More than a year into the pandemic, online schooling has become the new normal for education. However, the entire last year felt like a temporary thing – and we were all thinking about how we’d be back in offline school with a year. Well, since we’re all slowly coming back to offline classes and adapting to the new normal, here are some of the things I’ve learned along the way, which have helped me adapt easily and can hopefully help you too!
Monitor your screen time :
Having a long exposure to the screen is inevitable, with education, socializing, and downtime – all done online, but it comes with several repercussions. So, taking a 5-10 minute break every 1-2 hours is something we should all follow. Utilizing the breaks in between classes to get something done, like cleaning up your room or drawing, or reading a chapter of the book you’re currently reading is also a simple way to give your eyes some rest.
Focusing during class :
Studying during online classes is not an easy feat to achieve. With distractions through the internet right at your fingertips, focusing during class is understandably hard. To help with focusing, log out of your chatting accounts on the device you’re taking classes on. Try not to switch tabs during class and keep your phone away to reduce notifications
Self-studying :
Study without the internet. Use physical copies of books or download PDFs of the books you’re using online so that you can disconnect from your wifi and only focus on the topic you are currently doing. Also, don’t type your answers, write them.
Take notes :
Taking running notes is an easy way to maintain focus, and remember concepts. It’s alright if your notes are messy during class, just note down what you think is necessary, and later categorize and make it neater. Writing what you learn in your own words makes it far easier to understand, and it helps in cementing the topic. Look up different ways to write notes, such as the Cornell or sentence methods, and follow what suits you the best.
Downtime :
Since everything is still partially online, the need for fresh air and no screens has been at an all-time high. Make sure to take at least a 15-minute walk outside your home, or spend some time with friends (while remaining safe). The fresh air and lack of internet will not only revitalise you, but it will also help you clear your mind so you can work on your tasks effectively.
Implementing these simple things in your daily routine will make a huge difference, and is sure to help make online schooling a little bit easier, if not a lot more.
"Am I a child or an adult? One pace ahead of childhood, two paces behind Adulthood."
I am sure this question pops up in every teenager's mind. Often when they cannot do a task and are immediately hauled up by parents and teachers, “You are so grown up, and yet don't you know this?” However, when they accomplish any feat, they are termed as ‘child prodigies.’
Teenagers today face innumerable challenges and distractions around them. Caught between the real and the reel world - Most of them use these media forms to draw attention to themselves - they thrive on the adulation/ sympathies soaking in all the attention they get. These are often in likes, shares, and reposts they receive when they update their stories or upload their pictures on socials like Instagram, Snapchat, or Facebook. Every little happening from their personal life to their school /social life becomes a sensation- often worth posting - just to avail the validation from a couple of strangers - This is termed as “ATTENTION SEEKING SYNDROME.
Now, how does this begin? Let’s look at Reema and Rakesh, parents to an adolescent. Reema works in a prestigious school while Rakesh is a manager in a bank. They have everything they need - a luxurious bungalow, the latest gadgets, help with all the chores, and of course, the most expensive car to travel in. As they finished the day’s routine and were winding up for the night - Rakesh was busy watching the news while Reema was going through a questionnaire she had given her students. Suddenly she gasps and sobs. Her husband enquired what had happened. She reads out the answer from the questionnaire "My parents have given me everything one could ever ask for -When I return from school, they make sweet talk, ask about my life, and then immediately engross in their mobiles. I honestly wish they would spend time with me - tell me stories, play with me, understand that I feel lonely". Rakesh suggests that Reema should have a conversation with the parents regarding the same. The students’ answer stunned the father when she said it was their own child who had written it.
This is but one example which ends up being an excuse for adolescents to search for alternative sources that will satisfy their urge to be appreciated, sympathized, and supported. They turn to the most accessible source - social media. Social media often plays a significant role in connecting an individual to various people. In these groups, you make any number of friends while also gaining sympathy, empathy, attention, adoration, validation, and feeling accepted - this keeps them hooked. Social media ends up being a compass on which one bases his/her/their life - resulting in drastic changes. Parents tend to ignore the behavioral modifications and proudly stand to claim how their child is tech-savvy.
Adolescence is a stage when hormonal changes are at their full pace. One’s family needs to be supportive, attentive & alert to the emotional needs of their kids. Lack of this leads teenagers to scourge social networking sites for the same. They create fake accounts, exposing their details, which often leads to a state of misuse - in turn leading to a loop of anxiety, depression, and even suicide.
The need of the hour is to adapt and adopt techniques that will keep them busy and develop their personality. INVOLVE- in family, community, and society-based jobs. Taking an early neighbor to the bank/hospital or market. Conduct basic tech classes for your family and community adults who need to learn new systems. INCULCATE values through your example, making their breakfast, washing the dishes irrespective of gender, visiting the elderly old grandparents, and listening to them may mean giving up on their screen time. INSPIRE- through their mistakes, disappointments, defeats, loss - A setback is typical; however, getting up to face the challenge is real!
These teenagers must never be treated as a child, for that is a stage of life that they have surpassed. It is better to treat them as if they had greater value than they actually show than if they had less and let them feel that their merits and self-respect are disregarded. But, above all, it is the education of adolescents that is important because it is then the child enters adulthood.
All of us have this desire to look cool and to be intelligent. We feel intelligence can be gathered through what we study and that’s the only way to gain intelligence. But in reality, intelligence is the ability to think on your feet, the ability to keep growing and to continue to be curious and alert. The key is in our mindset.
There are two kinds of mind-sets –
Fixed Mindset – where intelligence is static and
Growth Mindset – where intelligence is developing and learning continuously.
A fixed mindset leads to a desire to look smart and hence we unconsciously become rigid in our ways. We try and stick to the known path, avoid challenges and when faced with any challenge we tend to give up easily.
We do not like to put in too much effort as we fear failure. This may lead to us being hard on ourselves and developing perfectionism as a coping mechanism. We are unable to take in negative feedback and easily feel threatened by others’ success.
A growth mindset on the other hand leads to a desire to keep learning and hence we tend to look at life as a learning process. We are not scared to face challenges as it only teaches us how to approach life better thereby increasing our persistence and we become more resilient.
We see effort as an ingredient to our success and hence we do not shy away from putting in the effort required. This also opens our minds towards criticism as we get a valuable lesson from this as well. We are also able to feel happy for others’ success as they become an inspiration to achieve more!
As we can see, with a Growth mindset we can reach greater heights and also gain a sense of greater free will…..
The choice is yours.
-Anushree C N, Counsellor
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