Get ahead of load shedding

With Eskom constantly changing up on us, know exactly when your area is scheduled to have power cuts and for how long, and then plan your study time around that. Start doing your assignments and any outstanding work ahead of time. If you know you have a test or work due in your scheduled time, make sure you have a plan in place to get to a location that has Wi-Fi.

Study with a fellow UCT Online High School learner

Ask a fellow online learner friend who lives nearby if you can pop by during your scheduled load shedding session and turn load shedding into a group study session. This is a great way to see your friends IRL and get some learning done. Pick each other’s brains on topics you may be unsure about and exchange ideas on the study material.

Save your work offline

Download all your school notes, assignment sheets or readings to your computer so that you have access to them without Wi-Fi. That way you can stay on top of your game and not get caught out when the power does return. 

‍Make the most out of load shedding

Load shedding is the perfect time to eliminate distractions and play catch up. When load shedding strikes, use the time to catch up on any theory work or quiz yourself on current work. Set up a schedule for the day that allows you to get all your crucial work done before load shedding and revision or study time during load shedding. 

‍Try putting pen to paper

If you’re someone who takes notes digitally, try putting pen to paper and writing down your most important notes to revise. You don’t have to write out the whole textbook, you can make flashcards, mind maps or bullet points valuable information. You’ll always have the notes on hand to use without power, and research suggests that writing out notes increases your focus on the information you should be taking in. It’s two birds with one stone.  

‍Print out your notes

Print out your study notes if you have access to a printer. This is another great study method, allowing you to highlight, underline or circle key points in your notes and include footnotes to refer back to.

‍Use your digital devices smartly

If you don’t have access to a power bank or a way to charge your digital learning devices during load shedding, make sure you’re using them smartly. Don’t run down the battery or leave them uncharged before the power goes out. Make sure all your devices, like laptops, cell phones and tablets are fully charged. This should last you the duration of the load shedding time. 

‍Manage your data smartly

When the power goes out and you’re left without wifi, you will need to rely on the mobile data on your phone to get onto the internet. Make sure that when you do have wifi, that you are not unnecessarily using up your mobile data. That way you can still access the web in case you need to complete any important work or grab some more information. 

‍Invest in a UPS and power bank

If you are able to, invest in a good UPS to power your router and power bank to keep your devices running, so you don’t have to fall behind in your online work. 

So if you’ve got no power, it’s no problem! There are still plenty of ways to stay ahead of the learning curve, even in the face of load shedding. And at UCT Online High School, our unique structured flexibility model allows you to work around load shedding. Easily plan your day around any inconveniences and download all your learning content to use offline. Apply now for uninterrupted learning.