You can study at home, if you know you won’t distract yourself. Many people, however, have difficulty concentrating when they try to study at home. This is one of the challenges of online courses. A place like an Internet cafe usually has reliable Internet access, as do some coffee shops and restaurants. Just make sure employees won’t mind you hanging around these places for long hours while you study. You can also try a library.
You may have some regular lecture times you need to attend. However, you should also make time on your own end for review. This is especially important if you’re required to review some of the course material on your own. To make an online class feel as vigorous as an in-person course, choose the same times and days to login each week. Set a specific timeframe for how long you’ll read and review materials. You can, for example, log in from 2 o’clock to 4 o’clock Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays to study.
You can make a physical calendar for yourself if you study at home. Write down things like the dates papers are due and the dates of tests and quizzes. This will help let you know when you need to start committing to reviewing materials. You can also make a calendar on your phone or laptop. This may be more helpful if you don’t study at home, as you’ll be able to refer to it while you’re out studying.
Remember, just because you don’t go to the course in person does not mean it is not costing you money or that it does not affect your overall GPA. Make sure to treat an online course as seriously as you would treat a course you attend in person.
If you prefer to read typed lectures or reading material on a screen, you may want to invest in a Kindle. These aren’t backlit, which reduces eye strain compared to reading on a computer screen. You should also print out things like a course schedule and syllabus. It’s good to have a physical copy of these materials to refer to throughout the course.
Use headings and dates to keep track of what materials are covered in each section of your notes. You can refer to these headings later when studying. Do not try to record every single detail an instructor said. Instead, jot down the general idea and any insights that help you better understand the material. Later, when you’re studying, you can refer to your notes to remember the major ideas of the course. Even if you can re-watch lectures, taking notes is still helpful. It helps better remember the material later and you can also write down key material. If you need to, say, remember a date, you can refer to your notes instead of searching the video for the specific moment when this date was mentioned.
You can copy your notes onto a new sheet of paper. You can also write down vocabulary words, dates, names of important figures, and other information you need to memorize.
You can also try summarizing the material from memory out loud. You can, for example, pretend you’re explaining a concept to another student.
If necessary, you can install an app that will restrict your access to certain websites during a designated period of time so you can focus on your studies.
You should also remember your overall academic goals when you study. This can help with your motivation. Think about how a good grade will contribute to your overall GPA. Think about how the material will benefit you after the course. [12] X Expert Source Jai FlickerAcademic Tutor Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.
Flashcards can be a great way to test yourself on things like vocabulary and dates. [13] X Expert Source Jai FlickerAcademic Tutor Expert Interview. 20 May 2020. You can also write down potential exam questions as you study. This can be very helpful if you’re expecting an essay test. After you finish studying, take the test you made for yourself.
If you have a web camera, try setting up a video chat meeting with your instructor for face-to-face feedback.
