How to be a successful online learner

The current COVID-19 pandemic has forced most education systems to adopt alternatives to face-to-face teaching and learning. Transforming learning from classroom to virtual enables students to continue with the learning process despite school closures.

As schools and universities move to online and remote learning to help mitigate the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, NC State College of Education Teaching Associate Professor Angie Smith, Ph.D., says that, with a thoughtful and strategic approach, educators can continue to deliver a high-quality education for their students at home.

Stay motivated while learning online

Developing strong attitudes towards learning can help students overcome some of the potential challenges posed by online learning. They are also necessary for supporting students using information and communication technology (ICT) effectively while also having the opportunity to use new learning technologies and software.

Positive attitudes towards learning, self-regulation play an important role in improving performance at school in general, but maybe especially important should online learning continue. Online learning also heavily relies on the students’ ability to make meaning through agency in learning. In such Covid-19 contexts, the critical role of students’ self-regulation, motivation, and positive learning dispositions are accentuated.

How to be effective in on-line learner

Virtual learning offers flexible, convenient learning, but it also requires discipline, and effective organizational and time management skills. Here are some tips that Tesla offers to help students make the most of their online learning experience.

#1: Daily goals setting for young learners

Ask yourself what do you hope to achieve in your lesson every day? Setting clear goals will help students stay motivated and “beat” procrastination. The goals should be as clear and specific as possible, such as “I will watch the entire video of this lesson and accomplish the exercises”.

#2: Create a dedicated learning space

A private space at home for online learning will help students focus on class more effectively. Remove any distractions from the space, and if possible, make it separate from spaces for taking breaks, eating, entertaining to help them focus.

#3: Actively take notes

Continuous note-taking can promote positive thinking and boost comprehension. It is a good way to internalize knowledge whether they are learning online or in the classroom.

#4: Actively join the discussion

Discussing the lesson content, actively asking questions, and expressing their own views will help them grasp knowledge more deeply.

#5: Achieving one task at a time

Researchers from Stanford University found that: “People who are constantly bombarded by multiple streams of electronic information will not be able to pay attention, recall information, or switch from one job to another as well as those who complete one task at a time”. When focusing on one thing at a time, they will absorb more information, complete assignments more efficiently and easily than if they were trying to do many things at once.

#6: Take breaks

Taking a pause to relax after studying is essential because it gives their brain the chance to rest and recover, leading to boosts in everything from their productivity. If they find themselves working on a challenging problem without much progress for a while, they need to take a short break. Talking with their friends, doing housework, taking some exercises to re-energize for new ideas.

Tesla School hopes that students can apply the above 6 methods to the online learning process and get worthy results for their efforts and hard work.

Tesla trở thành một hệ thống trường song ngữ hiện đại, hàng đầu Việt Nam đào tạo ra những công dân toàn cầu yêu thích và đam mê khoa học công nghệ, sẵn sàng học tập vì sự tiến bộ xã hội, có khả năng lãnh đạo và tiên phong.

How to be a successful online learner

Stay motivated while learning online

How to be effective in on-line learner