6 Effective Learning Techniques for All Students of Online Courses

Here’s what nobody tells you about learning

We are all learning every day, whether you’re trying to get better at a skill or studying for a college degree, learning is a continuous process. Although what we are learning differs, understanding the best way to learn in present times is essential to your development.

The effects of the Coronavirus pandemic took everyone by surprise as institutions, sports centers, and other public gatherings remained in total closure. Adaption became a priority as organizations sort for ways to get their service to the people.

Thus, with the help of technology, virtual events became a way of life, as well as a means to connect with groups of people from the comfort of your location.

Distance learning has been a mainstay since the development of technology and computing. These days, it is possible to learn about anything from anywhere around the world. Whether you’re looking to get a college degree while working full time or expand your intelligence with a quick course. online learning has made education accessible to all than ever before.

Many universities are eliminating face-to-face teaching and students are having to take lectures online. But most students are not enjoying it that much. Here is why online learning might be challenging:

• You are new to the system and everything looks mumbo-jumbo.
• For most people, concentrating is a major problem. They don’t seem to be able to pay attention in class because they are always distracted by social media.
• Family and friends love being around you so much that they can’t let you focus.
• You can’t spend so much time on screen, due to health issues.
• You prefer learning together with people with mutual interests rather than being alone.

During the lockdown last year, I tried taking a sociology course on Coursera. At first, I was feeling excited about learning a new topic as well as trying out online learning for the first time.

As I made progress, I started losing interest because I failed to understand my foremost goals and priorities.

Online learning can present challenges compared to traditional, in-person classes, but if you develop habits and skills for learning online, you’ll adapt, and enjoy the process.

Below, I’ll walk through some of the common challenges that online learners face, along with effective techniques on how to overcome them and get the best from your online classes.

Have a dedicated study space

If your class were to be in physical session, you’d be in the lecture hall or classroom which is well furnished and conducive for learning. These lecture halls are designed to increase focus and attentiveness

But you’re classes aren’t going to be in an actual classroom, so you might be wondering, how will I make my location appropriate for learning? You don’t need to break the bank in trying to create a replica of an actual classroom. All you need is creativity.

Set up a learning environment for studying. It’s easier to keep information if you are in the same place where you first learned it. So creating a dedicated workspace can improve productivity while learning. Whether you decide to study in your living room, the kitchen, the office, or a local coffee shop, ensure that the place is positive, distractions free, organized, and reliable.

When setting up your workspace make sure you have,

• The required books, materials, eLearning tools required for the program.
• A spare note where you can pour out your thoughts and ideas.
• Headphones for listening to audio-visual lectures and discussions.
• A good lighting system, to avoid straining your eyes.
• Supplies — if you’re someone who loves coffee make sure you grab a cup before you begin learning.

Furthermore, your family and friends might also want to keep in touch with you at that time, but you can ask them to respect your time for learning. You might also want to keep your phone far away from you if it poses a distraction.

Make sure you have the appropriate software and quality internet access

Online classes usually involve the transfer of tons of information in split seconds. To be able to access these data without glitches you need a reliable internet connection.

Imagine you are in the middle of a class, and your connection starts breaking. It could be frustrating because you will miss out on all the vital points your instructor is saying.

The quality of your internet connection will decide how effective your learning will be. It is important that you have access to reliable internet. Here are some tips:

• Coffee shops usually have the best WIFI. If the connection at home is not reliable, consider going to a nearby coffee shop.
• Reduce reliance on wireless connections, use an Ethernet cable instead.
• There is a high tendency that courses need video conferencing. Download the recommended app and test before the start of the live lecture.
• Technology tends to disappoint sometimes. Back up all your information, materials, and contact details to the cloud, where you can access it in case of system crashes.

It’s an online class but treat it like its physical

Of course, it’s a virtual class and you won’t be present. But this doesn’t mean you have to take your learning with carelessness, you need to discipline yourself. Without regular physical classes, it’s easy to lose priorities and get behind the study. To evade losing value for your online class, treat it like it’s physical.

Most of our physical classes need smartphones and other devices to be turned off. Put your smart devices away during class, this will help you remain focused and boost productivity.

Eliminate any form of distractions

Without having a professor in class with you it is easy to get distracted at every little instance.

One of the reasons I failed in my online class was that I was sidetracked with social media, friends, unnecessary phone calls, video games, and the strong urge to continue watching the Game of Thrones series rather than paying attention to my studies.

I realized that most of the distractions that derail me from learning come from the house. To avoid distractions at home, I picked out a local coffee shop where I can study without feeling the itch to multi-task at home.

Here are some other ways that can help you remove distractions:

• Turning off your cell phone and smart devices.
• Applications like Freedom can block out tabs and other sites that compete for your time.
• Identify where the distractions are coming from and make a switch.
• Use the Pomodoro technique to discipline yourself.
• If you have video games give them out to kids who don’t for a couple of hours.
• Listen to music that helps you concentrate.

At first, it might not be easy to cut distractions, but as you begin to apply positive learning habits, you will be able to pay full attention in classes.

Actively take notes

Most online learning platforms have provided means to get your required materials and resources available online. You can log in and browse through a collection of saved documents and get the information you need at any time.

Most physical classes have a solid rule on note-taking during lectures, which you can’t go against no matter how lazy you feel, so you won’t be evicted from the class. But learning online goes soft on the note-taking rule, as the class info is one click away. With the availability of this feature, it is easy to get tempted to avoid taking notes.

Note-taking is extremely essential if you want to learn faster and with less stress. If you’re watching a lecture on your screen or just reading a book recommended by the professor, take a quick note of everything you’ve heard that sounds like the key point, simplify the words and phrases — make it look like something you taught yourself.

Good note-taking allows you to keep retain information effectively, boost comprehension, feel confident, and helps you concentrate efficiently.

Old school pen and paper VS digital writing devices

With the fast rise in technology, diverse devices and software have been designed for taking notes. Ranging from iPads, tablets, smartphones, and even smartwatches.

Taking notes using a digital device might seem effective but the truth is it slows down the learning process, as research proves.

An experiment tested both groups of note-takers (pen and laptop users) exactly half an hour after the lecture, which left them without the opportunity to review. The psychological scientists decided to explore this concept further and conducted a second experiment in which these students would be given a week to review for the exam.

Even after a week of review, the students who took notes in longhand were found to do significantly better than the other students in the experiment. Generally, it seems those who type their notes may potentially be at risk for “mindless processing.”

The old-fashioned note-taking method of pen and paper boosts memory and the ability to understand concepts and facts.

Keep in touch with your instructor and ask for help

Although you’re probably going to be alone while learning online, but it doesn’t mean that you should isolate yourself from your teachers and colleagues. It might be difficult connecting with the rest of your class because of long-distance. But it’s a world of technology, so there is always going to be a way to get connected.

Connecting with your virtual classmates will get you motivated and heighten your eLearning experience. Sharing goals, perspectives and ideas will promote a sense of unity among people with mutual interest thereby you can impact one another.

Keep in touch with your instructor if there is anything you do not understand, two emails weekly would do the trick. Seeking guidance permits you to gain better perceptions and learn better and more excellently.

Final thoughts

In this fast-paced world, online learning has been thriving since its discovery. People with less time on the hands to go to an actual institution now see online learning as the liberator because it’s efficient, it saves time and you can work at your own pace — pausing and rewinding lectures you don’t fully understand.

It is up to you to take action and apply the techniques we went through in this article. Let’s have a recap of the key points:

• Have a dedicated study space
• Make sure you have the appropriate software and quality internet access
• It’s an online class but treat it like its physical
• Eliminate any form of distractions
• Actively take notes
• Keep in touch with your instructor and ask for help

Remember the hardest part of doing something new is starting it. Once you plan your goals and objectives, create time to study, and prepare your work environment, you are ready for success with online learning.

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