What’s On the Line for Online Classes?

Hey there! My name is JC Caramillo and I am currently a candidate for a Bachelor of Health Sciences with a concentration in Biomedical Sciences and a minor in Disability Studies – it’s a long title, I know. Last academic year, I was working with Health Promotion as a placement student and I’ll be returning as a Health Promotion Team Leader for the current academic year. I’m ecstatic to be providing my knowledge and wisdom with you, especially since this will my final year at Carleton University!

The transition to online classes for many students has been and will continue to be difficult. Some of us require the in-person experience to facilitate knowledge expansion, while some of us miss the social aspect of stepping onto campus. Remember that none of us asked for this and that we are all going through this experience together. During this past summer, I took two summer courses, so I’m pretty much used to online classes. Personally, I’ve always enjoyed online classes when I had the choice to take them. Now that I have no choice but to take them, this opinion has since changed. Although this is the case, I have a few tips for your academic success.

Firstly, make or join a group chat for your class. It’s a great way to stay social with your peers or to set up study dates with them! Though, be cautious as these group chats may begin sharing evaluation material, such as quizzes and midterms, which is an academic violation. If you find yourself in one of these group chats, remove yourself from them and notify your professor.

Secondly, make sure you have some water and snacks by your side. You’ll get thirsty and peckish, I’m sure of it! Just be weary of drinking too much water since you’ll have to use the restroom. In the case that you do have to get up for a bathroom break, make sure you have your microphone muted to avoid any… awkward situations.

Lastly, make sure you give your eyes a break. My optometrist always tells me that for every 20 minutes of screen time, take 20 seconds to look and focus on an object that is 20 feet away. This helps prevent eye strain, which is especially beneficial since we’ll be focused on a screen for extended periods of time. In saying this, this reminds me to do it more frequently – sorry Dr. Nguyen!

So what’s next? 

I hope you’ve enjoyed my advice and wisdom, hopefully you’ll get to practice them in your current and future studies! To summarize what I’ve said or if you’ve skipped to the bottom because you found me droning on, I’ve made a list of to-do’s:

• Find an emotional outlet
• Don’t be afraid to reach out for help
• REACH: Reasonable Expectations at Carleton Help
• Keep social with your peers by chatting and setting up study dates
• During class, keep some water and snacks at your workspace
• To avoid eye strain, practice the 20-20-20 rule by taking 20 seconds to focus on an object that is 20 feet away for every 20 minutes of screen time.

Well, that’s it for me; I hope to share with you again soon! Oh, and make sure you follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more updates!