There are so many different experiences developing around remote learning. Some ISPs are stepping up to make faster internet available for free or at lower cost for families in need. Individual schools, districts and nonprofits are finding ways to make devices and resources more widely available. Teachers, as usual, are going the extra mile to adapt to new demands. A few tech items go a long way toward improving the experience online. Headphones are key, especially if you've got siblings and parents working in close proximity. If your wi-fi is glitchy, see if you can connect to your router with an ethernet cable. Adapters are available for laptops. Hard-wired connections usually make for a better experience. Keep light sources, whether from fixtures or windows, out of frame behind you. Better to be in front of a wall. Place a lamp slightly off center past the top of your screen, so it shines on you without being directly in your eyes. Sitting facing a window can work, too. If you've got a phone, tablet, or second screen, see how you can make use of it to spread out what you're looking at. Great to have Zoom on one screen (say, a tablet) and the document you're working with on another (maybe your laptop). Save your teachers and classmates from motion sickness! Keep your device on a stable surface, not your lap. Staying on mute when you're not speaking helps keep the noise down. Phew, it's a lot to track. We're cyborgs, now. |