College During COVID-19
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Navigating your higher education journey can be challenging even in the best of times, and now while facing difficulties with COVID-19 even more so. Our team at Native Forward Scholars Fund is here to support you through these difficult times and this student web resource page can serve as your guide.
Keep reading for advice and strategies to excel at online distance learning, first-hand advice from students who previously completed a semester of distance learning, FAQs, and more.
COVID-19 has presented a variety of challenges for our communities. Not only might these challenges affect your ability to learn, but also your mental and physical well-being. Please review this list and take advantage of the resources available to you:
Resources
Native Forward Student Emergency Fund
The Student Emergency Fund is committed to supporting current and former Native Forward scholars who are facing challenges during COVID-19, including housing, food, utilities and more.
AT&T eLearning
Provides wireless data service, at no cost, for 60 days to qualified schools activating new lines on qualified data-only plans for school-issued tablets to enable eLearning for students who are not able to be at school. AccessMyLAN will also be available for the qualified lines available, at no cost for 60 days.
Charter Free Internet Access
Charter will offer free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription and at any service level up to 100 Mbps. To enroll call 1-844-488-8395. Installation fees will be waived for new student households.
Comcast Free Internet Services
Comcast is offering an ‘Internet Essentials’ package free for low-income customers for 60 days. Those new customers will get complimentary internet essentials service for 60 days, which is normally available to qualifying low-income households for $9.95 per month, and the speeds are increasing for new and existing customers.
First Nations Community HealthSource
First Nations Community HealthSource is providing a variety of health and welfare resources to Tribal communities, including care and protection kits, shelter resources, socially distanced spiritual support, and more.
STRATA Internet Services
STRATA has opened several community Wi-Fi services and other opportunities for STRATA customers to get relief during the pandemic.
Navajo Rent Help
Emergency Rental Assistance Program is available to all enrolled tribal citizens of the Navajo Nation, living on or off the reservation.
Spectrum Internet Services
Spectrum has opened several community Wi-Fi services and other opportunities for Spectrum customers to get relief during the pandemic.
Urban Indian Health Institute Resources
Urban Indian Health Institute created a list of resources for Tribes and urban Indian communities facing COVID-19 to help keep people informed about preventing the spread of the virus.Bottom of Form
Distance Learning During COVID-19
In an era of online learning, distance learning has become a reality more than a dream. Students can take classes from universities across the country without leaving the comfort of their own homes. However, one of the biggest criticisms of distance learning is that it doesn’t fit everyone’s learning style. Now in the time of COVID-19, many students are facing no choice but to change and adapt. Online learning has its unique pros and cons. On the one hand, you can pursue your education at your own pace while, in some cases, never having to step foot on a college campus. But on the other hand, online learning doesn’t provide students with the traditional college experience.
For some, online learning is the best way for them to focus on their education. For others, it may seem lacking because the connection they crave in face-to-face classes isn’t there. However, there are ways that students can prepare.
Understanding Learning Styles
There are several different learning styles – the way in which you best understand information and it’s different for every student. Pinpointing how you learn best, can dramatically impact your ability to connect with the topics you’re learning, as well as how you participate with the rest of the class. Learning in a classroom setting versus a virtual setting is different.
You can take this quiz to determine your learning style or to keep reading to find out the best strategies to help you excel in a virtual classroom.
Kinesthetic learners are most productive when they can use their sense of touch and move around.
- Get creative with your notes. Use a pen. Use a pencil. Use a highlighter. Underline important vocabulary or concepts while you read. Highlight and color code passages that connect to one another. By incorporating tiny unique movements or some kind of extra action into your note taking, you are allowing yourself to maximize your learning potential. Any extra motion kinesthetic learners can use in their coursework will help them comprehend the content.
- Stand up instead of sitting down. As a kinesthetic learner, standing up actually improves your comprehension and retention. When you stand up, your body is more engaged and connected to the learning process. Plus, you may be able to concentrate for longer periods of time and remember more of what you read.
- Combine your study session with exercise. Instead of plopping on the sofa with your notes, get up and do burpees or jumping jacks in between chapters. Ask a friend or family members to quiz you on your study guide while you shoot hoops or jump rope. Combining activity keeps you energized and cements the ideas you’re studying in your brain. Plus, as a kinesthetic learner, you need a physical outlet for your excess energy, even when you have to study.
- Utilize Small Movements. It’s usually not possible to stand up and do jumping jacks during a live class, but you can still use kinesthetic study strategies to keep yourself engaged. Bounce a ball against the floor and catch it when you answer a question. Twist a rubber band around your wrist or tap a pencil while you read. Even if the motions are small, they’ll help you stay focused and receptive to the course content.
- Take a break and walk around. If it just gets to be too much to pay attention, take a short break and walk around the room. As a kinesthetic learner, it can be hard to sit still and stay focused on a topic, especially long reading assignments or videos. Be sure to give yourself time to move around and clear your head, so you can come back to the material feeling fresh.
- Try tension and relaxation. If it is simply not possible to move around during a class, use this tension and relaxation technique to stay focused. Take five to ten second intervals to tighten a particular muscle. Then relax when the seconds have passed. Repeat several times with different muscle groups throughout your body. This helps to release unwanted tension, which is something kinesthetic learners often experience during idle times.
Auditory learners do their best when information is presented in a spoken language format.
- Record lectures to review at a later time. Auditory learners can be easily distracted by other noises going on around them, which makes it difficult to learn in busy settings. Especially if you’re not in a quiet space, listening to lectures can be overwhelming. As an auditory learner, you should record the class so you can review later with less distractions.
- Participate in course discussions. Talking about your ideas and voicing your questions will increase your understanding of the material. As an auditory learner, hearing your thoughts out loud helps you process them more effectively.
- Repeat facts with your eyes closed. This technique helps auditory learners focus their attention on the auditory process, rather than any other visual stimuli that might be distracting on your desk or in the room.
- Read assignments out loud. If you’re given a homework assignment that involves reading a lengthy chapter, don’t feel trapped by a silent reading session. Instead, find a study space and read out loud to yourself.
- Record yourself reading key points out loud. Once you have a spoken version of important items you need to learn, take the time to listen to the recording — as you walk to class, exercise, get ready for bed — so it can stick in your mind when you need to recall it later.
Join a virtual study group or find a study buddy. Give yourself the opportunity to hear other perspectives of the class content. By listening to other voices, you may find a perspective that resonates with you or a new way of considering the content that you had not previously thought of.
Visual learners learn best when the content is presented in a written format or in another visual format such as pictures or diagrams.
- Ask for a demonstration. Visual learners do best when they see how something is done. Whenever possible, ask your instructor for a visual demonstration. Once you see the concept or principle in action, you’ll have an easier time understanding it and recalling it later.
- Request handouts or copies of powerpoints covered in class. Before class begins, ask the teacher if there is a physical copy of the content you can review during the lecture. These materials will help you keep track of the information being presented in the lecture.
- Don’t forget to incorporate white space. White space is important for visual learners. When too much information is crammed together on a page, it becomes difficult to read. Think of this as an organizational tool like any other and use it to separate information in your notes.
- Draw symbols and pictures. Throughout your notes, use symbols to note important items — exclamation points for important information, question marks for information that’s confusing or that you need to study further, stars for information you understand fully. These notations help visual learners better analyze and recall the content. In addition, consider illustrating complex concepts or processes in a graphically pleasing way that you’ll remember later.
- Create flashcards. Using flashcards can help visual learners remember key phrases and vocabulary. Create a set of flashcards to review as a visual cue later on.
Format your notes and study materials in a way that is visually pleasing to your brain. If the information you are learning could be better organized as a graph or chart, take the time to make one. Alternatively, create outlines for textbook chapters as you read. Seeing information in a structured format helps visual learners remember it better.
Navigating College During COVID-19
Student Advice
“I find that you get what you put into online learning. You can still ask questions and engage, but like class, you have to choose to participate. I know that it is very challenging to do this when you do not have a stable internet connection, but many professors are understanding if you need to call in and attend class virtually.”
“My advice to others is to first and foremost practice appropriate social distancing and precautionary measures (such as wearing masks and regularly washing hands). The physical health and well-being of you and your family is a primary concern, but additionally, your psychological health is of importance too. Thus, I suggest you take full advantage of the technology and contact friends via messenger, telecommunication, and video chats to stay socially connected and catch up with old friends. Last but not least, take advantage of the warm weather and make sure you get time outside regularly for walks. Sunlight is important for mental health.”
FAQs
What type of funding is included in Native Forward’s Student Emergency Fund?
The Student Emergency Funding is designed to assist current Native Forward award recipients who are facing financial hardships and challenges, by providing them with one-time funding. The funds will help support students in emergency situations that include but are not limited to, food insecurity, emergency travel costs, emergency housing costs, educational technology or technology-related resources, or other educational expenses.
Who qualifies for the Student Emergency Fund?
The Student Emergency Funding is designed to assist current Native Forward award recipients who are facing financial hardships and challenges by providing them with one-time funding.
How do I apply for the Student Emergency Fund?
Students should contact a member of the Student Operations Team to apply for funding from the Student Emergency Fund.
Christa Moya: Christa@NativeForward.org
Michael Bates: Michael@NativeForward.org
What kind of support services does Native Forward offer for online learning?
Native Forward’s Student Support Team will continue to offer academic advising and support services for all our students. Our team will work with you to create a plan for your study habits and offer strategies and advice specifically geared for online learning.
If I need to be tested for COVID-19 where can I access free tests?
For more information about COVID-19 testing, refer to the Indian Health Services or Center for Disease Control websites.
Where can I follow up-to-date health guidelines?
Native Forward recommends following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization for up-to-date COVID-19 guidelines.
What should I do if I don’t have internet access for online courses?
There are several national service providers offering free or discounted Wi-Fi services during COVID-19 to accommodate individuals working and studying from home. Refer to our resources section for listings.
Where can I find additional resources to prepare for higher education?
Native Forward’s Student Resource Center is filled with information and advice to help you excel as a student pursuing your undergraduate, graduate, or professional degree. For specific questions, contact Fellowships@NativeForward.org.
