Online Learning is a fantastic way to increase your knowledge and skills in a unique, flexible environment with its own distinct strengths and opportunities.
Whether you’re trying online classes for the first time or looking for ways to strengthen your current habits and approaches, there are a few key areas to consider to set yourself up for success and take full advantage of all online learning has to offer.
In this collection of online learning best practices, we share tips and strategies to help you succeed in your learning journey, including ways to:
Self Care
Self-care is important to your successful learning experience. A healthy mind (and body) is a mind ready for learning.
Advocate for your learning needs
Ask for flexible ways of participating in the class that work for you. This is important for learners who require specific accommodations, such as a note taker or extended test time, but is also important for all learners.
Schedule breaks
Get up and walk around, go outside, schedule your distractions, don’t forget to move. Plenty of apps exist to keep you on task and turn off distractions, as well as remind you to get up and take breaks.
Maintain healthy habits
Your brain, like your body, needs rest and exercise. Get sleep, stay hydrated, go outside, eat well.
Time Management
One of the biggest benefits of online learning is flexibility, but too much freedom can pose new challenges. Find ways to structure and optimize your time for when and where you learn best and keep your learning on track.
Set aside time for learning
This doesn’t mean you need to find four-hour blocks, three days a week. Online learning is designed to be modular and flexible. You may find 15 minutes to watch a short video lecture and write a three-sentence reflection post. But of course, other learning activities will require more time. Be planful and dedicate time to learn as you would to exercise or spending time with friends.
Track deadlines
Add important due dates to a calendar so you don’t miss important deadlines.
Minimize distractions
As much as you can, minimize distractions both in your physical environment and your digital environment. Close web browser windows not relevant to your learning, keep the TV off, etc.
Looking for more strategies for online learning success?
Learn about online learning while experiencing it: Take our How to Learn Online course, where you’ll dive into some of the most powerful, science-backed techniques that you can start using right away and on any learning platform.