the class to easily exchange messages with others in the class. For example, if your student is looking for a study group, this is an easy way to put it together.

And that usually works. David Seibert, who was a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Lowell in the spring, said on a college blog :

Usually in large online classes, if you check the list, you will definitely recognize at least one or two people. But even if you don’t, it’s easy to send someone a note by email: “Hi, I’m in this class. Could you please help me with this problem? I would appreciate it. “Most likely they will help you.

Ask for help

Want to know how to join a student leadership group? Study group? Now is not the time for shyness: you have to speak up.

“You may not have this ‘sitting in physical space’ (option), but I believe these connections are available,” says Hagan-Short. “(Students) just need to get in touch with someone – a teacher, a consultant – at the institution to help make those connections.”

Check your email

It sounds simple – yes, of course, students should check their email – but email is not the most used communication platform among students. And yes, any student during any school year should log into their email at least every 48 hours, says Hagan-Short. But this is especially true during the virtual semester.

Email is how your school will communicate news and events on campus to you. Of course, a job fair may not be hosted at the student center this year, but students can probably still attend virtually and meet potential employers via video chat. Students may not sit next to a consultant to review their resume, but they can still attend a virtual resume writing workshop and connect with experts who can help.

And there is no way of knowing about these events, Hagan-Short notes, if students ignore their email accounts.

Try to be positive

Hegan-Short highlights two issues that are of concern to parents now: the well-being of their students and a quality education.

Many schools have health resources to help with the former, but they also have the experience needed to address the latter. Many schools have been offering virtual experiences for years, so they are familiar with the required technology.

“We’ve used this before,” says Hagan-Short of his school. “We were well positioned to move to a virtual online platform. Students receive the education they need. They study the content of the course. “

When a school starts up again, it is important to remember that everyone, including the teachers, is doing their best.

“For the majority of students who have had to choose online when it’s not what they wanted,” says Hagan-Short, “I truly believe that teachers are working hard to make sure connections are still being made in the classroom.” …