You have enrolled in an online degree. Days seem to breeze past without any tangible progress. With all the distractions around, it is getting difficult to concentrate on your online classes. You seem to procrastinate right up until the submission date of your assignments. Exams are a nightmare scenario, with little to no prep done until the last moment.
Sounds familiar?
Worry not, you’re not alone. Despite going mainstream, online learning is still challenging for many learners down under. Whether you are doing an upskilling certificate course or an advanced degree like an online MBA, we’ve outlined some handy tips to help you cope better with online learning.
1. Create a Dedicated Study Space
It is easy to ditch the convention and go as you like in online learning. However, when it comes to determining a study space, it is better to select a place and stick to it. Even if you don’t have a separate study room, finding a cosy secluded corner in your house should not be too difficult. Being away from all the noise, people and distractions is key for a focused study session.
2. Set a Routine
Once you get a timetable for your studies, make it the central point of your routine. Plan your days in such a way that there is ample gap between studying sessions and other extracurricular activities or part-time jobs. Adhering to this would enable you to approach your studies with a refreshed mind and recharged body. Also, ensure that your routine is highly flexible and has plenty of free time ‘gaps’ to account for unforeseen events. Do what works best for you. Use digital apps such as Todoist or Notion as an alternative to a physical diary and week planners for greater accessibility and familiarity.
3. Adopt Chunking
Chunking is a rather simple concept in which tasks are broken down into smaller bits and pieces to make them more manageable and achievable. Consider this: What would you feel is more difficult out of the two options below?
- Earning $700 in a week
- Earning $100 a day for a week
B sounds more realistic, right? Notice how the final outcome is the same but the phrasing is different. Chunking has this same implicit effect on our minds. Once tasks are broken down into smaller ticks, they seem more doable. So the next time you have to finish studying a whole unit, divide work into modules and modules into multiple smaller parts for a better outcome.
4. Try the Pomodoro Technique
Another student favourite, the Pomodoro Technique is a way to structure your study sessions into 25-minute focused intervals with short breaks. You can play around the duration of both the short break as well as the focus sessions to suit your needs. This technique will help you battle burnout and also keep your mind sharp and alert. It is best to stay away from digital devices in the short breaks and indulge in other activities like going out for a walk, eating something healthy or even having a mini workout for maximum efficacy.
5. Use Artificial Intelligence
Using AI to write your answers or assist in your exams would be a rather bad idea. However, it can also be leveraged constructively to boost your learning outcomes. There are plenty of options out there to try out something different. You can use Perlexity to dig deep into rabbit holes and speed up your research. You can use Coursebox to test your learning progress by creating quizzes on your learning materials. You can also try Grammerly to proofread your work and remove any grammatical errors that might have crept in. It is important to be very cautious while using AI for studying. Make sure all the tools you use are vetted and approved by your university or course provider. Have a conservative approach and be very selective.
6. Form a Study Group
Online learning can be a lonely experience. While it provides accessibility and flexibility, it takes away the sense of community from learning. While it cannot be completely replicated online, forming study groups with peers from the same degree or course can be a wise call in the long run. Learning and studying together on apps like Teams can be a good way to forge connections and build familiarity. Studying with others in a group also adds accountability to the equation, which can motivate you to study in moments when you’re feeling down and out.
The pandemic has pushed online learning from the margins to the mainstream and it is here to stay. More and more universities are offering courses in a hybrid as well as online only mode. Students too will need to adapt to the changing times and acclimatise themselves to the new normal. Having a fixed place to study can breed familiarity and train your mind to be focused while you are in that space. A flexible routine based on your classes can enable you to manage time more effectively. Applying techniques like Pomodoro and chunking can reduce your workload and smartly integrating AI can boost your productivity as well. Finally, having a study group can make you more accountable for your goals, leading to better outcomes for everyone involved. Embracing online learning, rather than dreading it is the way forward.
