5 Tips for Effective Online Learning
5 useful tips for online learning with Coursera or edX
Online learning can be a lonely affair.
Often we start with gusto and enthusiasm, but this dwindles down very quickly … and with a month, you’ve pretty much given up. Online learning is often just like your new year’s resolution.
Drop out rates are incredibly high. In one study (slightly outdated), drop out rates for online studies were 90%! So, you’re definitely not alone.
“It’s a thing called ‘ego depletion’. Psychologists have come up with a theory that every time we exert self control — for instance not going to the fridge for a snack — it makes it much harder to exert self control subsequently. That’s why we find it harder to stick with things like diets, going to the gym, or doing online courses.” — Dr David Glance
How does one keep focus? How does one fight against “ego depletion”?
I’ve been doing online study for quite a while now. A while back I wrote about my experiences doing an online master’s degree:
Here are my five top tips for effective online learning.
Tip 1: Be realistic — Do one course at a time.
You might be tempted to jump onto Coursera, get all excited and pick five to ten different courses you’re interested in and sign up to all of them!
Rookie mistake. Start slow.
You need to learn how to pace yourself. Treat online study like a marathon. Don’t go all out in the first kilometre.
Instead of doing many courses concurrently, finish one before you start another. Your time is precious. Don’t waste it — choose a course that really matters to you. One that you are passionate about. Finish that. Then move on and choose another.
By doing one course at a time, you can really focus on the material. Multi-tasking is not a great idea for studying. In fact, I’m not the only one advocating for one course at a time.
Cornell students study one course at a time. Since 1978, school years have been divided into “blocks” of three-and-a-half weeks each, during which students are enrolled in a single class; what would normally be covered in a full semester’s worth of class at a typical university is covered in just seventeen-and-one-half Cornell class days — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornell_College
Tip 2: Assign a designated space and time for learning.
Everyone needs a designated study space — this needs to be away from distractions so you can have a solid 2–3 hours worth of study. If you don’t have the luxury of having a study room at home, you can assign your favourite coffee shop to be your study space. You wouldn’t be the first to use your local Starbucks as an office.
Online learning is (usually) never a person’s first priority. There’s work, there’s family, there’s that novel you always wanted to finish, and that friend you want to catch up with… By the time you’re ready to log on, it’s already 11:00 pm. And when you do get on, there’s always the distraction of Youtube or Twitter. Try to have only tabs that matters. Shut down everything else.
It’s vital for you to allocate some time in your diary for online study. Maybe that’s every Sunday morning before brunch, or Thursday nights after work… I usually prefer it to be either at the beginning of a day or at the end of a day. I find it hard to stay focused to study if there’s other lingering errands or tasks for me to do. At the beginning of the day, my mind is fresh and I can absorb information better. At the end of the day, my mind is relaxed, and I know there’s nothing else for me to worry about.
By having a consistent allocated time during the week for study, you’ve effectively made online study a habit.
Tip 3: It’s okay to skip a video, and its okay to watch it at 2x speed.
The key is to stay motivated. Don’t let minor things get in your way. Don’t be a perfectionist when you study.
If you loose momentum, then very quickly you loose your enthusiasm for study, and chances are you’ll give up on finishing that course altogether.
If there’s one really boring lecture, it’s okay to skip it and come back to it later. You don’t have to feel guilty about that. Different lecturers speak at different speeds. It’s okay to speed up a slower speaker if he/she is putting you to sleep. (No one needs know of it!)
Here’s another Medium writer that’s figured this out.
Tip 4: Summarise what you have learnt to a friend.
The best way to learn is to teach! If you’re lucky enough to have a good friend, try and summarise what you have learnt to them. If you’re finding that you’re struggling to explain concepts clearly, then you haven’t fully grasped the materials you have learnt.
If you don’t have a good friend, summarise it on Medium!
Keep notes when you’re studying (basically summarising to your future self). By writing your own notes, you have actively converted knowledge into your own words. Later you can go back and review your notes to jog your memory. Call me old fashioned, but I always prefer to write notes on pen and paper. Handwriting is better than typing for memory retention.
Tip 5: Celebrate your weekly achievements.
It’s important to reward your good habits. Celebrate your online progress. Do something enjoyable after finishing that online weekly assessment. This could be as simple as making a latte and having a macaroon, or going out for a bike ride. It’s important to balance out work and play. Remind yourself of what you’ve achieved so far, and be proud of that achievement. You deserve a break.
Summing it up
Online learning can be a solitary journey — a lonely marathon with very few people to cheer you on. Often people give up barely after setting foot. Here are 5 tips to help you:
- Make sure you pace yourself and have realistic goals — one subject at a time
- Assign a space and time for study — make it a habit
- Don’t be a perfectionist — it’s okay to skip a few online videos or play at 2x speed
- Summarise what you’ve learnt in your own words — explain it to a friend or your future self
- Celebrate your achievements — acknowledge your progress
Best of luck on your study journey!
