College is a social experience, through and through. Though your journey to graduation is very much your own, most of your time on campus is spent engaging in real-world interactions, collaboration, and group work. In fact, educational studies performed at Vanderbilt showed a direct correlation between collaborative learning and a higher level of understanding in students.

The question is: What if your learning isn’t happening inside a classroom at all this year? The COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing, leaving universities with a tough decision to make, namely whether students will return to campus or continue with online classes. Even if your school opens its campus, there’s a strong chance that a portion of your courses with be digital. However, online classes will require the same level of group work, even without meeting in-person. Before your college semester kicks off, let’s review a few important tips for collaborating across virtual classes.

Explore the Course Software 

When classes start, students can expect overview of the curriculum, a week-by-week schedule of relevant assignments, and usually some specific instructions for success. The same is certainly true in digital classrooms, but a wrinkle is added when new software is involved.

There’s a good chance your college already has Blackboard or another familiar online hub where professors can post assignments, offer additional materials, calculate grades, and generally keep the virtual work by students all in one, set place. But this software also is where the conversations and discussions live. You might use forums, shared docs, or web chat, all depending on your teacher’s preferences. Take some time before coursework gets underway to navigate around and make note of where all relevant work lives online.

Engage in Online Discussions

In-class discussions are a great form of collaborative learning, as they allow students to talk through their understanding of topics under the guidance of an instructor. However, when that same discussion is happening in a chat room or open forum, the academic experience can feel unnatural and even leave students disengaged with the process. But just like in front of your peers in college, the only way to get better is simply to trust yourself and try.

If class discussions are held in messaging platforms like Slack, or a course-specific web forum, it’s important to ensure your messages do not send the wrong impression. If you’ve ever felt attacked in a Facebook comment section, you know how easily tone can be misconstrued, or used purposely to insult others. Virtual classrooms should be a safe space for discussion, so do not use vulgar or insulting terms. Remember, these are new classmates, and your conversations will only get easier as you become acquainted online.

Prepare for Group Projects Online

Love them or hate them, group projects are a regular part of college courses. These collaborative efforts can be highly contentious, specifically when certain group members don’t pull their own weight. Vickie Cook, executive director of the Center for Teaching, Learning & Service at the University of Illinois at Springfield, agrees. “Group projects can be really great, and they can be a disaster. The most important thing is that they have a purpose,” she said.

Completing group projects in online classes can be even more trying because you’re unable to meet and discuss in-person. That’s why succeeding in group work during online classes requires careful planning and organization to enable everyone to complete their part. First, choose a leader for the group. This person should assemble and organize all the work, set meeting times, and maintain momentum for the project. From there, establish all tasks that need to be accomplished, and then try to align each of those with group members’ individual strengths. Also, it would help to use a preferred method of communication, whether that’s through Facebook Messenger, Skype, Gchat, or text messaging; keeping all discussions in one place will help with organization and record-keeping.

Make Virtual Learning Feel Just Like Real Life

The possibility of no in-person classes for the 2020-2021 school year is truly disappointing. However, virtual classrooms can still provide you with knowledge and insights from talented professors and peers at your college. It will take some adjustment, but by staying positive and trusting the instructors, you can get the most out of this year of college.

How are you?

Living with anxiety or depression isn’t easy. It’s about self-awareness, self-management, and knowing when to ask for help. Advocating for your mental health is hugely important. But even those with a long-time diagnosis will tell you that things have a way of sneaking up on you. That’s why daily check-ins with yourself are vital, because when negative thoughts or feelings start to pile up, the way back can seem like too difficult a feat.

The following is an unofficial mental health checklist for your daily routine. While this is a great way to actualize your feelings and spot trends or concerns, this is not a substitute for seeking help from mental health professionals. Use this short survey whenever you find time, but when in doubt, always consult with a doctor.

 Part 1: Charting Your Anxiety and Depression Symptoms

 The feelings caused by anxiety and depression come in many forms and differ greatly between individuals. They can rise and fall over the course of days or weeks, making it difficult for the person suffering through those feelings to keep track of their progress. The following two checklists are questionnaires for some of the most common symptoms associated with depression and anxiety. There are entries for today, the past week, and the past two weeks, so you can identify trends.

 Depression Symptom Checklist

 Mark from 1-5, with 1 being no symptoms at all.

                                                                         Today             The Last Week          Last 2 Weeks

I feel sad or pessimistic

I’m not sleeping enough

I’m sleeping more than usual.

I feel irritable and frustrated.

I am having trouble concentrating or focusing.

I have little to no appetite.

I am uninterested in my usual hobbies or friends

I have new physical pain, like headaches, back pain, or nausea.

I have feelings of self-harm or suicide

Anxiety Symptom Checklist

 Mark from 1-5, with 1 being no symptoms at all.

                                                                         Today             The Last Week          Last 2 Weeks

I feel nervous or anxious.

I feel worried about more than one thing at a time.

I have new things I am worrying about today.

Feelings of anxiety and worry are always with me.

I am unable to relax or sit still without feeling worse.

I’m feeling on edge or irritable.

I have physical symptoms like

Palpitations

Shortness of breath

Sweating

Tingling in extremities

Panic attacks

I feel consumed by the feeling that something bad is about to happen.

Part 2: Continuing Mentally Healthy Activities

 Now that you’ve established baseline trends of anxiety and depression, it’s time to be proactive and practice self-care. Before panicking or letting negative thoughts overwhelm you, try to complete a few of these items. It might feel like a chore, but you’ll be busy distracting yourself while learning to feel comfortable, healthy, and happy.

Healthy Activities for Anxiety and Depression

• Exercise for 1 hour.
• Eat something, healthy if possible.
• Drink a full glass of water.
• Practice deep breathing.
• Take a bath or long shower.
• Make sure to wear comfortable and clean clothes.
• Take out trash or recycling.
• Clean up messes and do dishes.
• Read a book for 30 minutes.
• Go for a walk outside.
• Play with a pet at home.
• Watch a show or movie I love, even if I’ve already seen it.
• Call a family member.
• Call a friend or partner.
• Journal your feelings or draw pictures of them.

How to Use the Anxiety and Depression Checklist

 Tracking your feelings of anxiety and depression, as well as your daily activities, is a good first step toward understanding your mental health. If you have already received a diagnosis from a doctor, this can be used in conjunction with your existing treatment plan. If not, the information you fill out can be used to provide a snapshot of your ongoing mental health, as well as provide detailed information to a doctor should you ever choose to see one. Take care of yourself, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. For resources and help, visit SAMHSA.