Online learning seems to be an inseparable part of the current year, making many students feel anxious about what’s coming. Especially for medical students, the new teaching regulations have made it difficult to keep up with the material. If you’re feeling like you’re lagging behind, let us help you with a few ways to improve your online learning.
Treat an online course just like you would a regular one
Very often, the biggest hindrance in online education is the student’s motivation. Sitting in front of your own computer in casual clothes just does not feel the same as sitting in a classroom full of other people. Because of this, many students tend to get sidetracked during their classes and lose focus on the subject at hand. Before every class, make sure you discipline yourself and put aside things that may distract you so that you can make the most of your studies.
During your online classes, keep your attention to your professor. Since your teacher, in most cases, will not be able to see you, you might get tempted to browse your social media instead of listening to them and making your notes. While browsing your feed sounds more fun than classes, it ultimately only hinders your university performance. To keep yourself disciplined and focused, do not open any new tabs in your browser or other programs during your classes. Listen closely to what your teacher says, make notes in your notebook, and make sure to answer questions whenever asked. You do not want to let your teacher catch you not paying attention!
Make use of learning apps
One of the best and easiest ways of staying ahead of your studies during the era of remote teaching is to make use of various learning apps, available on your computer or your phone. With these apps, you can revise the material you learn during your online courses and get help with online learning you wouldn’t be otherwise able to get. Online learning can get especially daunting for medical students, as the interaction between you and your colleagues and professors gets severely limited, so you don’t get the opportunity to discuss and solve problems together.
Set your own goals
To keep a good track of what you have to do and prepare for your online studies, write down your semester goals right at the beginning of it. While in a traditional classroom you would often be reminded of any due assignments and homework you might have to prepare, online learning makes this a bit more difficult for students. You will have to keep your own record of any assignments and their deadlines, as well as any upcoming examinations. Begin every week with a thorough schedule, in which you will allot enough time to spend on your assignments and studying. Don’t just leave all your work until the day before the due date – planning will help you with that!
It can often be difficult to remain motivated to keep your schedule updated every week. To make it easier on yourself, you can group with your classmates and to it together. This way, you can all stay motivated and help each other out. Make use of your social media and online communication apps to stay in touch with your colleagues and frequently discuss all of the current assignments. Also, remember to check your student e-mail inbox frequently, preferably more than once a day – professors and your university officials will very often contact you with updates regarding your assignments and studies in general.
