Genius Online Learning Hacks

Online learning can be a real challenge for people who are not used to this format. In order to properly organize your training, you need to follow simple tips that will help you avoid stress and spend less time on it. We asked experts from essayshark.com, who know firsthand the challenges of online learning, to share their tips. 

You've signed up for an online course. You are full of confidence that you will finally learn the knowledge you want from the comfort of your own home. But, while you were watching the first lecture, you suddenly opened a messenger to check for a new text, and then a friend called you. And now the lesson is over, and you don't have a single fact in your head that you should have learned. This situation is familiar to everyone who has tried online learning. We have compiled a selection of four best practices on how to avoid such problems. 

First, you need to check the master of education courses and you need to make a learning plan. You can start by scheduling specific days and times for watching lectures, completing assignments, and studying course materials.

Time management

• Put online training into your schedule and create a plan for how much time and on what days you intend to study. Keep this point on par with other things like work tasks, household chores, etc. 
• Create a reminder on your phone about study times, and don't skip classes. 
• Try to be as abstracted as possible from everything around you while you are studying. Ask loved ones not to disturb you, turn off the sound on your phone, and have some privacy in your room. 
• Use the Pomodoro Technique. Study for 25 minutes at a time, taking five-minute breaks in between. 

Organize your study space

• Use noise-canceling headphones that will protect you from the noise around you.
• Set up a comfortable studying place and have everything you need at your fingertips. 
• Write down your goals and hang a list in a prominent place. This will motivate you. Moreover, you can make a list of assignments and cross out those you have done.
• Take notes while you listen to a lecture or read something. 
• Step away from the computer if you don't have to take notes. You can listen to a lecture while being on the run or walking your pets. 
• Use scientifically selected music that increases concentration or listen to classical music. 

Technological Hacks

• Expand the lecture video to full screen. It is a simple way to minimize distractions and not to pay attention to every pop-up notification. 
• Close all the tabs in your browser except those devoted to studying and shut down various messengers.
• Quit email and social media, or turn off automatic notifications of incoming messages. Do the same for your smartphone.
• Put your phone on silent mode or leave it somewhere outside your studying places. 

How do you keep yourself interested and motivated?

• Give yourself rewards for completing small tasks. Treat yourself to a cup of coffee or tea for every lesson you complete, or give yourself 5-10 minutes on social media. 
• It's easier for people to drop free courses. According to studies, people who pay for an online course are more motivated and are ten times more likely to finish. 
• Share your achievements. You can list the courses you've taken on LinkedIn, share your joy with friends, or spread the word on social media. 
• Tell your close ones or co-workers that you intend to take online courses. They'll ask you about your progress, and you'll be embarrassed to admit that you're lazy and have abandoned your training. 
• Treat online learning as something enjoyable. It can be your cure after a hard day at work. 
• Break learning into small tasks that take only a few minutes a day.
• Actively participate in the forums and discussions of the course — it's a good motivator.

After only 24 hours of study, you have only 30% of the material left in your memory. So make sure you know the previous topic before moving on to a new one by using the right repetition system.

Using our life hacks, you can effectively invest time and money in online learning and benefit from it.