Online/Distance Learning : How to learn better

Work from home is difficult as it is but when we have kids around, who’re learning online it gets more stressful. Watching them trying to adapt to a new software, struggling to learn concepts via videos could get a little overwhelming. We as parents want to help, but don’t know how to!

I recently came across a post about how this pandemic has affected students more than we realise. There has been a shift from learning and understanding in classrooms to online learning, from having group sessions in libraries to virtual group calls, from sharing tiffins in school to sharing memes on social media.

We have to agree it’s been tough for them. But the amount of resilience, the readiness to adapt to new situations, and coming up with innovative ideas to keep everything in order as to how it was pre-pandemic is commendable.

“In order to create an engaging learning experience, the role of an instructor is optional, but the role of a learner is essential.” – Bernard Bull

Wouldn’t it be great if we knew how to learn better?

Let’s make online learning a little easier by following the tips below:

1. Create a study station– Have a dedicated work/study space. Having your desk beside a window or in an open area with lots of natural light will help you concentrate better. Clutter causes chaos. Organize your space.If you like plants, keep an indoor plant on your desk, it’ll help you feel refreshed.
2. Form/ join a virtual study group- So what if you can’t have group sessions at a friends house?. Create your own study group, or join one. Learning with friends is always easier and more fun. It is always better to get our doubts solved immediately. Set goals for the study group, we tend to focus better if we know our friends also have the same goals.
3. Breaks are important – Do not stress yourself out by sitting for hours together in front of the screen/books. Take frequent but small breaks. Set goals for yourself, take a break once you complete a certain topic or a lesson. Drink water. Stretch. Go for a walk around the house. Listen to music.Taking breaks helps with your concentration, you’ll find yourself performing better after you come back from that break.
4. Quality over Quantity – Track your progress in how well you have learned instead of how much you’ve learned. Set targets for yourself that are realistic.For instance, if you think one lesson would require 3 hours of studying, give yourself a buffer and set a target of 3.5 hours. If you give yourself only 3 hours, you’ll find yourself hurrying in order to finish it off and there will be no effective learning.
5. Don’t be afraid to ask for help – It can be difficult to approach someone for help when that person is not present in front of you. But don’t be afraid to ask for help. A few topics are difficult for everyone to understand, it is okay to ask your parents, teachers, friends or classmates for help. When someone explains it in a manner that is easy to understand, you’ll find it easier to remember it too.

With the digitalisation of literally everything around us, it won’t be very late until learning also shifts completely to online platforms. Covid-19 is here for a while, or maybe not, but going back to classroom teaching might take some time.

So let’s help ourselves by becoming better learners by following these above mentioned tips.

It’s never too late to start!