Distance learning has made tremendous strides over the years and now presents one of the best ways to attain access to quality education. Today, it is possible for students to take any course from any part of the world without leaving the comfort of their living rooms. The benefits of online education are well documented, including improving access to quality and convenient instruction.
Despite the many benefits, distance learning has some notable challenges, including a higher frequency of distraction and procrastination. Students studying online also struggle to stay motivated and often complain about the isolating nature of this type of education. This article highlights some notable tips for students to thrive during online education.
- Check-in Daily Through Email
The great benefit of online education is that it allows students considerable flexibility and self-determination. Even with such freedom, students still need to remain accountable and responsible. It means reminding you to check the Blackboard for information and your email for updates. Understand that most of the communication for distance learning happens online. As such, you must keep visiting the communication platforms regularly for updates from faculty.
- Remain Neat and Organized
Success in online education demands considerable organizational skills. You need to keep your resources where they can be easily accessed. This will save you time when you must work on assignments or study for an exam. Arrange your study materials according to classes. You will also need to download the relevant syllabi, assignment prompts, and any other documents you need for the course and store them in an easily accessible folder. The organization also means keeping your class notes, pens, books, and accessories somewhere you can easily access.
- Create and Follow a Study Schedule
Given the unstructured nature of online learning, it is easy for college students to lose focus and motivation. A weekly schedule will keep you on track, giving you structure and predictability. It would help if you treated the online classes with the same degree of seriousness you would pay for conventional in-person sessions. It means making time for class and scheduling study hours to revise your notes and work on assignments. Remember, you will still have projects to complete in digital instruction; the only thing missing is the formal classroom setting. As you create your weekly calendar, designate specific hours for text preparation, class readings, assignments, and group work participation. Set reminders to keep yourself aware of important timelines and deadlines.
- Create and Use a To-Do List
College students taking online classes often have to handle several responsibilities, making it easy to get distracted. If you are studying from home, you may have familial duties demanding your attention, or you may be working on a part- or full-time basis. Once you have reviewed the class instructions and know the important deadlines, start working on a to-do list. This will keep you on track, ensuring you don’t miss important dates. Create a checklist indicating your goals during your scheduled study blocks.
Remember, using a to-do list allows you to mark off those tasks you have already finished. This keeps you motivated as you can track your progress and reward yourself accordingly. At the end of each day, you can look back at the list and get a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. It can also remind you that you may have missed an important activity.
- Create a Clutter Free Study Space
One of the essential things to do if you want to succeed in your online classes is to find a distraction-free environment to focus on academic tasks. Students studying from home often struggle with concentration issues as the presence of family members and fun things to do can eat into their productive time. If you feel that you will be frequently distracted, create a study area and let others know that you wish to be offered some privacy when in that area. A clutter-free study space lets you get more work done while keeping you focused and motivated.
Succeeding in online classes requires considerable focus and dedication. Find ways to beat isolation by forming discussion groups and contacting your peers and coursemates. Also, keep in touch with your professor, communicating through email and setting up virtual meetings to discuss class issues and get updates on progress. Most importantly, students taking online classes should prioritize time management, creating and following schedules to meet important deadlines.
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