In order to embrace self-quarantining and “Coronacation,” teenagers should stray away from structure and schedules to get their work done. Instead, they should welcome more free-range learning.
Let’s face it, the situation that the U.S. is in right now is not ideal. Students should be going to school regularly and getting a more proper education, but that can’t happen right now on account of the order for citizens to self quarantine.
While they’re home and experimenting with this new learning environment, students should take advantage of this time to abandon a set schedule and, instead, go more with the flow of their day.
Keeping a schedule can make students feel like their school work is a chore. When there is a designated time of the day to do their work, it feels forced.
Why do math right now? Why not in a half an hour after I watch this episode of my favorite show?
If students don’t have a strict schedule to maintain, the work that they are still obligated to get done will feel more like a choice because they get to choose what time of the day it gets done, as long as it’s turned in on time.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that everyone should sleep until 3 p.m. and be up until 5 a.m. every night either. While they don’t have to wake up at 6 a.m., students should still be getting good sleep and be up during the day.
Schedules are great for maintaining consistency but when the entire country is stuck at home, the only thing consistent in daily life is that everyone is on their own.
People no longer have a reason to maintain a schedule that works with others around them, which is why this is the perfect opportunity to explore a less structured learning style and way of life.
Free-range learning can also teach students and children a lot about time management and procrastination. From allowing them to choose when they get their work done and how their day goes, they learn that it’s beneficial to get work done sooner rather than later.
They see that starting an assignment at 10 p.m. when it’s due at 11:59 p.m. or saving all of their week’s worth of work for Friday aren’t the smartest of ideas.
They will learn more about the benefits of maintaining a schedule in the real world when they’re not being forced to have one now.
While, no, this is not a vacation, it is a break from everyone’s day-to-day life. With this break, it should be encouraged to put the schedules aside and breath a little.
Although under bad circumstances, this is a good opportunity for people to enjoy a more unique pace of life.