Transforming your at-home space into an effective remote learning space is the key to unlocking your student’s best experience in online school. With the summer winding down, now is the perfect time to make changes and prepare for the upcoming school year. By following some simple tips, you can create a space that is conducive to learning, whether you are an online student or a parent or guardian supporting your student’s virtual school journey. Keep reading to explore the best ways to create a dedicated digital learning space that encourages productivity, focus, and academic success.
Identify a dedicated space for learning.
To begin, it is important to find a dedicated space that is free of distractions and clutter. Look for a quiet corner of your home that is well lit, providing a calm and peaceful environment. Ideally, choose an area that is separated from areas with high traffic or noise, ensuring minimal interruptions during the school day. In addition, eliminate distractions like television, game consoles, or anything that will compete for your student’s attention. By designating a specific area as your learning space, you will create a consistent and easily accessible place to help foster focus and productivity.
Make it comfortable and cozy.
Creating a comfortable and inspiring learning space sets your student up for an enjoyable digital learning experience. Invest in functional furniture, such as a comfortable chair and desk. However, be careful not to make your learning space so comfortable that your student will lose focus! For example, beds are for sleeping, and that is what your student’s body will want to do if they try to do schoolwork from bed. To make a space cozy but not too relaxing, consider adding fun elements like twinkle lights or artwork to complete the space. Allow your student to decorate the walls and space with artwork, inspirational quotes, or posters that inspire them. This also gives the student a sense of ownership, responsibility and pride in their workspace. Finally, add in functional additions like a bulletin board or whiteboard to help students keep track of their assignments and learning from week to week.
Set the stage for learning with good lighting.
The best learning spaces have an abundance of natural light. If natural light is not readily available, consider investing in a high-quality lamp that provides adequate illumination. Insufficient lighting can lead to discomfort such as eyestrain and headaches, which in turn can impede productivity and hinder focus. By taking care of the lighting aspect, you can create a virtual learning environment that promotes better concentration and overall well-being for your online student.
Stock up on supplies and keep them handy.
Pave the way for smooth learning sessions by having any essential learning supplies conveniently accessible to your student. Try setting up a dedicated storage space stocked with a wide range of necessities such as pencils, pens, highlighters, notebooks, and any other materials your student may require. By staying organized and having everything within reach, your student will save time hunting for materials and gain the focus to help them stay motivated to achieve even more!
Create a school day calendar that works with your schedule.
It’s important to set routines and schedules to help your student acclimate to the structure and rhythm of the school day. Try planning a school day schedule to help your student block off periods for schoolwork, breaks, family time, and other activities your student is involved in. This will allow your student to develop healthy time-management skills while staying in control of their time spent on each activity. Be sure to include adequate breaks for rest, meals, and physical activities to keep the brain active and focused. Use our sample online school day schedules here to get an idea of how you might develop a daily cadence that works best for your student.
| Sample Virtual Learning Schedule 1 | Sample Virtual Learning Schedule 2 |
|---|---|
| 8:00a.m. – 10:00a.m. – Online classes and coursework | 8:00a.m. – 11:00a.m. – Homeschooling activities |
| 10:00a.m. – 10:30a.m. – Break | 11:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. – Creative writing or art projects |
| 10:30p.m. – 11:30a.m. – Creative writing or art projects | 12:00p.m. – 1:00p.m. – Lunch and personal time |
| 11:30a.m. – 1:00p.m. – Lunch and personal time | 1:00p.m. – 3:00p.m. – Online classes and coursework |
| 1:00p.m. – 4:00p.m. – Study time and homework | 3:00pm – 5:00pm – Physical activity |
| 4:00p.m. – 5:00p.m. – Reading or personal interests | 5:00p.m. – 6:00p.m. – Dinner and family time |
| 5:00p.m. – 6:00p.m. – Dinner and family time | 6:00p.m. – 8:00p.m. – Family game night or activities |
| 6:00p.m. – 8:00p.m. – Extracurricular activities |
Creating a successful at-home learning environment doesn’t need to be a daunting task. By following these simple steps, you can create a positive learning experience for your student, making online learning more focused, enjoyable, and efficient!
