Students generally have it tough. They have to take care of many things for school, attend numerous classes, study, and do all that while learning about responsibility. With the national COVID-19 pandemic circling the globe, their lives are now even more upended, if possible. Some students are stuck in their dorms, while others have been asked to leave campus and study individually, take online classes, and even exams.
But, students aren’t helpless. With our assistance, they can overcome the coronavirus problems. Here are some great tips for college students:
1. Evaluate the Situation
At this moment, the situation is bad and becoming even worse. Almost half of all college students are affected by some kind of insecurity in terms of their housing or even their nutrition. Those with low income and student loans struggle to meet their daily and basic needs.
To help students, you need to learn what kind of struggles they are dealing with. So, before taking any drastic measures in an academic institution, we have to stop and ask a question: how will this affect all students? For example, if you close the dining hall because of the corona virus outbreak, will students have a place to eat? If you cancel the employment options on campus, will they be able to support themselves and pay for their basic needs?
Consider the Online Learning Situation
Since education has to continue, there’s also the issue of online learning. We need to learn whether or not all students can access the platforms and engage in the studies. Based on all this, we need to find the appropriate methods for communications, as well as try to create a schedule that increases the quality of the learning.
Because of the intensity of online learning, educators and institutions must seek ways of communication that are available to all students. Not to mention, they need to know how frequently the students can study, as well as find methods of boosting their motivation. It is certainly not easy to adjust to such a big change like changing traditional learning with online, self-motivated studies.
Of course, students already do some of their learning online, which makes them tech-savvy, at least the millenials and the following generations. Many of them already use technology to perform research, write their papers, and order from writing services such as studyclerk.com when they are unable to write something or meet a deadline.
2. Motivate and Educate
Right now, the job of educators goes beyond just sharing materials and spreading knowledge. Students need some encouragement that would help them adjust to the online learning process. That being said, it’s the task of parents, educators, and institutions to work on motivating students to learn in a different environment. This cannot and should not become an opportunity to get out of classes or academic obligations.
3. Maintain Structure
The majority of academic educations switched from face-to-face teaching in a classroom to online learning. This means that students had to change their routine significantly. In addition to motivating them, we need to maintain structure as much as possible.
This includes set times for study sessions, as well as a lot of assistance on behalf of parents. Times are hard right now, but students cannot be allowed to damage their health or well-being. To create a healthy structure, it’s essential to help them retain practices such as good sleep patterns, hygiene, self-care, and nutrition, as well as activities outside of online classes and screen time.
4. Be Available
At these times, students need to be able to communicate with others and ask for support when needed. This might not be an option in-person, but they should definitely have an option to reach out to their instructors, mentors, or the college advisors.
5. Help with Health Care
Unfortunately, a big number of students are uninsured. Right now, there are plenty of options available such as Medicaid, but students might not know this yet. Make sure that they know their options. If they aren’t eligible for programs like Medicaid, provide them with information about available health centres and health care sites.
More importantly, give students a guide on how to handle the coronavirus in terms of their health and well-being. Some basic hygiene health tips can go a long way in preventing the spread of the virus.
6. Help Them Get Access to Food
As horrible as this sounds, it is the reality right now. Many students are struggling with the most basic things right now. The dining halls are closed, they cannot work on campus, and the student debt is only making matters worse.
Of course, you cannot feed all the students who face food insecurities, but you can help them find access to affordable food. There are local food banks and various food resources available for students who deal with such issues nowadays. Some college diners prepare bags of food for students to pick up when they cannot access the dining halls.
7. Assist Them in Finding Emergency Aid
Food is essential, but there are plenty of other expenses that students have to cover during the outbreak. The big loss of wages has made this impossible for many. Students are stuck in campuses without finances, unable to get home. Others cannot afford to pay their rent and have to leave their apartments.
Many countries have taken some measures to improve this situation. Ensure that the students know of all financial emergency aid options. If the students cannot afford to live on campus or in an apartment, help them get to their homes.
It is essential that students have a confidential way to discuss such issues with someone who can help them. Most students do not know where to turn for assistance when they find themselves in a hopeless situation.
Students have always been a vulnerable group, especially in a financial sense. This is why it is our common obligation to help them overcome this rough period. With the tips above, we should be able to make their lives significantly easier until the crisis passes.
Author’s Bio
Harry Southworth is an owner of youressayreviews.com. He’s also an excellent writer and shares helpful blogs all across the Web.