Online courses today are matching or outpacing traditional physical education when it comes to delivery or quality of content. Online schooling has become more or less ubiquitous, and each student today is required to act in a manner consistent with making the online learning process enriching and suited to their needs.
Online can no more be treated as something new, and students need to ensure that they avoid common mistakes while getting comfortable with the online modes – mistakes which can make their learning process sub-optimal.
Given below are some of those pitfalls in online schooling:
1. Failing to manage time
The online schooling process relies heavily on self-management techniques, and ownership of tasks that students have to take to drive the e-learning process. The lack of any physical touch points derides the student of any added educator driven pressure to complete tasks, assignments, or follow established routines.
There is no reason to believe that online schooling should not be planned well in advance, and the weekly schedule should not be planned in as much detail as possible.
It may be easy for students to miss out routines, and fall prey to attractions in the digital world, and be non-mindful of the rhythm one needs to establish to stay true to the learning process.
2. Not being ready with technical infrastructure
Before one enters an online course, one of the most fundamental aspects of enabling a proper learning experience is having the right tech hardware and software in place, the lack of which has the ability to derail your education experience.
Having a slow, old, or sub-optimally configured computer system can cripple your tasks, and even a slow internet connection can elongate the length of your course consumption timeline. Online courses will require you to stream videos and time spent buffering is learning time lost.
No doubt, online learning does have its technical pressures and the learning process can turn into a painful experience if not dealt with properly.
3. Being isolated and not participating
Online schooling has the ability to leave you alone given the lack of any physical interactions. It may be ok to be alone at times, but if the student does not take initiative in participating in the classroom, you can be left alone, and deride yourself of a rich learning process.
While a lot depends on how the online school course pedagogy is structured, and the efforts put in by the educator, a student should indulge in communal learning, and ask questions and discuss with peers on topics pertaining to classroom content.
Moreover, try connecting beyond the classroom – look at how you can establish a rapport with teachers and peers alike
4. Getting distracted
Discipline is the key tenet of succeeding in online schooling given the lack of physically enabled pressure rhythms from educators. The computer is your school and one can get extremely distracted by external stimuli such as social media or other video streaming platforms. Consider using a site blocker if you consistently find yourself getting distracted
Student can take the following steps to avoid the above pitfalls in online schooling:
1. Dedicate a study space
Establish a central spot where you will study. Instead of going back and forth between your bed, kitchen, or desk, make one spot your dedicated study zone. Over time, your brain will recognize that particular spot as a place to study, and it will become easier for you to focus.
Make your space fun and inviting. Hang inspirational quotes. Put up lots of lights. Add plants. Dress your living space so that you’ll want to be there.
Additionally, no matter how long you stay at home, getting up in the morning and dressing accordingly will help you get into your groove right away. The act of getting dressed and getting into the swing of things can help awaken your brain and signal that it’s time to move.
2. Get rid of distractions
It helps to have a distraction-free zone when studying for exams. However, since online students set their own schedules, it’s particularly important for them to make it work.
Go offline while studying, turn off your phone, unplug from social media, and switch to airplane mode while you study
Even the flash of a new text message or the ping of a new notification could throw off even the most diligent student. Turn your phone into airplane mode or Do Not Disturb mode before diving in. This will disable all calls, texts, and notifications while still allowing you to use your phone for assistance while studying.
If you’re concentrating in a public area like a library or coffee shop, wear headphones and steer clear of noisy areas. If you’re studying at home, you should put down the gaming console, iPad, or any other distraction. Put them in a separate room or out of sight.
3. Take brief breaks
Taking periodic breaks while you’re studying will help you be more productive. No matter how short your breaks are, you’ll be more productive once you get out of your study space.
You should always keep breaks short. Longer breaks can be distracting. The point of taking a break is to get your mind refocused so that you can return to studying refreshed. Take a five to fifteen-minute walk, for example.
Additionally, when you’re indulging in an academic activity, stepping away from your screen allows you to look at it once again with fresh eyes. It also helps you organize your thoughts and establish a rhythm. The longer you go, the more likely it is that you’ll burn out.
4. Invest in fast, reliable internet and technology
It is imperative that you maintain a stable internet connection if you are on an online course. Don’t let a faulty connection impact your grade. Investing in fast internet will ensure that your Internet connection doesn’t go down.
You should always invest in reliable internet even if you prefer to study outside your house because you never know when you’ll need it. Plus, you can’t rely on the Wi-Fi at your local coffee shop or neighbour’s apartment.
In addition, it’s a good idea to consider your laptop’s storage capacity. You should be able to hold everything from Science 3600 to English 101 on your laptop. If you’re constantly saving documents or archiving lectures, you’ll need it.