Chapters
- 01. Tip #1 - The Right Environment
- 02. Tip #2 - Get Rid of Distractions
- 03. Tip #3 - Maintain a Routine
- 04. Tip #4 - Take Regular Breaks, Even During Your Lessons
- 05. Tip #5 - Participate as Much as Possible During the Lessons
- 06. Tip #6 - Stay in Touch with Your Teachers and Classmates
- 07. Tip #7 - Eat and Drink
- 08. Tip #8 - Move Around
- 09. Tip #9 - Get Enough Sleep
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” - Nelson Mandela
During the Second World War, researcher Norman Mackworth created an experiment to test the vigilance of radar operators. The test, known as the Mackworth Clock, became a common test of vigilance and concentration over long periods. Vigilance decreases after 30 minutes with errors increasing by 10 to 15%. Of course, concentration varies between people. Like a muscle, you can train your concentration to become more productive by avoiding certain bad habits. During online tutorials, when the students and tutor aren't physically in the same room, it can be difficult to fully focus on the teaching. For your tutorials to work, both parties need to be focused on the course and work together to make sure that the digital tools are used effectively. With that in mind, here are our tips for staying focused during online classes.
Tip #1 - The Right Environment
With the pandemic, a lot of students have seen their classes move online. Staying focused throughout an entire class isn’t easy, even at home. The first thing to do is to look at is your surroundings.
Tip #2 - Get Rid of Distractions
Distractions are concentration’s worst enemy! We’re not very good at multitasking and if you’re scrolling through your social media feeds, watching a show, or listening to music at the same time, you’ll not be fully focused on your lesson.
Tip #3 - Maintain a Routine
If you wake up one day at 8, another at 10, and the following day at 11, you’ll struggle to focus. You’ll feel like you’re on holiday rather than attending lessons at school. Maintaining a routine and fixed schedule is a good way to ensure that you’re alert. Get up and get ready as if you were going to school or university. Get showered and dressed and have breakfast like it was any normal day. Just because you’re not going to school, it doesn’t mean that you should change your routine. Check out the best places to find online tutoring.
Tip #4 - Take Regular Breaks, Even During Your Lessons
As we’ve mentioned, you’re at your most alert in 20-to-30-minute periods. The Pomodoro Technique, for example, is based on this idea. We recommend at least taking a break for between 30 seconds and a minute after every half an hour. Get up out of your chair, stretch, yawn, etc. Drink some water, get some fresh air, walk around for a bit. Sit back down and refocus on your lessons.
Tip #5 - Participate as Much as Possible During the Lessons
If you want to concentrate, get involved! Participation means that you have to focus on what your teacher is saying. Of course, not every class will allow you to participate as much as you want, but interact with the teacher and the other students whenever you can as it’ll make the lesson more engaging, too. The interaction will ensure that you’re concentrating. Don’t hesitate to ask questions as it’s harder for the teacher to see who’s struggling and who gets it when all their students are behind a webcam. Take charge of your learning! Find out how online tutoring can help children.
Tip #6 - Stay in Touch with Your Teachers and Classmates
Outside of your lessons, make sure that you’re keeping in touch with your classmates and teachers to stay on top of your work. You could create a Facebook group or Discord server to talk about classes. Send an email to your teacher if you need help or extra information.
Tip #7 - Eat and Drink
The brain consumes around a quarter of our body’s energy. Starting your lessons on an empty stomach will hurt your comprehension. A good breakfast will give you the energy you need for your morning lessons and ensure you can concentrate. Dedicate between 10 and 20 minutes in the morning to breakfast and enjoy some cereal, fresh fruit, eggs, cheese and dairy products, or nuts. Make sure that you’re regularly drinking water throughout the day. Water is the best way to hydrate and make sure that your brain is working at its full potential. If you get peckish mid-morning, have some nuts or cereal. Avoid certain cereal bars as many of them aren’t that good for you.
Tip #8 - Move Around
Young students find it hard enough to sit still in a chair all day and doing so in front of a screen is even tougher. Moving around is good for your health and movement can also help you to concentrate, which you need to do more than ever during online tutorials. Keep in mind that even if you can’t physically move around every 15 minutes, consider moving around in your mind. For example, to remember a new concept, visualise a scenario in your head. This is a good technique for remembering events in history class, for example. You can also draw as you listen. You don’t need to create a masterpiece. Drawing notes or sketchnoting is a good way to be more active in your notetaking. Think about changing position. Why not install a standing desk? Not only is sitting bad for concentration, but it’s also bad for your health. You can walk around as you study. Movement is good for concentration no matter what kind of work you’re doing. Find out why you should consider online tutoring.
Tip #9 - Get Enough Sleep
Sleep is incredibly important for remaining focused and restful sleep is conducive to good concentration. A bad night’s sleep can make it hard to focus the following day as you’ll spend the day yawning and struggle to listen to your teacher.
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