Challenges posed to the online classes during the COVID-19 epidemic, which prevented instant face-to-face communication and forced physical separation, were tentatively resolved by a teaching strategy shift to foster and improve student self-study skills. Class slides, teaching formats, as well as learning activities were redesigned and implemented accordingly. Midterm exam performance was comparable to that of a previous class. A class survey revealed students' acceptance of the new teaching arrangement, with enhanced skills and confidence in self-studying perceived by the students. Further research is needed to examine the efficacy of such changes for students' performance and skills acquisition.