TRANSITIONING TO ONLINE STUDIES
Using the Canvas Learning Environment
Canvas is the learning platform you'll use at Citrus College as your virtual classroom.
It's designed to give you an experience that feels as close as possible to being in
a traditional classroom.
If you're new to remote learning, don't worry — the more you use Canvas, the more
comfortable and confident you'll become. Inside your Canvas account, you'll find everything
you need for your classes: coursework, assignments, discussions, grades and class
email. Each course has its own Canvas "room," which you'll see listed on your dashboard
as soon as you log in.
- Log into your account through the student portal at my.citruscollege.edu
- Select the Canvas button or search "Canvas."
- Your log in information is the same as your student email.
Username: Student email BEFORE the @ sign
Password: Same as your email password
Canvas Navigation Menu
Items appearing on your Canvas navigation menu may include:
- Account: Your Canvas preferences and personalized picture
- Dashboard: Front page showing courses you are enrolled
- Courses: A listing of enrolled courses
- Calendar: Assignment deadlines
- Inbox: Canvas email messages
- Help: Links and tools to help you navigate Canvas
Other Online Learning Tools
The California Community Colleges Online Education Initiative (OEI) created the Online Student Readiness Tutorials, a series of interactive lessons designed to help with common challenges of remote
learning. These tutorials focus on building the skills and confidence you need to
succeed as a student learning at a distance.
STUDYING IN THE HOME ENVIRONMENT
Are you negotiating children at home while taling online courses? We must becoming
accustomed to life's abrupt changes occurring while attending college online.
How Your Education Might be Affected
- Feeling overwhelmed carrying 12 units to keep financial aid or to stay qualified for
a specific program
- Learning how to manage your time to be a successful student
- Learning how to study online (getting comfortable with Canvas, Zoom, email, online
study groups)
- Not having internet or having slow internet
- Not having the greatest computer or not having a computer
- Only having a mobile phone as your learning tool
How Your Home Life is Affected
- Children being home all the time
- Fear of the unknown
- Losing a job or having an "essential" job
- Not being with family members
- Not having any financial support (dropping classes may affect financial aid)
- Overseeing online education for your child or children
- Too many family members living in a small place
The list is endless, but we hope you'll find useful information here to help balance
both your study life and your family life as you work toward your educational goals.
Even small steps can give you a greater sense of control, especially when so much
around you may feel uncertain.
Psychologists remind us that one thing we can control is how we spend our time. Of
course, time management can feel overwhelming — especially when routines are disrupted.
Moving from complete freedom of movement to a stay-at-home lifestyle can create chaos
and frustration for everyone. But with some structure and planning, it's possible
to bring back balance and focus.
Time Management to the Rescue!
Creating a schedule helps everyone know their role in the daily routine. While it
takes some effort to set up at first, once you get through the first week, expectations
are clear and both children and family members usually feel more comfortable following
along. A schedule also adds a sense of stability and predictability to the day.
Of course, every family is different and schedules will vary depending on your situation.
For example, if your children are older, you may be able to adjust the routine to
allow for more study time. The key is keeping the structure flexible enough to meet
your family's needs while still providing consistency.
Every schedule should include:
- wake up time
- school time
- creative time
- exercise time
- chore time
- meal time
- free time
- rest time
- bedtime
A "daily routine" schedule has been created and is available for you to download and
print in a PDF file. The schedule breaks down and itemizes blocks of time to create structure for tasks,
as well as provides tips and reminders.
Create a Schedule for Young Children
Remember that a schedule is to help everyone feel a sense of predictability in their
lives. When you put your time management schedule together, prioritize your classes
and study time. As a college student, you may have to wake up earlier or study later,
but remember, this is temporary. It will end. You are making due for the time being.
Here are a handful of website references which offer suggestions on how to navigate
being at home, studying with children in the home and time management for you and
them.
Education and Studying from Home
Food and Nutrition Assistance
Online Scheduling Programs and Daily Planners
Parent-to-Parent Assistance
- WarmLine provides another parent to talk to, via email and phone support, when parenting becomes
difficult.
Here is an extensive list of helpful educational websites (K-12), as well as resources
for immigrants in a variety of languages, from Parent Institute for Quality Education (English and Spanish).
Educational Resources for Home Schooling
Fitness and Other Physical Activities
These practical and helpful tips are from the blog post, "Eight Time Management Tips
for Work-at-Home Moms" by Melissa Culbertson.
She says, "Here are a few things I've found that help me manage my time while working
from home with little ones."
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Tip 1: Establish a schedule.
This really helps so that you can outline school times, meals, nap, errands and work.
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Tip 2: When do you feel MOST productive?
Figure out what time of the day you get that burst of energy. Is it in the morning
around 10 a.m.? Or maybe right after lunch? Or perhaps you are a night owl? Schedule
the most important activities that you MUST get done during that time.
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Tip 3: Use a timer.
When you sit down to do a task set the timer. Turn off social media, email (a.k.a
time suckers) and focus on that one task. Give yourself 15 to 20 minutes to accomplish
and cross that item off your list.
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Tip 4: Create a designated area for work and play.
This is so important. I used to work from the dining room table but found I was disorganized
and would get more distracted. Find a place in your home where you can create a work
place. It could be as simple as a small corner tucked away in your bedroom (like I
have) or maybe one room dedicated to your work.
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Tip 5: Use productivity apps.
I don't know about you but I live by my iPhone. All of my appointments, deadlines,
school activities, etc., go into my calendar on my phone.
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Tip 6: Identify daily time wasters; try to eliminate.
We all have them. Maybe it's the TV, the cell phone or email. What do you get distracted
by? Identify these items and make sure to eliminate them as best as you can. For me,
it's Facebook and Twitter. I have learned if I want to get anything done, I need to
turn them off. Crazy how much I can get done when I'm not tempted to tweet or check
my fan pages.
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Tip 7: Make time for the kids.
It's so easy when you work from home to always be thinking about deadlines, emails
you need to respond to, posts that need to be written and calls that need to be made.
Trying to work with little kids around is not easy especially if they feel they are
being ignored. I always try to set aside time in my day (morning, mid-day and after
dinner) to turn everything off and just be with the kids. We play, color, read books
and even dance around the kitchen. Then when it is time to work, they have usually
had their "mom" fill and are happy to play by themselves.
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Tip 8: Reward yourself!
Mothers have a hard job no matter if you work out of the house, in the home or do
a little of both.
Melissa concludes, "We need to stop every once in a while, step back and realize all
that we accomplish in a day. It's pretty incredible if you think about it. Remember,
it's impossible to do it all ... but with a little planning, organization and prioritizing,
it can help make things more manageable."
YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Are you feeling stressed or anxious while learning remotely? Your children may be
experiencing the same feelings and wondering how to cope, too. Recognizing these emotions
is the first step — it helps you remember that you do have choices in how you respond.
There are many positive choices you can make to support your mental, physical and
spiritual health and the same goes for children. It's important to keep in mind that
some things are within our control and some are not — focusing on what you can control
can make a big difference.
Try building healthy family activities into your daily routine, such as group exercise,
morning meditation, journaling together or preparing nutritious meals. These activities
can create connection, reduce stress and boost overall wellness.
Below you'll find links to resources that can help you take care of your health and
wellbeing, including meditation guides, home workout ideas, strategies for managing
stress and anxiety and websites for creativity and play.
Meditation, Mindfulness, Mental Health