Useful Tips for Distance Learning Students

The COVID-19 pandemic has turned most peoples’ lives upside down. This is especially true for students and tutors. You were probably used to being in full lecture rooms. But today, teaching and learning are happening behind screens.

Distance learning is not a new concept. Most people took lots of online courses before the pandemic. Distance learning requires self-discipline and commitment to the course. If these two aspects aren’t for you, then distance learning will be a nightmare. If you’ve been thinking of taking an online class, then this article is for you.

1. Check all the school notifications

Missing a day in a regular class means that you’ll have a lot to catch up on. The same applies to online learning. You should check all the notifications on the platform to keep up with everything that’s happening. You don’t want to find out about an exam the day before. Or worse, a couple of days after the submission date. Failing to check notifications regularly will lead to stress and anxiety. Keep all channels of communication open with your tutors. And you’ll have an easy life.

2. Create a dedicated area of study

Where you study determines the grades you’ll get in the end. You should look for a quiet comfortable room with adequate lighting. You also want the place to be spacious enough for you to store notes and books. A desk or table will do just fine. While your study area should be comfortable, it shouldn’t be too fancy. You should avoid studying in the living room or bed because your brain has already associated these places with relaxing and sleeping.

3. Create a plan

Your tutor shouldn’t remind you now and then that you have an assignment due in a couple of days. Therefore, you should learn to be diligent. If you don’t have a plan, now is the ideal time to start forming the habit of writing things down. Taking notes is useful for students as it will motivate you to study harder and stay on top of things. Ensure that you look at your plan every morning before starting your sessions.

You can stick it on your washroom mirror, make it your wallpaper on the phone or your study area. A weekly agenda will work perfectly too. You can go for calendars because they help you see what you have to work on during the month. You can create a digital plan or write everything down by hand. You also need to:

• Create a to-do list: When your week begins, you should make a to-do list of the tasks that need to be completed before next week starts. This is one of the best ways to prioritize your plan and achieve your goals.

• Set deadlines: Before studying, you should figure out how much time is needed to complete each task whether it’s reading a couple of pages or completing a specific assignment. You should always do your best to stick to the time limits to develop your self-discipline. When you realize that you cannot concentrate, you should take a break. Taking breaks will save you a lot of time and energy in the long run.

• Stay on schedule: The most important part of your plan is sticking to it. Laziness and procrastination are your greatest enemies. Following your plan will help you stay on top of things. If you are having a hard time completing your assignments on time, you should contact your online tutor to get help.

4. Avoid procrastination

Self-motivation, diligence, and effective time management are essential to success ingredients in your online course. Procrastinating is one of the worst things you can do to yourself as a student. It’s difficult spending your weekends reading, taking a quiz, or writing an essay to stay on top of things while your friends enjoy themselves.

However, it will pay back in spades in the long run. Falling behind is not an option especially in distance learning. Apart from attending all the lessons, you need to find enough time to do your assignments, study, and revise.

5. Ask questions

If you never rose your hand in math class because you knew other students will ask the same questions for you, then you are not lucky in the online world. If you get lost, don’t wait too long to reach out. Ask your tutor and colleagues ASAP. Failure to understand concepts while learning online is normal. However, failing to ask is your responsibility. And you’ll pay for it dearly.

6. Make use of online resources

There are lots of free resources on platforms like Crash Course, YouTube, TikTok, and Quizlet to help you develop and improve a wide range of skills. Online resources are vast. They will help you get through the challenging times and become a self-reliant learner. You’ll get used to taking charge of the learning process. You should always use the internet to improve your learning. Do not accept anything to drag you down when you have all these resources at your disposal.

7. Know your goals and objectives

You need to keep in mind what you want to accomplish to stay on track with your course. The learning goals and objectives will be an excellent road map in distance learning. Therefore, you need to read all your online course requirements carefully, take notes that are related to your goals and ensure that you review them before working on a project or assignment. Finally, you should always start with difficult tasks since this will boost the effectiveness and performance of your study.

8. Review and revise

Regular revision will not only help you understand concepts better but also improve your memory. One of the best ways to revise is by creating flashcards for your notes and using past papers to familiarize yourself with exam questions. You should consider having a study partner even if you are studying online. Studying in groups will help you understand difficult concepts and motivate you to achieve excellent results.

Conclusion

By following these tips, distance learners will have an amazing study time and achieve their goals easily. Do not hesitate to seek help when you need it.