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Staying Organized during Online Courses

  1. Check your current system of organizing and see what’s working, and what isn’t working.
  2. Have a to-do list each day. Prioritize tasks that require multiple sessions of work, have close due-dates, or involve group members who are currently available.
  3. Use a planner, or a calendar, or an app on your phone to keep track of due dates for assignments, tests, and group meetings.
  4. Move to a different room, if possible, when working on assignments as compared to relaxing.
  5. Color code your classes- keep ENL 101 materials in a red folder, MUS 105 in a blue one, so materials are easier to find.
  6. Keep your school materials where you use them most often.
  7. Try not to have too many tabs open on your computer, so you don’t become overwhelmed.
  8. Try to keep a schedule each day for school time.
  9. Set alarms so you know when it’s time to move on to another task, so you don’t become too numb to a certain area of study.
  10. Use your syllabus as a guide- keep track of assignments you’ve received grades for, and which ones are still to come, to know where you stand in the course. This helps your track your progress.
  11. Take easy-to-read notes while reading long chapters of textbooks, so you don’t have to constantly return to the text.
  12. When in the middle of a group project, frequently communicate with group members to stay on the same page. Have each group member talk about their responsibilities.