Online learning tips | 9 best tips to ace your online learning

Online learning tips | Your guide to acing the online learning process

It goes without saying that the COVID-19 epidemic has compelled all of us to make significant changes in our everyday lives. Businesses have shifted to remote employment when practicable; K-12 schools have adopted distance learning out of necessity, and many college students who were previously enrolled in on-campus courses now find themselves in unexpected online learning. That calls for some online learning tips.

While online learning has numerous advantages that make it the preferred option for millions of students, it is not without its obstacles, particularly for students who are more accustomed to in-person classes.

In the past year, we have coped with staying at home, not meeting our friends, and not going out for dinner parties. Yet, we somehow manage to fall asleep in the middle of morning lectures and miss out on roll calls.

We’re starting to realize that these classes might be online for maybe another year now. And that’s why we need to get better at online learning. If you feel the same way, read through our list of 9 unique online learning tips and follow through!

Treat online courses like a “real” course

• It is easy to skip online courses if you are used to in-person classes.
• Learn to discipline yourself through classes, studying, and completing assignments.
• Yes, online classes are meant to be flexible but you must follow through and treat them like a real class.
• Make sure to show up to all class meetings because you could easily fall behind. It will be harder for you to be back on track if you are only creating more work for yourself.
• Treat your online class like you would an in-person class, show up, and participate. This is one of the most important online learning tips. 

Invest in a planner

• Find ways to help manage your time in order to be successful in your courses. Everything depends on your learning style and schedule. 
• So track your deadlines! Each week, you should create a weekly schedule to follow.
• Set reminders for yourself to attend class, study, complete assignments, and any other tasks that you may have.
• Plan ahead and add important due dates to your calendar so you don’t miss any deadlines! 

Set a study time

• One of the benefits of transitioning to online learning is flexibility. But too much time and flexibility can create new challenges.
• So find some time throughout your day to study. It does not necessarily have to be a block period. It can simply be a 15-minute break that you might have to fit in a small study session!
• Depending on the workload, the more time you should dedicate to completing your tasks.
• Put a time limit on your tasks, this will help you focus and work more efficiently. It is important to plan and dedicate time to learning and completing your assignments. 

Block out distractions

• The remote learning during covid-19 has made students realize how easy it is to get distracted.
• So try minimizing all surrounding distractions such as electronics, close all irrelevant web browsers, and turn on the do-not-disturb option on your phone and laptop!
• It may be difficult if you do not have a quiet place at home or in public but do what works best for you and your personal situation. 

Find a study space

• Finding a great study space is something students have struggled with the most since remote learning became the norm.
• It is important to find a good study space to study effectively. If your surroundings are distracting it can get hard to focus and will not be as effective. Find a place that suits your learning style.
• Here are some places you can study: The Library, Academic Buildings, and Off-campus (coffee shops).
• Find your perfect place to study whether it’s the library or outside, and do what makes you study effectively. Being comfortable is key when it comes to studying.
• You want to find a place that helps you concentrate and not have you move from one place to another. Make sure you have access to everything you may need before you start! 

Use the Pomodoro technique – create a routine

• Set a specific time and place to study every day. Plan your study spots, and know when and where to go!
• Make the best of your study spots, set a timer, and use the Pomodoro technique for staying focused as you study.
• Set a timer for 25 min & start studying. Then, take a 5 min break. Do this 4 times over & take a 15-20 min break.
• This time management technique will increase your productivity!

Stay organized

• Due to covid-19 and remote learning, university staff and professors have been blowing up our inboxes.
• Organize your email – use filters and labels to help you find emails faster, and communicate in an effective and timely manner.
• Plan ahead, it is better to be early than late. Meet your deadlines, and plan to submit your work in advance.
• A great way to stay organized is to use a calendar. Use your calendar to track deadlines, locations/events, study time, and anything else that pops up. Set reminders on your phone if it helps! 

Have a ‘DONE’ list

• It is important to acknowledge your accomplishments throughout the week.
• You can use the Todoist app for this. Sign in to the app, create your to-do list, and watch it encourage you as you tick off your tasks.
• It will give you extra satisfaction and make sure you give yourself credit for successfully completing your tasks.
• Which is perfect for a great confidence boost!

Practice self-care

Self-Care is very important in order to succeed during your online courses. A healthy mind and body will make or break your ability to learn.

1. Take breaks: The brain can only focus on about 90 minutes at a time. It is important to schedule a break to prevent burnout. You want to maintain productivity throughout the day. It is okay to relax! Take a break in a quiet place and reflect on yourself. This will help you gain new insights about your work and yourself. 

2. Healthy habits: Make sure to incorporate exercise into your daily schedule. Being active helps improve your stress levels and is very beneficial. Sleep is a very important factor in staying healthy! Get at least 8 hours of sleep every night. People who are tired can get easily distracted and that can lead to procrastination. 

Key takeaways

• While this blog has mostly focused on tips and tricks to overcome the challenges that online classes pose, distance learning also has many advantages.
• It’s a chance to become more productive since there are fewer distractions. And you can work at your own pace, pausing or rewinding lectures that you don’t understand (try doing that in-person).
• If you view online classes this way (and follow the tips above), then they can be just as rewarding and educational as in-person classes.

Liked the blog? Comment below and share your thoughts with us!

Liked this blog? Read next: 7 smart self-study tips for you!

FAQs

Q1. What is the biggest key to success in online learning?

Answer – Persistence is perhaps the biggest key to success in online learning. Students who succeed are those who are willing to tolerate technical problems, seek help when needed, work daily on every class, and persist through challenges. When you run into a challenge, keep trying and ask for help.

Q2. What should you avoid in online classes?

Answer – Here are the five mistakes that you should avoid during online classes-

1. Technical Difficulties
2. Poor Time Management
3. Lack of Participation
4. Tempting Distractions
5. Not Asking For Help

Q3. What is the common error while learning online?

Answer – Online students sometimes make the mistake of not connecting with other students and instructors nearly often enough. It can be easy to fall into thinking that you must go it alone when you’re completing courses online, especially if you’re doing so from home while you’re by yourself.