Balance: Establishing a Schedule & Learning Resources

Between navigating Zoom/in-person classes, staying organized, getting involved, and maintaining grades, students are battling a new sense of “normal” and we are here to provide resources to aid them in succeeding!

Establishing a Schedule

For students studying at home with their families or residing in Tallahassee with roommates, participating in online classes can lead to many disruptions and distractions--whether it’s intentional or not. With interruptions, it can be hard for students to continue their usual college routine of going to class, studying, taking assessments, and completing projects. 

To assist students with focusing and committing to their coursework, we have created a Wheel Schedule for students to print out and hang outside their rooms so families and friends will be able to stay updated with what your student is doing, minus the interruption.

Students are encouraged to download and print these Wheel Schedules, write in their preferred schedule, and place it somewhere noticeable in order to reduce the amount of disruption they experience while attending class or completing other tasks. Students can fill in the 8 blanks however they feel is necessary and denote what they are currently doing by attaching a clothespin or paperclip to that segment of the wheel.

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Here are some examples of how students can fill out the Wheel Schedules!

Click Here to Download: Wheel Schedule - Garent

Click Here to Download: Wheel Schedule - Gold

This resource will assist students in communicating their school and personal schedules with their families and allow them to have the time necessary to perform their best.

To download these Wheel Schedules, right click on the images on the screen above and click the button that says “Save Image As…” to save to your desktop. From here, you can open it in a Word document to type a schedule or it can be printed and handwritten.

Florida State Anywhere

FSU Anywhere was created so new first-year and transfer students participating in online learning outside of Tallahassee could connect to fellow students and support services available at FSU. Activities such as small group experiences and programs that will allow for students to meet and communicate remotely, as well as engage in personal and academic goals.

To join FSU Anywhere, your student must complete this survey letting FSU know their remote plans. This will guarantee them a spot in FSU Anywhere.

Once your student has joined, all they have to do is participate in at least one of the experiences offered this Fall. In order to find the best fit, they can talk to their advisor and see what works well for them. The experiences being offered include: 

  • Engage 100. Engage 100 is designed to connect, engage, and challenge students during their first semester at FSU, as well as pave the way to future success in college. These are small, mentor-guided group experiences centered on a particular topic or curriculum that will assist students in acclimating to university life. New Student & Family Programs hosts Chart Your Course: Living the Creed (SLS 2206), a course included in the Engage 100 initiative.
  • Living-Learning Communities. Living-Learning Communities (LLC) allow students to live with other students who share similar interests and take a couple classes together. Each hall is aligned with various themes and propels students into an environment where they can learn, support one another, and meet a network of students and faculty. Students who previously accepted an LLC invite and cancelled their housing contract will be allowed to participate remotely in their LLC this year. Look for an email about how to participate in your LLC. Contact your LLC director or Dr. Sara Hamon (shamon@fsu.edu) if you have questions. 
  • Freshman Interest Groups. A Freshman Interest Group (FIG) is a pre-packaged cluster of high-demand freshman courses that have been linked by a theme or academic program. One of the most significant advantages to registering for a FIG is enrolling in the FIG Colloquium HUM1920. This course is designed to provide you a set of experiences that will introduce you to the academic culture at the Florida State University Enrollment in these courses is on-going and availability is subject to change. 
  • Nole2Nole. To ensure our newest students have access to peers who have experience learning in the remote environment, we designed Nole2Nole. Nole2Nole is a small-group, peer guided experience in which we pair students with students who have interests like yours. They will have opportunities to interact with FSU peers and an expert upperclassman regularly to help your student become part of the FSU community from their home.
  • Transfer Genius. Transfer Geniuses (TGs) are dedicated students who understand the transfer experience at FSU from a personal perspective. Sign-up to have a transfer genius work with your transfer student in their first semester to help guide them through on-campus and virtual life at FSU. Geniuses host one-on-one and small group events where transfer students will network with other students and key faculty and staff while learning about the various campus resources FSU offers to contribute to their success.
  • SLS3140: Academic Success Strategies. This 1-credit course is especially designed for first-semester transfer students who want to understand how to maximize resources on campus, as well as continuing transfer students who seek to improve their academic outcomes. It focuses on the development and application of classroom, life, and engagement practices necessary for successfully navigating the increased scholastic expectations of a research university. Students will learn how to connect with faculty, choose relevant student organizations, and prepare for post-graduation experiences.

In addition to the experiences above, students that join FSU Anywhere will have access to virtual help sessions where staff will be on hand to connect students with people and services to help them navigate FSU from afar; a site where students can access up-to-date information about academic support services available remotely (and more!); reminders about important campus deadlines; and live assistance with spring course registration.

FSU Anywhere has also compiled several campus, academic, and involvement resources that can be utilized in a remote or virtual format. To view virtual resources in areas of tutoring, academic advising and services, academic engagement opportunities, learning online, virtual events and involvement opportunities, and additional student services, visit FSU Anywhere Campus Academic & Involvement Resources. 

Resources

Office of Distance Learning - Student Guide to Learning Online

https://distance.fsu.edu/student-guide

University Libraries

https://www.lib.fsu.edu/

Dirac Library

https://www.lib.fsu.edu/

Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) Learning Studio

https://ace.fsu.edu/

Reading-Writing Center

https://wr.english.fsu.edu/Reading-Writing-Center/RWC-Online