Preparing to learn remotely



Online Learning and Working from HomePreparing to learn remotelyA note on wellnessRemember that your health and safety are paramount. Be safe and take precautions to stay healthy.Make self-care a priority. Take care of your physical and mental health. Practice self-compassion and be kind to yourself as you undertake law school during these difficult times.Stay connected! Your loved ones come first: law school is temporary; your loved ones will be in your life much longer than your professors, peers, and projects.Feed your soul. Make time for the things that make you happy and feed your heart and soul.What can you do to prepare for law school?Create a scheduleReflect on how, when, and where you study best.Break up the day into small chunks of time .Include breaks and specific times for other obligationsBreaks can be meals, movement, relaxing, checking email, household obligations, connecting with friends/family, etc.Schedule more difficult tasks during your best study timesBe realistic. If you are a first-year student or new to Berkeley Law, it may take some time to figure out how long it takes to do the reading, etc. You can adjust your schedule once you have a better sense of the workload.Create a well-being planDevelop a routine to facilitate good sleep (lots of articles about this, for example Sleep Foundation's tips or the Mayo Clinic’s tips)Include movement and rest in your scheduleSchedule time for loved ones and activities that make you happyWhat will you do when you feel stressed? Have a plan and write it down.Practice focused breathingMeditate (UCLA has a free app and Berkeley Law has a Mindfulness web page)Practice self-compassion and other self-care strategiesCheck out the UC Berkeley Greater Good Science Center’s Keys to Well-BeingCommunicate with your friends/family/partner about what you need or what they can doCreate a study space that minimizes distractionsFind a corner of the dining-room table or a couch, chair, desk, etc. where you will “go to school” everydayTo the extent possible, select a space where you can focus and avoid distractionsIf you will have childcare obligations, consider setting up a cozy spot near your study space with toys, books, etc., so that the kiddos can be near you when you are workingShare your schedule and plans Communicate your schedule (class time, study time, breaks) with your family, partner, housematesEnlist their help in helping you focus and holding you accountableGet the most out of online learning: Adapt, Engage, Focus, ConnectAdaptEstablish a consistent daily routine, starting with your morning routineAvoid reinventing your schedule unless it’s truly not working; go on “autopilot”Keep track of your classes in a way that makes it easy for you to see your schedule and move through it (e.g., use your bCalendar, or write it out for yourself)Help yourself transition between classes or blocks of time by doing something similar to what you would if you were in the Law Building (take a short walk, say hello to friends, check personal communications, get lunch, etc.)EngageEngage in class time with your professors. That’s where a lot of the learning happens. If you are in a different timezone, try to enroll in at least one course in which you can participate in real time / synchronously.Internal motivation to learn becomes more important in the absence of external motivation and social norms.Avoid the temptation to multitask. If you wouldn’t do it in the physical classroom, don’t do it in the virtual classroom.Whether or not you can participate synchronously in class, go to professors’ office hours, or make appointments, especially if you don’t understand a concept or idea.FocusBe mindful and intentional about how you spend your time. If you need a break, take a real break and enjoy itWhen you are working, be present and focusedMinimize distractions and procrastinationPomodoro technique: use a timer to to break down work into intervals separated by short breaks. Set specific goals for each small chunk of time.Breaks can vary, as long as they truly give you a break! They can be meals, movement, relaxing, checking email, other household obligations, connecting with friends/family, etc. When you are in class or studying, leave your phone in a different room. Check it during breaks.Get to the root of procrastination: what is holding you back? Ask questions about how to start an assignment, get clarification about what you are supposed to do, how to break down a project into manageable pieces, etc. Use positive self-talk and a growth mindset to mitigate perfectionism or a fear of failure.ConnectDon’t go it alone!Reach out to your professors and classmatesTake advantage of law school resources, such as the Academic Skills Program, including your ASP Fellows, the Student Services Office, and Berkeley Law’s many Student OrganizationsPartner with a friend or study group to set goals and hold each other accountableIf possible, join live Zooms early to chat and stay after to ask questionsIn the absence of casual in-person contact, be intentional about connecting with othersMake a date to (remotely) have lunch with a friend or friendsStay connected to your family and friendsIII.What should I be doing outside of class?Remember, that every hour of lecture probably requires multiple hours of preparation and/or review.Do the required reading (it will take longer than you think, legal English may be very different from what you’re used to reading).Go to professors’ office hours and ask questions.Schedule time for regular review and outlining (don’t wait until the end of the semester).Schedule time for practice hypothetical exercises (hypos) and, later in the semester, practice exams.When in doubt, practice!Practice and testing are highly effective learning methods. Passively reviewing/reading information is not.Practice way more than you think! If you are wondering whether you should review/outline or do a practice question, do the practice questionAt first, work through practice questions slowly to help you learn the material and develop a systematic approachDo timed practices later to simulate the pressure/adrenalineYou can find resources for hypotheticals (hypos) and practice exams on the Academic Skills Program websiteDo something enjoyable and unrelated to law school!IV.Preparing for and taking open-book examsIf you are a 1L, review your exam schedule and work backwards to create a study plan.If you are not a 1L, you will be able to schedule your own exams during the exam period. Create an exam plan and schedule for the exam period:Consider taking the exams that you are most worried about first.Consider taking the exam that you are least worried about last, when you are tired.Work backwards from your exam schedule to create a study municate with family members and housemates about your exam scheduleTips for taking open-book examsPrepare for open-book exams as if they were closed-bookYour outline/notes can be helpful during the exam, but you need to have a good understanding of the rules and their complexities in advanceCreate a checklist of issues to make sure you don’t miss or forget anythingStay within the time limits for each question. If time limits are not provided, allocate time for each question.Develop a system for how to approach different types of exam questions and practice your systemMake sure you know your professor’s policy on cutting-and-pasting or retyping directly from an outlineDo not copy/paste or retype directly from any source other than materials you created yourselfV.Tips for Using Zoom in the Context of Online ClassroomsUnless you are instructed otherwise, do abide by the same attendance and participation rules and expectations applicable to your in-person class. As much as possible, you should be in a space without distraction or interference and be able to access your course materials. Please use video whenever possible, unless your professor gives?other instructions. Your ability to engage meaningfully with your classmates and the professor will be enhanced if they can see you and you can see them. That said, sometimes it is not possible to use video. The benefits of video will be compromised if your background is distracting. If you can’t avoid being in a place with distractions in the background (sometimes this is not possible!), consider using a virtual background. If possible, position your camera to avoid glare in the background. Only you should be in front of the camera with your face clearly visible. Use the online class as an opportunity to observe, assess, and refine how you come across in a professional setting. Note that recordings of Zoom classes typically capture images of participants, screen-shared material, and a transcript of all chats that are displayed to the meeting host. This means that as with in-person classes, all of your participation should be class-appropriate and, importantly, you may not share or distribute class recordings (including video, audio, or screenshots). Doing so would violate intellectual property rights and student privacy.Please keep yourself on “mute” when you are not speaking. This will help to minimize background noise for everyone. Your professor will explain how best to participate. This often includes using the “raise hand” function in the “participants” window.?Remember that the chat is recorded. Please be professional. Try to find a balance between connecting with your classmates and losing focus. Also, professors often will not be able to monitor the chat while they are teaching. You can alert them to a question in the chat using the “raise hand” function or other means of participation.VI.Reducing Distractions When StudyingSound. Play instrumental music or calming soundtracks, or use headphones, ear protection, or earplugs.Sight. Create work areas without visual distractions. Take down posters and buy or make study carrels (e.g., use a cardboard box around your desk, or tri-fold display boards as visual blinders). Some students also find using low light in the rest of the room helps them to focus on their desk or work.Smells. Notice if you’re sensitive to different smells or chemicals and try to use this time to alter your environment. This may involve talking to those you live with about cooking, etc., and trying to find compromises that work for your schedule.Seating. From kitchen chairs and sofas, to hammocks and exercise balls, students can “sit” anywhere. You can work flat on the floor, at a standing desk, or at various locations throughout the day. This is a chance to try all options. Develop a workspace that’s conducive for you. ................
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