V E R O N I C A J A Z M I N L. C U A C H O N
The Ripples Publication
On June 15, 2020, the Department of Education (DepEd) reiterated their stand with the President on prioritizing the health of the students, claiming that no face-to-face classes will be conducted until the safety of all students is assured. Considering that as of July 11, 2020, the Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed a total of 52, 914 confirmed COVID-19 cases – and the numbers are constantly increasing. Compliant to the instructions of DepEd, both private and public schools across the archipelago have turned to online classes, and in preparation for the transition, teachers have been attending seminars to guide educators in adjusting and creating new lesson plans to cater to the needs of their students.
With the upcoming school opening this coming August 24, students must prepare for the transition of online classes. Learners have to reflect the efforts their teachers have put in to provide them quality education amid the pandemic and they can do so by preparing a study space. As students will not be learning within their classrooms, it is important to simulate a productive learning atmosphere within their homes, wherein both students and teachers can collaborate with ease and avoid distractions.
Creating a study space is pretty simple: select a designated space preferably with a stable internet connection and a well-situated table where you can have your learning materials and devices at hand. The study space will not only create a place where students and teachers can collaborate with ease, but it will also help develop a positive attitude towards learning amid the pandemic. The study space will benefit the learners in helping them avoid distractions, developing a sense of discipline towards learning, and emphasizing the importance of organization.
According to Forbes, the average online attention span of Generation Z is 8 seconds. With such a short attention span, students are often easily distracted. As such, having a study space can benefit the students by maximizing their focus during their online lectures. Generation Z has been known to spend 74% of their time online, (IBM Institute for Business Value, 2020), which can often lead to distractions during their online classes. A functional study space addresses this situation: it should feature aspects such as privacy, spaciousness, comfort, and most importantly, focus. Preferably, it should be situated away from the television, gaming, and electronic devices unnecessary during the lectures to counter short attention spans. By doing so, not only will exposure to these distractions be minimized, it would also ensure that students will treat these lectures and discussions as seriously as they would those in the classrooms.
Moreover, with the DepEd decision to forego face-to-face classes to prioritize the health and safety of the learners, they must also bear the consequence of a change in attitude towards learning without the psychological weight of a teacher to reprimand students in person. This is why it is of great importance for students to realize that learning in these circumstances needs both educators and learners to put in their best efforts. This is where self-discipline comes in through the creation of a study space that aims to create and maintain the same level of professionalism students have within their classrooms. After all, self-discipline is a very important aspect of obtaining peak performance. The usage of a study space will help you establish a mindset that you are here to learn and listen, rather than slouch or lounge about in different locations like your bed and kitchen, which wouldn’t set the optimum tone of professionalism needed in an educational setting.
Creating a study space will also teach students the importance of organization. Being organized has been claimed to increase the level of productivity, reduce stress levels, ensure punctuality, and warrant that you meet your deadlines (Wolch, 2020). Being organized doesn’t only mean having your pens in one place or having your books and notebooks shelved in colorful rows. It also means having your thoughts and ideas organized for your lecture to maximize productivity. Think of it as akin to writing an essay, an outline that will serve as a guide to finishing the composition: you find an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. You can also compare a functional study space to cooking; a messy work table will lead to confusion which makes you unable to save time and will lead to being unable to serve a proper dish while having a neat workspace, with the ingredients and materials organized, you’ll be able to create and provide a product that would satisfy your customer. The study space will not only make all your learning materials easily accessible for you, but it will also help your flow of thoughts.
Amid the pandemic, educators will indeed face multiple challenges in their goal of providing quality education, but if students reflect the same energy put in by their teachers, then they should be able to achieve that goal. Creating the study space is a small step towards a positive attitude in learning within these circumstances, in hopes of stimulating the same level of professionalism present within the four walls of the classroom. The study space will benefit students in helping them avoid distractions, developing a sense of discipline towards learning, and emphasizing the importance of organization. Furthermore, the decision of whether or not to take the initiative in putting in the effort to learn and advance amid the pandemic is solely up to you; however, it is essential that we must continue to be optimistic and keep our wits in order for us to continue to progress in our education during these trying times.
Graphic: Veronica Jazmin Cuachon
References:
Benefits of Keeping Organized At Work. (n.d.). Retrieved July 03, 2020, from https://www.monster.ca/career-advice/article/benefits-of-keeping-organized-at-work
Buan, L. (n.d.). PH coronavirus cases surpass 38,000. Retrieved July 03, 2020, from https://www.rappler.com/nation/265409-coronavirus-cases-philippines-july-1-2020
Creating Your Ideal Space for Studying. (1970, December 01). Retrieved July 03, 2020, from https://www.mountainheightsacademy.org/ideal-study-space/
How to Create Your Perfect Learning Environment. (n.d.). Retrieved July 03, 2020, from http://www.michiganbeercellar.com/tips/study-space/
Hutson, M. (2017, March 23). Why Power Brings Out Your True Self - Issue 46: Balance. Retrieved July 03, 2020, from http://nautil.us/issue/46/balance/why-power-brings-out-your-true-self
Morgan, B. (2020, February 28). 50 Stats All Marketers Must Know About Gen-Z. Retrieved July 03, 2020, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/blakemorgan/2020/02/28/50-stats-all-marketers-must-know-about-gen-z/
Official Statement. (n.d.). Retrieved July 03, 2020, from https://www.deped.gov.ph/2020/06/15/official-statement-5/
Patel, D. (2017, November 27). 5 D​ifferences ​Between ​Marketing ​To​ M​illennials V​s​. ​Gen Z. Retrieved July 03, 2020, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/deeppatel/2017/11/27/5-d%E2%80%8Bifferences-%E2%80%8Bbetween-%E2%80%8Bmarketing-%E2%80%8Bto%E2%80%8B-m%E2%80%8Billennials-v%E2%80%8Bs%E2%80%8B-%E2%80%8Bgen-z/