Now that we’ve looked at how to succeed in online learning, let’s explore how we can improve focus and keep motivated when studying virtually.
Boost your motivation
Establishing a routine and managing your time effectively will play a part in your overall motivation. You might also want to take a goal-orientated approach. Create an overall aim for each subject or topic, and break that down into smaller chunks. From here, you can reward yourself for meeting your mini-goals, whether on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.
Choose somewhere quiet
When you’re studying online, you want to make sure you have a quiet area to sit in. For live classes, you’ll want to make sure you can confidently contribute without background noise coming through. A quiet spot also allows you to focus on your learning, giving you time for studying and reflecting.
Organise your space
Here are some tips on creating an effective study space:
- Keep it neat and tidy
A tidy and clean study space will help your mind to focus. It can also help with your organisation and routine. If you know where things are, you can easily find your notes, materials and stationary, so you can focus on your learning.
- Make sure it’s comfortable
When studying virtually, you will likely spend a fair amount of time sitting down. Therefore, you want to ensure that your space is set up to keep you focused and comfortable. Try to get a desk and chair with sufficient back support. You want your posture to be upright, with your arms and thighs roughly parallel to the floor.
Pay attention to temperature and lighting too. Natural light is best, so try to set up your study space close to a window. Choose an indoor temperature that keeps you productive without feeling drowsy or cold – around 20 degrees.
- Minimise distractions
If you are studying from home, you may find that there are a lot of distractions. Your TV, phone, and tablet are probably within arm’s reach. If you want to succeed with virtual learning, you need to minimise these distractions.
If you are participating in a virtual classroom, stay focused and engaged in the class. Put your phone on silent or switch off notifications during class. Try turning your phone off or leaving it in another room. Add designated TV or gaming time as part of your timetable. And turn off notifications for emails and apps so you can focus without interruptions.
- Test your equipment
Before each class, test your webcam and microphone, and troubleshoot if needed. Also remember to save your work frequently, and keep your software up-to-date to minimise the risk and impact of technical issues.
The content on this page has been adapted from Future Learn's How to succeed with online learning.