PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (April 21, 2020) – Finals are fast approaching, and navigating this new 100-percent online world for taking classes during the COVID-19 pandemic could prove to be challenging for some students. Patrick Jefferson, Ed.D., is the director of Student Academic Support Services at Prairie View A&M University. By overseeing several of the university’s academic support services, including the University Tutoring Center, Online Tutoring, Testing Services, Supplemental Instruction, as well as partnering with faculty and departments on various initiatives aimed at increasing student success, Jefferson’s job is to help students do better in their classes.
What tips do you have for students to successfully complete their online coursework?
In my experience as an online student, online instructor, and overseeing student-focused online services, I can offer the following advice for students to make the most of their online experience and maximize their chances for success.
- Get to Know Technology. Taking a few minutes to better understand the technology students will be using can help significantly in an online environment. Learning the ends and outs of e-courses, the functionality of a laptop or tablet, and how to navigate platforms like Zoom and Google Drive can save students a lot of time and heartache. So, instead of spending unnecessary time being frustrated with technology, they can out that time and brainpower into the subject matter.
- Keep a Focused Mindset. One can get lulled into a false sense of comfort when taking online classes. There is an informality that comes with not having to get up, get dressed, and walk or drive over to class. Students should remember that these are real classes with real grades. Not taking every class meeting and assignment seriously can have real consequences. My advice to students is to set a routine and follow it each and every day. What time will you get up? What time will you go to bed? What day will you study for this course, and what day for another? And the most important point of all, go to class!
- Find a Proper Workspace. Many students are working from home right now. Also, at home, may be dad, mom, siblings, grandparents, cousins, and whoever else lives in the household. So, finding a quiet space to work may be difficult. If they can, I would tell students to find a dedicated workspace to study and take their online classes. If possible, let the family know, “This is where I will be working, and these are the times I will need to focus on my classwork.” I know this can be a challenge, especially if parents and siblings are working from home as well, and space is limited.
- Eliminate Distractions. This goes along with finding a proper workspace. If your little sister is playing Xbox in the living room, it may not be a good idea to sit next to her on the couch while connected to an online class. If dad is in the kitchen and likes to sing while he cooks dinner, then the kitchen table may not be the best place to study for a big test. As I said before, this may be a challenge for many, based on living situations, but try to find a space that has as few distractions as possible to focus on studies.
- Participate in Class Sessions. In some respects, being in an online class is the same as being in a face-to-face class. Participation matters! Ask and answer questions, volunteer to lead a project, or organize a study group. Students should engage with the course material, their peers, and their faculty at every opportunity. Not only will this help with mastering course content, but it will also help develop leadership skills and develop relationships that will prove beneficial throughout their college career.
- Use Your Resources. PVAMU provides a plethora of resources to help student success. Unfortunately, not many students take advantage of all of the resources that are at their fingertips. In this online environment, most departments have moved their services online and are waiting to be of assistance to any student in need of academic support. Services available to students online include tutoring, advising, writing help, and the most crucial resource of all when it comes to being successful in coursework, professors.
What are some of PVAMU’s resources that could help students in this new online environment?
- Distance Learning Student FAQs: https://www.pvamu.edu/dlearning/students/student-faqs/. I would advise students to start here. This is a one-stop-shop for all things e-courses.
- Academic Advising Services: https://www.pvamu.edu/student-success/advising/. Advisors are like those people that give runners cups of water during a marathon. They are here to support students throughout their academic journey with wise counsel, tips, support, and connecting students to available resources at the university.
- University Tutoring Center (UTC): https://www.pvamu.edu/student-success/sass/university-tutoring-center/. Tutoring is available to PVAMU students through a live and interactive format. Follow the link, scroll through the subject choices, and click, “Get Tutoring.” Students will be connected to a University Tutoring Center staff member, who will greet them and get them going. It is that easy! UTC hours are Monday – Thursday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. and Fridays 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Online Tutoring: All registered PVAMU students have access to free online tutoring. To access the service, students need to log-on to the student portal, PVPlace (https://www.pvamu.edu/pvplace/). Click on the tutoring button and follow the link. Just a few clicks, and they are connected. Online tutoring is available 24/7, all year around.
Patrick Jefferson, Ed.D.
- The Writing Center: The Writing Center is a student-friendly, stress-free environment to meet with a consultant and talk about writing across all subject matters. Writing help is available Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. To access the Writing Center, students should go to https://pvpanther.zoom.us/join. Once there, they will just need to enter the meeting ID number, 880-445-9841. After they click “join,” they will be connected to a Writing Center staff member.
PVAMU students are brilliant, resilient, and resourceful. I would never bet against them, and I have no doubt they will rise to this challenge and show what being a PV Panther is really about. After all, Prairie View A&M University produces productive people!
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