By: PC Pro School
Online classes offer many different people different types of convenience and flexibility. People are able to study when they want and how they want. However, this flexibility gives people entire control of what they study and how they study. Online classes also leave people in solitude and without the interaction of peers and instructors. Online students will need to be able to rely on themselves to remain focused and disciplined. Follow these few tips to help retain your information and to stay focused.
Be Organized-Classes come with all sort of material that you must keep organized. Since the classes are online, keep different folders on your computer for your different classes. You will find there isn’t a lot of time to spare in between the classes; your studying and your personal life so eliminate having to dig through files and folders to find that one specific file. Remember those Trapper Keeper binders with all the colorful tabs that your mom always bought you for school? If colors are what it takes, learn how to color code your files and folders too!
To-Do-Lists-Each day there will be a different thing to study and a different time factor in your personal life. Make lists on what you need to complete, and by when. If it helps, make multiple lists because they can help you set your different goals. Sit down in one sitting and map out your study time for each course.
Avoid Distractions, Stay Focused-Distractions can be anything. They can be a TV on mute, cell phones vibrating on the desk, random instant messages from a friend or music that makes you want to sing and dance. You should create your own workspace area where you can study, but don’t enclose yourself in a little box. You will need a break from time to time to maintain your focus and to not overwhelm yourself. Stretching and walking for a few minutes every 40 minutes or so are good active ways of keeping your blood flow going, and to help pace your learning. Keep your mind from drifting by reminding yourself of what you have to get done. If you think about what you need to get from the grocery store, how much school will cost you or when your date from last Saturday will call you, you will wander further and further away from your studying. Focus on one thing at a time, and doodle if you have to. Doodling sounds like a long way away from staying focused but it can actually help your brain stay grounded and alert.
Study With a Friend-Being in an online class gives you little to no interaction with other students and it can make finding a study partner more difficult. Ask around and see if there is someone willing to meet with you, and if there isn’t anyone from school available, ask a family member for some help. Interacting with a person makes information easier to recall, given the different form of that information.
Don’t Limit Yourself to the Computer-Technology is fancy, if you haven’t picked that up from your online course already. That being said, technology makes it easy to take notes, make graphs, and looking at photo and media very easy. Staring at a computer screen the entire time you are studying though puts a strain on your eyes and your brain. Don’t be scared to go the old-fashioned route and use pen, paper and pencils. Writing things down has worked the entire history of education, and is still a great alternate method of trying to retain information.
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Monday, July 20, was 