The abrupt shift to online learning ever since the COVID-19 pandemic started might have been daunting to both the parents and students. While it was a new and unpleasant change, online classes have played a crucial role in keeping education on track despite limitations.
Doesn’t matter if you are a high schooler, struggling to stay focused on studies via Zoom, or someone who is looking to upskill by taking an online course, your apprehensions around online learning have a solution.
There are plenty of tips and tricks out there you can adopt for a better e-learning experience.
In this article, we have compiled 10 tips for a better learning experience in online classes for students of all levels.
Be physically and mentally present when the class is in progress
Online learning does not mean you can roam around the house with your earphones in and try to absorb the lecture as you do the dishes or feed the dogs.
Be attentive to the lecture, whether live or recorded, take notes, and try and limit your distractions by sitting in a comfortable and quiet space.
Parents with school-going children can make sure their child is in a comfortable spot free of distractions when taking online classes.
Time Management
Setting a schedule and managing your time accordingly is necessary when it comes to online courses.
Especially if you’re considering taking online courses while juggling that 9-5 job, it is important that you clearly time block your learning and work hours.
Most mid-career managers go for an MBA while they’re still working full-time. They enroll in one of those mba programs online and set their schedule for classes to when they’re home from work.
Whether online or not, juggling work, studies, and personal life are hard. Time management tricks like the Pomodoro technique or planning out your week in advance can help you stay the course and not get totally derailed from your goals.
Accountability
It is very easy to get distracted during online learning. To avoid flunking your grades because of your inability to focus, set yourself goals for the semester before you even begin taking classes.
In-person classrooms provide you with an accountable teacher who asks for assignments on time, but online classes don’t have that luxury and you will have to stick to reminders yourself.
If you’re finding it difficult to keep up with online lectures, ask someone you trust to keep a check on your progress or pair up with a class fellow.
Designate a productive study space
You cannot sit hunched back in front of your computer for the entire 3 hours’ online class. Avoid studying in a place with noise and other disturbances. Also, avoid studying in bed or sofa. Buy yourself a desk, preferably with an adjustable height, to really force yourself to focus on your studies.
Keep all your study materials at access as well, like books, stationery, syllabi, or any calculators. Lastly, make sure you have a high-speed internet connection, a functional computer, and earphones or headphones for listening to the lectures.
Figure out your study style
Every student has a different study style. Some students are auditory learners, they enjoy listening to the lectures and absorb as much information as they can. Others are more visual, kinesthetic, or gravitate towards reading and writing.
Find out what is your learning style and create a study plan around that. There are tons of useful articles online to help you find your study style.
Review what you learn
Taking multiple online courses simultaneously can increase your risk of burning out, especially when you find yourself cramming for an important exam. To avoid this, schedule revision days during your normal study week, so that you don’t have to cram your brain with all the material at once.
Complete all assignments
As old school as it may sound, you should do your extra work or homework on time. That way you can use the freed up time to do revisions. Take time out after every class and work toward completing the assignment given on that very day if you can.
Interact with your virtual classmates
You can turbo charge your learning by actively engaging with other peers in your class. This may not be a possibility when taking recorded online courses as you might not always find a peer studying the same level as you, but you can still connect with your classmates through virtual meetings.
Keep yourself motivated and engaged
If you’re finding it difficult to keep focused in class, it may be because the work you’re doing isn’t challenging enough.
To further generate an interest in what you’re doing, turn your assignments and lectures into something interactive and creative. It would not only keep you engaged but also help you think outside the box.
Conclusion
Online learning is an effective way of upskilling or expanding your knowledge outside the boundaries of the traditional school curriculum. Apart from being affordable, the flexibility of taking an online class leaves room for other meaningful activities. Online courses might not appeal to you or downright intimidate you, but with the tips mentioned above, you can certainly start acing your online classes.
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