Guest post by Allie Dillard
Online studying has its own challenges and motivation is one of them. International students are finding that studying online during the COVID pandemic has been made easier through vocational colleges such as the Sydney School of Business and Technology. Students may get distracted being in a different setting, so they need to put in some extra effort to maintain their focus and attention. Listed below are some tips on how learners can remain centered and motivated.
1. Strike a balance between work and play
In the online set-up, so many factors can easily cause distractions, therefore devising a realistic schedule is recommended. Carefully plan your day by plotting online sessions and breaks on a time conducive for you. Do it either in the traditional fashion by keeping an organizer or join the digital revolution and maximise your smartphone use. The latest smartphones have the capacity to keep you connected even when you’re on the go. Like the iPhone 5c for instance, the full iWork suite (Pages, Numbers, and Keynote) can come in handy during study sessions. To learn more about its functionalities, visit the O2’s iPhone 5C page for UK subscribers.
2. Be socially involved
Online learning may keep you detached from friends and teachers. Fortunately social media has bridged the gap and allows you to establish a connection through various platforms. Mashable notes this trend paves way to gathering and grasping real-time concepts with emphasis on course quality. You can exchange ideas with your instructor and classmates via group pages, discussion forums, and video conferencing. It’s also a good way to build your own virtual support system, composed of individuals in the same journey as you are.
3. Spark curiosity
Being motivated entails having a natural desire and curiosity for learning. Before starting the formal session, it is essential to cover the following:
- Discuss the course requirements with your instructor
- Brainstorm for new concepts and strategies on how to discuss the subject
- Agree to a conducive teaching and learning approach
Other motivating factors include answering pre-examinations and making a list of potential topics you want to encounter. According to Shift E-Learning, instructors are the ones in charge of fostering curiosity by including the active exploration model which uses podcasts and videos.
4. Track your progress
“Measurement is the first step that leads to control and eventually to improvement. If you can’t measure something, you can’t understand it. If you can’t understand it, you can’t control it. If you can’t control it, you can’t improve it.” — H. James Harrington
The whole learning process involves growth and progress. Tracking your performance can be managed by keeping a progress chart, wherein the ratio of the accomplished and the pending tasks are displayed. Constantly looking at your accomplishments will definitely push you to maintain a certain level of productivity. Learning is not all work and no play. Establishing a reward system can also be beneficial.
5. Practice self-talk
“Self-talk” may sound silly, but it’s actually a good practice to spell the success of your online studying, according to Edudemic. It is driven by positive thinking, so you need to surround yourself with optimistic influences physically and virtually.
Having s strong skill set does not guarantee success in getting an online degree certification. It takes dedication to achieve a goal, and it is easier to get if you have the drive and heart for it. What keeps you motivated to study?
About the Author: Allie Cooper is currently enrolled in the online curriculum of the University of London. She finds tech gadget a good tool for learning, thus she follows O2’s step-by-step guide to mobile learning for a more effective mobile studying experience. Allie would like to hear your motivation secrets. Connect with her via Twitter @AllieCooper_18.
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