Online learning is a boon for people with busy lives. It's a triumph of technology to take an accredited course online instead of going to class and studying where and when you want. However, learning online takes a lot of discipline and is not always easy. You need to adopt some good habits if you're going to be successful in your online courses.
When e-learning started, it was mostly the classroom or distance version of the course offered on a website. Once this learning method developed, course providers developed more dynamic content adapted to the medium. Student attitudes towards online learning also need to change so that online learning is seen as a stand-alone mode rather than a replacement for a teacher at the top of the class. Here are three tips for new online students to set up a headspace to maximize learning in this model.
Fully concentrate on your study.
First, make sure your physical location is suitable for the type of study you are doing. The commute to work may be useful for quizzes but maybe less ideal for intensive reading. Make sure you are comfortable not to move or be distracted when you need to turn the air conditioner up / down. Avoid noisy and busy places. If you cannot work in complete silence, make sure that background noise does not enter your study area.
Second, your virtual space should be free from distractions to be optimized for study. The internet is a prominent place, and it's easy to get lost in what has to do with all the videos and social media vying for your attention. If you are disciplined, turn off all notifications on your digital devices. Open your learning portal and start learning.
If you are less disciplined, you may need technical or social help. Technologically, there are several cheap or free productivity tools like Anti-Social and Self-control and study aids that block websites that distract you when you set a study period. If that sounds a bit extreme, you can go for a bit of social pressure in the form of a partner, friend, or family member asking if you're studying. Done quietly and without interruption (so if you're doing the right thing), this can be a great way to stay focused.
Make Inflexible Time Table
Do you remember when you thought you could study anytime just because the material was online? While this is true in terms of course flexibility, you need to identify the best time to study in order not only to understand the course material but also to increase knowledge retention. It varies from person to person: some work best in the morning, some work best in the evening, while others like to take a study break in the middle of the day.
The most important thing is that learning doesn't become something that gets pinned down at the end of the rest of your life and fills in the gaps in your classroom schedule. Find out when it's best to study, then build a routine based on that. Of course, there will be times when after hours, you will need to go to a work event to not go through your typical 7-9 p.m. session, but overall you need to stick to your schedule to get the most out of yours. Get out of educational investments. Don't find the time, take your time.
Adopt advanced learning method
Many online courses providers like Learning Cloud New Zealand have upped their game when it comes to engaging students with course material. Nowadays, it is common to have multimedia content like videos and podcasts, quizzes, and practice tests. If you don't have to deal with all of the media in your course, you'll find that many of them overlap. This means that you can choose the methods that best suit your learning style.
If you have the opportunity to test a course before signing up, I recommend that you make the most of it. Trying out different learning methods will help you decide what motivates your brain so you can get the most out of the course. You may be able to optimize other learning methods by also doing different things from points 1 and 2. Turn that half-hour of inactivity into a podcast lesson or a walk in the park into a quiz session.
You might be new to online learning, but don't let this come across as an open invitation to fall into bad habits freely. Start the way you want and lay the groundwork to maximize your e-learning.
Professional Content Writer, SEO Expert and good experience in Digital Marketing.
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