The novel coronavirus has radically changed our way of life, with many schools returning in the fall in a virtual capacity only. I know just how disappointing that can be, and how academically challenging it can be. Waking up in the morning to sit in front of your computer screen for Zoom lessons all day might be a drag. But to help you stay engaged during your virtual classes in order to ace your classes for the upcoming semester, I've listed a few key tips that I believe will help you stay focused and maximize your productivity!

1. Use an Agenda to Write Down the Key Talking Points in the Upcoming Lecture

An important way to drive engagement during your virtual lecture begins even before the actual meeting. You want to have talking points or notes beforehand, whether that comes from readings or reviewing notes from the previous lecture. This will allow you to head into the next class more confident and aware of what to expect, and can even allow you to participate more in discussions. Keep notes in a journal, for example, to help yourself remember what questions or comments you previously had.

2. Turn On Your Video

Okay, so why is this so important? The Harvard Business Review conducted a study between face-to-face meetings and virtual meetings and found that 86% of people reported higher engagement in face-to-face meetings. While virtual lectures can never be a face-to-face, you can get closer to that by using video. Having camera and audio off may as well be a death sentence for productivity. Video will encourage yourself to stay focused during the lecture and actively participate in discussions. Which leads us into the next point...

3. Dress to Impress

You know the saying: look good, feel good. But it really is true! Making video mandatory for yourself will ensure that you will show up looking better. Rolling out of bed in pajamas and hair all over the place into the class will be no good for anyone, especially yourself. When dressed well, it will increase your confidence and willingness to participate in virtual meetings go up. The overall atmosphere has a huge effect on the productivity of the virtual workplace, no matter how simple it may seem.

4. Take Breaks

Have you been sitting for a while? Are questions and comments steadily declining? Well, take a break! Get up, stretch, get some more coffee in your tumbler, do whatever you need to do to get back on track. Having access to stress relievers like exercise bands and stress balls can be a quick and easily accessible way of recharging. Figure out a system that works for you when you need a break. Who knows, even something like a Fidget Spinner can do the trick.

5. Get Involved

The instructor should not be the only person speaking during the entire lecture. It's important for you to speak up and ask questions or make comments. The opinion of others is extremely valuable, and should be taken note of. Even if you don't normally participate, it will be good if you do and the instructor will appreciate it. You could be providing some really valuable insight.

These are just some handy tricks that you should implement for your next lesson. Engagement is the first step to success! The Ad Answer specializes in designing promotional products that you should definitely check out to help jazz up and ace your next class! Furthermore, feel free to leave some comments below and let us know some of your favorite tactics to keep engagement, or just ask us a question!