Attending an online college sounds easy. But in reality, many students, particularly First-Time Online College Students, struggle with virtual learning. To get you started, here are some pointers for you to consider.
Minimize distractions
When you’re at home, your family members are likely also present. It’s great if you have a big house and a room alone. But if you share the bedroom with your siblings or have limited space, you can most likely hear every sound they make.
A noisy and chaotic environment isn’t ideal for you to do your schoolwork. You will lose focus, so you must ensure that you minimize, if not altogether avoid, every distraction. For example, let your family know your study hours and avoid having the TV on when taking your classes.
Always jot down important notes.
There’s no argument that the information you need is easily accessible online. By using search engines, you get answers to your questions right away. So why would you need to take down notes?
First-Time Online College Students take notes.
Several studies suggest that jotting down lecture notes benefits students in many ways. Being a First-Time Online College Student, you may feel like you don’t need to take notes. But it helps you to stay focused on your class and boosts your comprehension. Additionally, it improves retention, making it a practice to jot down notes while listening to a lecture.
Engage in group discussions and other classroom activities
Studying online isn’t an excuse to avoid interacting with people. While you don’t meet with your classmates or lecturers all the time, you may need to attend live meetings, and conference calls now and then. Additionally, you will have group projects that you won’t be able to complete alone.
Online colleges and universities encourage First-Time Online College Students to take notes and communicate with their peers regularly. You can do this by posting and answering questions on the discussion boards and participating in classroom activities.
Ask for guidance and help when needed.
In distance learning, you don’t meet or talk to your peers often. You don’t even get to ask your lecturer a question right away. But it doesn’t mean you’re entirely on your own.
First-Time Online College Students Reach Out.
Reach out to your instructor or classmate when you need help. They’d be more than willing to help you clarify things, but you won’t get answers if you choose not to ask.
Check out our other articles, like How to keep yourself motivated.
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