4 Useful Tips For Online Students
In the past, earning a college degree required physical class attendance and on-campus activities, which in turn meant that students had to complete their degrees from a specific location. With the ongoing developments in technology and the recent outbreak of Covid-19, however, the educational landscape has allowed for completely remote “classrooms” that you can access through a computer instead of a physical location.
Over the past several years, online programs have gained massive popularity, and their cost and availability have subsequently evolved. Not only are some of the best online colleges just a click away from you, but a lot of them come at only a fraction of the price of their traditional counterparts. The increased desirability of e-learning has led to more than 6 million online students enrolling in online courses in US degree institutions in 2018 alone, and the numbers are only expected to grow in the following years.
Whether you are already an online student yourself or are thinking of beginning your online study journey, many techniques can prepare you for the task and boost your performance. While online classes can present unique challenges, successfully juggling your online studies is not that different from succeeding in traditional classrooms. Below you will find four tips that can help you improve your educational process and get the best value out of every class.
Get To Know The Online Learning Expectations And Practices
Understanding exactly what you are getting yourself into is always the best way to be prepared and skilled for any task. Many online students jump into virtual courses without a planned approach in mind, which can lead to confusion and disorganization. Before starting your online classes, familiarize yourself with the expectations and best practices to set and achieve clear goals.
Each program will be structured differently and have different requirements, so make sure you read all the information provided by the institution and professors. Examples include attendance, deadlines, study pace, and assessment types. Some classes might have technical requirements, such as a program you need to download, so you will also need to make sure that your computer can handle such software.
Choose A Dedicated Study Space
Since you will not attend your classes in a classroom, it is essential to set up a dedicated learning environment. Whether your workspace is your room, your kitchen table, a library, or a local coffee shop, it is important to choose the work environment that will be most suitable for you. You can experiment to determine the kind of setting that will optimize your productivity. While for some students this will be a quiet and clean setting, for others it may be a more dynamic type of environment.
When choosing a place to study, consider the following qualities:
- Light: While a dark room may work for some people, most of the time it will lead to eye strain and fatigue. It is generally better to choose a place that has more light sources.
- Body position: Sitting in a chair with your laptop placed on a desk is the most common setting for anyone working or studying, but it might also be the most comfortable working position. If you are sitting on the floor with your laptop balanced on your knees, for example, it will likely result in a sore back, a stiff neck, or aching shoulders.
- Ambiance: Some people have no problems with or prefer working in crowded coffee shops, but others might need silence to concentrate. It is best to try out different options to figure out which ambiance is best for you.
- Distractions: Many online students find that distractions in remote learning environments are among the greatest challenges in focusing on coursework. If you live with family members or roommates, ask them to refrain from distracting you by talking to you or entering your room.
Engage With Classmates
Studying on your own can sometimes feel lonely or tasking, as participating through a camera on a Zoom call does not feel the same as sitting next to your classmates. Researchers have found that social learning environments result in higher learning satisfaction, which is more difficult to achieve in online learning.
Communicating with online students that are taking the same courses as you can help you stay motivated, so it can be beneficial to join or create group chats where you can share tips and thoughts about the experience. If fellow online students pose questions or share materials in a discussion board, you can try to engage or help them out as well.
Treat An Online Class Like A Regular Class
Online classes will often be pre-recorded and will give you the flexibility to listen to the lectures at your convenience. It is, therefore, necessary to keep yourself accountable and disciplined to complete the said lectures within a specific time frame. If you don’t create a schedule for yourself, you might put it off indefinitely.
For classes that you have to attend at a set time, you can still ask questions and participate in discussions during class. Since for some lectures you will not be required to turn on your camera or microphone or to actively engage, it is advisable to try and pay attention just as you would in a regular class.
Final Words
Online degrees are not only gaining tremendous popularity but are also becoming increasingly more accessible, affordable and flexible. Although it may seem like a more challenging option considering the familiarity with traditional educational settings, online studying can be equally successful if you:
- Get to know the online learning expectations and practices
- Choose a dedicated study space
- Engage with classmates
- Treat an online class as a regular class
Remember to implement these techniques one by one, and to find the pace and techniques that work for you – online studying is all about creating your unique study environment.
