Online education offers a lot of benefits. However, for a good number of students, online learning is uncharted territory. Student life comes with its fair share of challenges, including figuring out how to be productive from the comfort of your home. Here are some tips that mat help you to be productive:
1. CREATE A DESIGNATED STUDY SPACE: Setting up a designated place for studying will have a significant impact on your productivity levels. Choosing a room in the house specifically for this purpose will enable you to separate studies and everyday life. This way, your brain will be conditioned to focus more on learning.
2. CREATE A SCHEDULE AND STICK TO IT: Online courses provide you with flexibility. You get to determine when to keep up with your classes, do your homework, eat and sleep. However, if you are to stay productive, you should make a schedule for yourself and stick to it. A daily routine will help you stay organized, stay on track and avoid procrastination.
3. GET RID OF DISTRACTIONS:-Many distractions will come your way when studying at home. Minimizing distractions will help you use the available time wisely and work more efficiently. Block all unnecessary phone notifications, keep the television off, get off social media and get your other chores out of the way.
4. UPDATE YOUR TECHNOLOGY:-Technology is the cornerstone of online learning. To access your online lessons and stay productive, you must ensure that your computer and internet are up to speed. This will make it easy to conduct internet searches, save and open files, upload and download attachments, and get your coursework done quicker.
5. DEVELOP YOUR TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS:-The flexibility associated with studying online can be a great disadvantage. Without being in charge of your schedule, all these tips mean nothing. Developing good time management skills will help you stay organized and go a long way in enabling you to overcome some challenges linked to distance learning.
6. TAKE NOTES:-Watching lectures on a computer allows students the convenience of rewinding and playing the video again. However, taking notes the old-fashioned way will help you capture essential points, increase your focus and improve your critical thinking. Also, taking notes by hand allows you to put the content in simple and easy-to-understand language.
7. TAKE INITIATIVE:-With remote learning, you will have to work harder to get feedback from your instructor. Interacting regularly with the instructor will help you set yourself apart from your classmates and benefit more from the course. This is why you should consider taking the initiative to keep in constant touch with the instructor.
8. FORM VIRTUAL STUDY GROUPS:-Distance-learning does not mean you cannot work remotely with friends. Networking with your classmates will provide opportunities to learn new things and perfect your skills.
9. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF:-Online learning can take a toll on your mental and physical health. Taking care of yourself will help you to avoid burnout and remain productive.
10. TRACK YOUR TASKS AND TIME:-To keep motivated, you will want to set goals and track both the tasks you need to complete and the time you take to achieve them. The aim will be to ensure that you spend your time productively so that you enjoy the benefits of studying online. Keeping track of tasks and time will require you to consider your schedule, deadlines, and study breaks. By monitoring how well you use your time, you will know the specific adjustments you need to make to stay productive.
Tanushree Parvati, Student 8 Sirius