Bill Gates has some helpful advice for students looking to stay productive while at home

• Bill Gates recently appeared in an online class, Code Break, to discuss helpful tips for learning from home during the pandemic.
• Gates urged students to stick to a regular schedule that involves getting outside, as well as using online resources and help from classmates to further their education.
• He also talked about the ways computer science can help combat the coronavirus.
• While COVID-19 has caused immense tragedy and disruption to the world, Gates said he is optimistic about the international collaboration it has sparked.
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Bill Gates made a guest appearance during a lesson of Code Break, the world's largest live interactive class, to give students some tidbits of wisdom on how to stay focused and motivated to learn at home during the coronavirus pandemic.

In a discussion with the class's founder, Hadi Partovi, and Partovi's daughter, Sofia, Gates also talked about how computer programming can be used to visualize data on the coronavirus, and how innovations in computer science are moving medicine forward.

Gates described the coronavirus as a "war" humanity is fighting against a common enemy and how it is sparking international collaboration and creating a common goal for humanity to work toward. But for families and students across the globe, the shift in day-to-day life is difficult, especially when it comes to keeping up with school work.

"It takes a little more discipline to learn from home," Gates told the students on the call during the Q&A portion of the class. "If you get confused, it's a little harder to reach out."

But one way Gates encouraged students to adapt to the new form of at-home learning was to follow a regular day-to-day routine, especially for students that have to share the computer with family members at home.

"I do think that having a new normal pattern and trying every day to stick to that is pretty helpful," Gates said, adding that, "discipline it pretty important."

Gates also urged students to use the resources available to them to help learn at their own pace, whether it be online courses like Khan Academy or calling a friend who understands the material better.

Sharing your understanding with other students is important, Gates said. He also told students to spend time outside if they can.

"You still should get outside a little bit if you're allowed to — get refreshed so you don't overwhelm yourself," Gates told one student.

Despite the hardship brought on by the coronavirus, Gates said he is optimistic about the global unity that could come from the battle against the coronavirus.

"We have seen great international collaboration," Gates said about the world's response to the pandemic. "There's a big triumph that will come here based on the scientists of the world working together."