5 Ways To Help Your Learners: 5 Vital Time-Management Tips For eLearning
Thanks to the huge variety of online learning programs available these days, eLearning is more popular than ever and a report from Babson Survey Research Group shows that 1 in 4 students is now taking at least 1 online course.
Of course, studying at home without face-to-face interaction does bring its own set of challenges, and the flexible nature of most eLearning programs means deadlines are often hazy, and students are expected to set their own pace.
With this in mind, one of the most important skills to master for successful online learning is time-management, so if you’re currently taking an online course or are considering enrolling in one, here are 5 essential time-management tips for eLearning participants.
1. Develop A Routine
With online learning, the onus is on you to make time for your studies, so it can help to make learning as much a part of your daily routine as working out or doing the dishes.
For example, if you’re at work during the day, make an effort to study for at least one hour after dinner, before you watch your favorite TV show. If you drop the kids off at school every morning, make a habit of visiting the library for an hour of study time before tackling your other to-dos.
When building your learning into your daily routine, you should also think about the times of day when you feel most alert and focused. For some students, this might be a few hours before bed, whereas others will need to get an early start if they want to get any studying done.
2. Set Your Own Deadlines
Many online courses don’t have hard deadlines, but if you want to manage your time efficiently, and prevent your course from dragging on indefinitely, it’s a good idea to set your own.
One effective way to pace your work is by strategically micro-managing your time. You can do this by creating milestones or stepping stones with self-imposed mini deadlines that break modules up into a series of smaller tasks, each with its own mini deadline.
So, for instance, you could aim to finish all your reading assignments during the first week, draft your essay during the second week, and submit a final draft by week three.
3. Create A Dedicated Study Area
Even if you enjoy studying at the library or your local coffee shop every now and then, you should still try to create a dedicated study space in your own home where you can work without interruptions.
Make sure that at the very least, your dedicated study zone is in a low traffic area, has a comfortable desk and chair as well as adequate lighting. Other things that can help you study more efficiently include clearing away physical clutter and using background music or white noise to stay focused.
4. Don’t Multi-Task
Although you might think you’re capable of texting, reading, and checking social media simultaneously, research shows that multi-tasking reduces the brain’s ability to store new information and makes you a lot less productive.
If you can, download your study materials and study in offline mode, so you don’t feel tempted to do other things, like check your emails or scroll through your newsfeed. If you need to be online, you can use apps like SelfControl or StayFocusd to block distracting websites like Facebook, YouTube, or Netflix.
5. Get Support
A lack of adequate support is one of the biggest reasons online students struggle, so don’t be afraid to ask for help if you’re feeling overwhelmed.
Most online education providers a range of support services, from IT help services and personal development resources to Skype or email discussions and counseling sessions, so be sure to take advantage of the resources available to you.
If can also be a good idea to let your family and friends know about your learning goals and ask for some help in reaching them, whether this means finding a family member to babysit a couple of nights a week or asking someone to help out with the housework.
