7 Tips for Successful Online Learning
Online learning in Australia has increased over the last couple of years. This type of learning brings some new challenges other than well-known benefits. Let’s check the best tips to get the best out of your online learning courses.
Make your environment inspiring for learning
We know your bed or sofa are the most comfortable places in your apartment, but studying from there can sometimes be tricky. Just imagine if you’re sleepy, you’re already in your bed. A good environment for learning can make all the difference.
If you are looking to learn online, you should have a comfortable desk and chair. This will help you focus on the task at hand without any distractions. You should also have an ergonomic keyboard and mouse to prevent any discomfort in your hands or wrists.
You should also set your environment up like a place of work rather than a study space. This will make it easier to focus on the task at hand without getting distracted by other things around you.
Don’t skip lessons
You might think that you can always catch up with the lesson you skipped, but if you let them accumulate, you will have a bunch of material that you need to learn after your peers have already moved on with the lessons.
l Don’t skip lessons: You may think that skipping lessons will save you time, but it is better not to do this as this will lead to the material being harder or even impossible to learn later on.
l Be disciplined: It’s easy to become lazy when doing online learning, but discipline is important if you want to get the most out of your online learning experience.
l Don’t become lazy: If you’re feeling lazy then try taking a break from your lesson and doing something else for a while before coming back again.
Don’t forget to socialize with your peers
It is important not to forget that you are part of a bigger community. Online communities are not the same as in-person communities. You can’t see people’s faces, hear their voices, or feel their emotions when you interact with them online. This may reduce the sense of belongingness and we may feel less connected than we would otherwise be if we were physically together.
The best way to combat this feeling of isolation is by meeting people in person and making acquaintances with them on social media platforms like Facebook or LinkedIn so that you can stay up-to-date with what they’re doing even when you’re not physically present.
Get quality learning resources
There are many good resources for RTOs to get quality learning materials. One of the most popular is Udemy, which is a marketplace for online courses. Here you can find all sorts of courses from programming to marketing and even public speaking.
The other great place to go is Coursera, which offers free online courses from top universities around the world. They have everything from data science to psychology. However, these two can sometimes be generic, so if you need something more specific, like RTO materials for the Australian market, make sure you find what is suitable for you in particular.
Manage your time successfully
Online learning or some people become a nightmare because they forget to have free time and focus on learning all the time. This is wrong and unhealthy.
While the following tips are not sufficient for managing your time, they will help you get started.
1) Find out what you need to do and plan accordingly:
2) Make a list of tasks that need to be completed today and prioritize them:
3) Set a timer for every task so you can stay on track:
4) Keep distractions at bay by turning off all notifications on your phone or computer:
5) Reward yourself with a break after completing each task.
Ask for help if you need it
Since your teacher can’t see you or have a proper one-on-one interaction all the time, they sometimes can’t notice if you have some problems with certain lessons. If you find yourself struggling with online learning, there are a few things you can do:
l ask for help if you need it,
l don’t be shy,
l don’t give up and
l take breaks when needed.
Avoid Zoom fatigue and burnout
It is important to take care of oneself to avoid fatigue and burnout. This includes taking breaks, getting enough sleep, eating well, and exercising.
The most common symptoms of fatigue are a lack of motivation and energy. Other symptoms include feeling irritable or moody or having difficulty concentrating. Burnout is a more serious condition that can lead to mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. All this can lead you to health issues and thwart your academic success.
Now that you know these important tips, you shouldn’t hesitate to get the best RTO materials for the course you’re learning and follow the aforementioned advice. With a little bit of time management, discipline, and self-care, online learning can be the best decision you have ever made.
