By Victoria Patrick -
eLearners.com Your academic efforts will yield greater benefits if you dedicate regular time to your course work. The material presented in your online classes is only valuable if you are able to remember and recall what you have been taught. Below are some tips for helping you take away more from your studies.
1. Limit the amount of time you spend reading for your online class. This is important for medical as well as academic reasons. If you spend a good deal of time reading text from a monitor or book, take a break after thirty minutes. Reading for extended periods of time can lead to eye-strain. Your reading comprehension decreases without giving your mind downtime to process the information you have been reading. Budget your time wisely and give yourself a break.
2. Find out when you are most alert during the day. Some folks are early birds, others are night owls. Whichever your preference, avoid studying during a time when you will be drowsy and ineffective. If you find yourself yawning more than twice in fifteen minutes, then you should probably reschedule your study period.
3. Take notes as you progress through your work. Does this method slow down the pace that you are reading? Yes. Does this method help you learn the material and be able to reference it quickly afterwards? Absolutely. Take notes and summarize what you have read to help you remember.
4. Refer to the syllabus and schedule your studying by it. If you are assigned to read only chapters one through three, then only read those chapters. By giving in to the temptation of jumping around, you are doing yourself a disservice by wasting time and getting off track.
5. Keep your television turned off. Americans love their TVs, but remember your goals. Your favorite sitcom will not help you get a promotion or rise in salary.
6. Let your callers leave a message. Avoid concentrating on the ringing from your cell phone and landline. Stay on task and let the answering machine do the work.
7. Focus on one course at a time. Assuming you are enrolled in more than one course, studying more than one subject will become confusing and inefficient. If you have reached a dead-end in an assignment, then it may be a good time to give a break. Otherwise, you are better off plugging along on the same course work.
8. Identify what you can skim and scan. Not all textbooks chapters provide you with valuable information. Know when it is safe to scan the headings, captions, and summaries, but also identifying when you’ve reached material that should be followed word for word.
9. Stand up and stretch every hour. It is important to keep your blood circulating to keep your energy level up for studying. Napping creates a potentially dangerous situation, as you may not be able to stay awake afterwards. Stretching will help relieve any aches or pains associated with sitting for an extended period of time.
10. Wear comfortable clothing for studying. Pajamas may not be the best option, as you may feel comfortable enough to become drowsy or fall asleep. Loose, comfortable clothing will aid in proper circulation as you progress through your assignments.
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