Like any adventure, it’s essential to be prepared with the correct equipment. In this new SHS environment that we are in, filled with screens and keyboards, the tools we need are slightly different than those we used in face-to-face classes. From online resources to work desk essentials, with the right gear, we can traverse and adapt to any school situation that comes our way, just like any explorer!

A planner

First things first, mapping out your schedule and tasks is crucial to begin your online school journey! With the lines between schoolwork, extracurriculars, and bonding time with friends are now blurred, the need to organize your schedule with a planner is now more important than ever. Whether you dig the ease of a digital planner or love the feeling of writing your to-do lists in a journal, choose what works best for you. To get even more use out of it, you can even jot some notes on how your day went, decorate it with stickers, and keep a habit tracker!

Laptop stand

Next, it’s essential to keep your body in tip-top shape as you head on with your assignments. Since SHS is now set in a virtual classroom, we have surely spent more time sitting on a desk. However, the prolonged sitting and staring at a screen are uncomfortable to our bodies, which is why using the right gear to keep good posture is key. To position your laptop or tablet more at eye level, the laptop stand is there for you, so that you don’t have to look down more at your screen. A multi-purpose tool, you can even use this to hold your books and readings! While this comes in many colors and models, you’ll definitely find the best match for you. 

The perfect study playlist

While some prefer complete silence to get work done, others would pop their headphones in and listen to some music to put themselves in the mood for school. You can instantly transport yourself to a café on a group study or in a calm room filled with sounds of nature with just the right tunes. Instead of hitting the search bar every time you want a certain song to play while studying, it’s best to prepare a study playlist beforehand. Whether classical music or lo-fi beats are your jam, having a study playlist can help you power through schoolwork and make the study sessions even more enjoyable!

Chrome extensions

Just like a powerful tool belt, Chrome extensions got all you need to make your online learning experience even more productive! To instantly proofread your essays, Grammarly is the one for you. On the other hand, if highlighting your readings on the web with different colors helps you understand them better, try your hand at Weava Highlighter. Last, for help with research such as organizing and citing papers, Zotero’s your buddy. If you still need more help with other school tasks, more extensions in the Chrome Web Store are waiting to help you be online class-ready!

Timer Apps

A good adventurer makes good use of his/her time, and you can do this too with the help of timer apps! Based on the Pomodoro Technique, these apps separate chunks of time for study periods, with a short break in between each interval. This system helps you stay focused on the set time for schoolwork, and even times your breaks so that you don’t overextend (we have all been guilty of that 😂 ). Some apps follow the technique strictly while others are customizable so that you can put your preferred length of study sessions and breaks! Kickstart your Pomodoro experience with free apps such as Focus To-Do, Marinara Timer, and Tomatoes.

In addition to these recommendations, Edukasyon.ph has plenty of resources to guide you through the online SHS experience! Before hitting that search button, head on to these CARES videos for more tips about navigating this unique school year at https://cares.edukasyon.ph.