Posted April 21st, 2015
By Kris Powers
Time management can be a problem for many students, and particularly so for online students. Let’s face it, it can be hard to stay motivated and get your work done when you aren’t surrounded by other students doing the same. Many online students are taking their courses online because of family and work commitments; juggling all those responsibilities can become overwhelming without a plan.
For starters, you need to talk with your family and your employer and let them know how your online courses might affect your responsibilities at home or in the office (you’ll need help with chores, you won’t be able to stay late at work). You’ll also need to be sure to set aside specific hours for your schoolwork each and every day. Avoid distractions such as television, social media, as well as your phone and make sure that when you sit down to study that is the only thing you are doing.
Here are some other time management and study tips that might be useful for online students.
Tip 1: Log into Class Daily
Logging into your class each and every day can help keep you on track and up-to-date on your coursework. It will also prevent you from missing assignment changes and news shared by your instructor or students online.
Tip 2: Set Due Dates and Deadlines
Maximize your study time by keeping track of deadlines and working backwards to ensure that the appropriate amount of work is being done in the weeks leading up to that deadline. Don’t wait until the day before an assignment is due to start working on it, in fact, give yourself some lead time and aim to have the assignment completed well before the actual due date. Create a list of steps that need to be done and check them off once they are completed.
Tip 3: Maximize Every Possible Moment
Online students balancing work, family and school commitments should take every possible opportunity to get ahead with their studies. While it’s possible to check in on your courses with your cell phone, investing in a laptop or tablet will give you more freedom and enable you to fill gaps in your time by working on assignments no matter where you are. You can make good use of time that would typically be lost, such as time during your morning commute on the train or bus, waiting in the carpool line or while waiting for an appointment at the doctor’s office.
Tip 4: Prioritize your Coursework and Reward Yourself
There will be many things vying for your attention. Make your online courses a priority as much as possible. However, make sure to reward yourself for a task completed or a job well done by going out for a cup of coffee or running to the park with your children. If you are on top of your coursework, it’s okay to set aside some tasks to complete later. With diligence and a strict schedule, you will know if you have free time in your calendar for a little play time.
Tip 5: Use Various Study Strategies
Explore different study styles and optimize your learning when completing coursework. Because online courses typically only use your visual and auditory senses, find creative ways to engage the other senses of smell, touch and taste. Write your notes on colored, textured paper, have a candle next to you while reviewing for an exam. Mix up the locations where you study; outside, in a coffee shop, in different rooms of your home. Read your textbook out loud (if even to your cat) to help cement the knowledge more firmly in your memory.
Tip 6: Don’t hesitate to ask for help
Online course instructors are happy to help students when they need it! Don’t be afraid to contact your instructor as soon as you start feeling unsure about a lesson. And if you notice yourself falling behind in your course, let your instructor know immediately.
Follow the tips above and set yourself up for success from the start!
Ed4Career understands the way adults want to learn and how they learn the best. Each of our courses are designed by top level curriculum designers, and structured in a user friendly and logical format. Visit our website today and discover the Ed4Career difference!
Sources:
http://bestonlineuniversities.com/7-important-time-management-tips-for-o...
