With the recent pandemic, many learners are switching to a remote learning environment. At first, learning remotely is quite a big change for students as there is no physical interaction. However, if you follow the tips below, you’ll be well on your way to enhancing your online learning experience.
Do Video Chats When Possible
One of the best ways to stay socially active and motivated to learn is to take advantage of video chats. Whether it’s a meeting with your professor or getting together with other students for your group project, always opt for video chats. These allow you to communicate better with others as you can read their body language. It’s very easy for words on paper to portray the wrong feelings. It’s hard to misread body language.
Dedication A Remote Learning Space
With laptops being extremely portable, it can be very easy to switch where you do your learning each day. One day you may opt for the living room couch, while the next day, you may do your work from your bed. While this may seem convenient at first, it can turn into a real disaster.
It’s hard for your body to focus in a new environment. If you’re constantly switching up where you do your work, it’s going to be more difficult for your mind to be fully susceptible to learning. You should pick one location to do all of your work. This way, your brain is signaled as soon as you sit down that it’s time to focus and learn.
Attend Live Q&A Sessions
It can be very easy to skip attending a live Q&A session because you can just watch the replay of it later. You don’t want to get into the habit of not blocking out time to attend live sessions. Live sessions allow you to really get into the session and ask questions that you actually have.
When you listen to a replay, it’s harder to connect with what’s going on. In fact, you’ll probably find yourself tuning out for most of it or just simply not finish listening to the whole thing. Don’t strip yourself of the additional learning that you can gain from attending Q&A sessions in real-time.
Leave Your Video On For Live Sessions
The concept of being in front of a camera for an hour-long teaching session may feel awkward at first. However, it’s important to realize that everyone feels that way to start, even your teachers. Don’t freak out and turn your live camera feed off. Simply let it on, and you’ll forget about it after a while.
Being in front of the camera during live teaching sessions allows your instructor to read your non-verbal feedback. Teachers rely on many non-verbal cues to see how their teaching is coming across to their students. When their students look confused, they know that they need to revisit the subject in another way. When your teacher can read your non-verbal cues, they can adjust their teaching so it’s more informative for the whole class.
Accept The Fact That You’ll Need To Self-Motivate
When you meet people in person, it can feel more like a responsibility than meeting them virtually. Many students went to in-person class on time every day because of that physical responsibility. However, when it comes to remote learning, that sense of responsibility tends to go to the wayside.
You need to set your mind up with the acceptance that you’re committed to self-motivation. You’ll need to rely on yourself to get out of bed and attend those live sessions. You know yourself best. You know what motivates you and what discourages you. The way to enhance your online learning is to use motivation tactics that you know work for you. Whether it’s a nice warm cup of coffee as you sit down to study or buying yourself that new shirt you like if you get an A on your next test.
