1: Set daily goals to study
Ask yourself what you hope to achieve in your course each day. Setting a clear goal can help you stay motivated and beat procrastination. The goal should be specific and easy to measure, such as “I will watch all the videos in Module 2 and complete the first programming assignment.” Don’t forget to reward yourself as you progress towards your goal!
2: Create a custom workspace
It’s easier to remember information if you’re where you first learned it, therefore having a special space at home to take online courses can make your learning more effective. Remove the distractive things from the area and, if possible, take them away them from your bed or sofa. A clear distinction between where you work and where you take a break can help you focus more.
3: On your calendar, schedule your time to study
Open your calendar and choose a predictable, reliable time to devote to watching the lectures and completing the assignments. This helps ensure that your courses aren’t the last thing on your to-do list.
4: Hold yourself accountable for your activities
Tell your friends about the courses you’ve taken; post achievements on your social media accounts or prepare a blog about your homework. Having a community to cheer you up and a supportive network of friends and family make a difference.
5: Take notes actively
Note-taking can improve active thinking, increase comprehension, and increase your attention span. Whether you’re learning online or in the classroom, internalizing knowledge is a good strategy. So get a notebook or find a digital app that works best for you and start synthesizing the key points.
6: Join the discussions
Course discussion forums are a great place to ask questions about the assignments, to discuss topics, to share resources, and to make friends. Our research shows that students who participate in the discussion forums are 37 % more likely to complete a course.
7: Perform one thing at a time
Multitasking is less efficient than focusing on one task at a time. Researchers from Stanford University found that “people who are regularly bombarded with several streams of electronic information are unable to pay as much attention, remember information, or switch from one task to another compared to those who complete one task at a time.” Focus on one thing at a time. You will absorb more information and complete tasks with greater productivity and ease compared to the time when you are trying to do many things at the same time.
8: Take a break
Resting your brain after learning something is essential for high performance. If you find yourself struggling on a difficult problem for an hour without much progress, then take a break. Walking outside, taking a shower, or chatting to a friend can re-energize you and even bring you new ideas on how to tackle this challenging project.