2.Try “rubber ducking” No, I am not asking everyone to find their old bath toys. This is a problem solving technique often used by programmers, but we can adapt it to suit our needs. For instance, you have completed a math problem, but the solution sheet says it is incorrect. Simply, talk aloud through each line of your solution
BACK TO ONLINE SCHOOL !!!
as if explaining to an inanimate object such as a rubber duck. The hope is that hearing your thought process aloud will allow you to spot your mistake. This method can be adapted to many subjects.
By: Sarah Bisram
Here We Go Again: Online School A year of online school later and yet it feels like uncharted territory. We have heard tips such as finding a quiet place and developing a routine but they have failed to help completely navigate the stress of online school. For this reason, I have compiled a list of specific ways to stay engaged during this school year. 1. Improve focus with a distraction log
3. Stop burning the midnight oil Many of us are accustomed to “burning the midnight oil”. Not only is it notably harder to focus after a long day but you are likely to be tired the following morning which is not ideal for a test. Try dedicating dates and times to when you would like to complete each assignment and schedule breaks. That way you have a visual representation of your workload and it will become apparent that procrastination is not an option. 4. Actually make changes
Are you ever in class and randomly remember
In a recent anonymous survey featuring nineteen
you have to ask your mom to buy you some
Harrisonians from second to sixth form, a mixture of
pens? Maybe during Spanish you realise you
genders, 68% of respondents admitted to struggling to
need to add an assignment to your to-do list.
focus at home while 15% were able to focus, and the
Well you should try a distraction log. This is a
remainder were able to somewhat focus. The survey was
physical or digital notebook for jotting down
conducted by student reporter Zaria Hintzen. When
important reminders if they pop into your head
asked what changes they would be making to better
so you can return your focus to the task at
adapt to online school this year, 6 respondents replied
hand. N.B. keep things such as finishing a
no changes, while the remainder responded with broad
Netflix show off the distraction log; important
impersonal changes such as extra studying. Worthy of
reminders only. After class simply complete the
note is hard work attracts change. Currently, we are
tasks in the log.
tasked with effectively studying large amounts of
Overall, online school is not ideal, but it is here. So during
material after being robbed of certain study techniques like going to the library or even physically taking notes.
this year of uncertainty let us
Therefore, we have to experiment and see what works. It
all adopt some changes to
is frustrating, confusing and full of risk. But, we need to
make the situation a little more
make an effort to see what works and inevitably what
bearable. Good luck everyone.
does not work.
Reporter: Zaria Hintzen Editor: Kenya James
THE COLLEGIAN
ISSUE 1 //OCTOBER 2021