Most experts, particularly those from universities that offer online or distance education courses, suggest students keep the final goal in mind: achievement of a degree as a means towards a work promotion or new job in a satisfying career. Students who take online university courses often have a great deal of life experience that increase chances for success.
At the same time, while a list of courses left to complete can seem daunting, take victories from small achievements, such as a completing an online tutorial, a challenging assignment or passing an exam or test.
Online Degree Study Tips Involve Proven Learning Techniques
According to Western Governors University, an American online university serving more than 20,000 students, being successful in an online university environment means learning a lot of information in an accelerated amount of time.
Study tips offered by Western Governors include keeping concepts and details straight by using a memory technique, such as a mnemonic device, that allow information to be condensed and recalled by using a rhyme or phrase. Mathematical formulas can be remembered by creating a phrase from the first letters in each order of operations.
For example, in algebra, finding the sum of (4 -2) x 7 + 4³ is accomplished by using the mnemonic, "Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally,” with the first letter of each word corresponding to the order of operations.
Online University Study Hints Include Scheduling Study Time
At Athabasca University, Canada’s largest online university, students are advised to examine all of the activities that may distract from studying. They suggest jotting down, over a week or two, all of the activities in a day then examining what tasks are truly necessary. For example, watching television is a huge use of valuable time. Also, household chores can become more of a family responsibilities and not rest solely on the student’s shoulders.
Athabasca suggests its students find one to three-hour blocks of time, schedule them, and treat them as firm study time around all of life’s other necessary activities. Athabasca also suggests other time management tips for its students:
- an appointment book and a big dry erase wall calendar (color-coded)
- work just slightly ahead of scheduled assignments so that unexpected events do not interrupt the routine
- take five to 10-minute study breaks each hour
- treat study time as seriously as work or sleep and stay focused
- Always take a textbook or notes to review when leaving the house. Ten to 30 minutes of waiting in a doctor’s office or at the bus stop could be valuable review time
In addition, Athabasca provides downloadable planners to allow students to manage time more precisely.
Success in studying for a university degree online takes patience and planning. Online courses are often more challenging that in-class learning because of the demands to work independently and around busy lives. Before taking an online course, find the study and tutoring resources available from the university to assist in staying focused and completing a degree program.
Shelley Aylesworth-Spink - Shelley Aylesworth-Spink has worked in support of communications, marketing and advertising for nearly 25 years in the private and public ...
