Summer School: Tips on Making the Most of Your Experience
Summer school can be a great opportunity to catch up on credits, get ahead of coursework, or retake a class to lighten your course load for the fall semester. While your idea of a perfect summer probably doesn’t include sitting in a classroom, there are still many ways to have fun and get your work done with the right plan and mindset. Creating a plan, remaining organized and prioritizing productivity can make your summer school experience go by quickly and successfully. Here, the educational technology professionals at SchoolMart provide tips to help any student make the best out of his or her summer studies.
Set the Right Summer School Study Goals
Summer courses come in different forms and degrees of complexity. Because of this, it’s a good idea to decide what exactly you are looking for before registering for summer school. If you are looking for an easier summer learning experience, pick a subject that is familiar to you and study it in greater depth. For a more challenging approach, choose a new subject or one you have been struggling with during the past year. Take a single class and focus on it, in order to avoid being overwhelmed by new information. Additionally, consider how many hours you want to spend in class each day. Generally, the average daily learning duration is 4 hours and most programs last 1 to 4 weeks. Keep in mind that science or lab courses usually require more contact hours than arts and humanities courses. As we remain in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, online learning has become the primary option. When considering summer school courses, be sure to think about how you do with online learning, and consider subjects that may be better suited for digital instruction.
Create a Schedule and Work Plan Strategy
Attending classes is necessary if you want to complete a summer program successfully. A single missed class may make it difficult to catch up on missed work and as most summer courses include regular tests, skipping classes will reflect in your assessment outcomes. Furthermore, some summer school classes require students to read additional materials before class, while others expect you to conduct extensive reading before the beginning of the course. Brush up on your speed-reading and make sure you organize in advance. You may also have to prepare summaries, essays, short presentations, and so on.
Realize the Importance of Digital Citizenship
With the myriad of benefits technology brings, it is also important to teach students about the risks associated with technology. That is why incorporating digital citizenship lessons can be a fantastic tool to educate students on the importance of technological safety. Digital citizenship can be defined as responsible and healthy behavior related to technology use, including digital literacy, ethics, etiquette and security. With the growing field of technology in the workplace, employees will likely be interacting with other individuals in different states, regions and even countries. Knowing the differences between technology use in these areas, as well as security measures to protect personal and company information will provide students with an opportunity to showcase their understanding of the digital world, and bring a unique benefit to many employers.
Learn More with the Educational Technology Professionals at SchoolMart
At SchoolMart, we prioritize digital learning initiatives as a way to set K-12 students up for success when they enter the workplace. Modern changes in the workforce have led to a significant increase in jobs related to technology, which will continue to grow in the coming years. To learn more about how you can effectively incorporate technology into your classroom to give students a strong foundation when entering the workforce, contact the ed-tech professionals at SchoolMart today.
