Keep Learning

Mental Health

• Stay connected to your friends and family. Schedule video chats, make phone calls, and reach out through email, social media, etc. 
• Make safety and health a priority. Give yourself breaks from the news, care for your body, take a few deep breaths, and try to get enough sleep. These wellness resources may help.
• If you are experiencing academic challenges that interfere with your ability to complete coursework, please reach out to Student Support Services. If you are experiencing a non-life-threatening mental health crisis, Counseling and Testing will continue to provide Urgent Care for UWL students. For safety, housing, food, child care, transportation, clothing, and other essential needs, refer to these Emergency Resources. If the issue is life-threatening, call 911.

Note: Campus services or resources are operating with a variety of hours. Please check office websites or call or email first.

• Make sure you have regular access to a computer, laptop, tablet, or similar device. Note there are reported issues with Chromebooks if you need to use them for Lockdown Browser, Excel, etc. 
• Canvas likes Chrome as the browser. 
• Many courses use a web-conferencing tool like WebEx, Zoom, or Collaborate Ultra. Know these technologies so you can participate. 
• Confirm you have a reliable Internet connection so that you may access online course materials and assignments.
• Notify your instructor if you have limited access to the Internet or do not have access to a computer with appropriate hardware or software.
• If possible, have backup technology available in case something doesn’t work.

• Check for updates to class schedules. Make note of changes to assignments, readings, exams, etc. as well as due dates. Log in to each of your courses daily.
• Look for information about how each of your courses will be conducted and what the expectations are for class meetings. Requirements will vary from class to class.
• Create a calendar for each day of the week, deciding which hours you need to be online for class and which you will use for studying or self-care. Use this template, if helpful.
• Develop new habits to stay motivated. Your plan could be to study uninterrupted for some designated time and then take a break (e.g., 30, 40, 50 minutes of study followed by a 5-10 minute break).
• Pace out work so you do not fall behind. Do a chunk of reading, study, and/or assignments every day.

• Find a location where you can work with a minimum of distractions.
• Focus on one thing at a time. Learning requires mental effort and undivided attention. Research shows that students who try to “multitask” make more mistakes, take longer, get fatigued, and get poorer grades.
• Practice. Use any practice quizzes provided by your instructor--or make up questions by yourself, or with an online study group. When reading an assignment, stop after reading a section of the material. Put the material aside and then write down everything you remember. Learn more about self-testing.
• Avoid cramming. Space your learning out instead. If you are studying for an exam, divide your study time into 3-5 sessions with 1-2 days in between. At each session, test yourself on new material and review the material you studied at the previous session. Learn more about distributed practice.
• Use self-explanation to improve your learning. Without looking back at the material, try to explain whatever you are studying to yourself (out loud or on paper) or to other classmates online. Notice gaps in your understanding and then go back check the material. 
• Watch this video for more study tips.

• Connect with classmates through email, discussion forums, or other means. 
• Use the Study Buddy feature in EAB Navigate to find someone to work with on course materials. 
• About 75% of UWL students have taken a course online, so if you are new to online learning or do not have much experience with technology, ask other students for tips.
• Arrange online study sessions with classmates in each of your classes. For collaborative projects, schedule team meetings virtually. Help each other stay on track. Read more about collaborating remotely.
• Online learning gives you a chance to interact frequently with other students (and your instructor). Although you may feel overwhelmed at first, you will develop important skills and get more confident over time.

• Find contact information for each of your instructors. Check to see how office hours will be held.
• Email questions. You are probably not the only person who has them!
• If you are having problems accessing course materials or doing course work, let your instructor know as soon as possible.
• See if your instructor has created an online forum for asking questions. If so, use it.
• To be "present" in an online class, you need to participate in online activities, complete assignments, contribute to discussions, attend office hours, and send questions via email. Otherwise, your instructor will not be able to give feedback on or evaluate your learning.
• Instructors use Canvas in different ways, so don’t make assumptions about where to find assignments, deadlines, etc. When in doubt, ask!