EdtechGuides: Study &amp; learn online guide: Tips for learning online

Tips for learning online

If you can, find a suitable physical space for studying (ideally a desk and comfortable chair) where you won’t be disturbed.
Try to establish a schedule for studying and let people around you know when you are studying so they don’t disturb you.
If you can, use practice tests to identify what you don’t know, or set them for other students. Use as many as you can and spread them out over the days.
When watching a video or reviewing slides make sure you take notes. Pause videos and use timestamps to take note of key points.
Log in to Moodle at least daily to check for new activities and messages. Ensure you subscribe to Moodle forums and check your City emails.
Use the automated alternative formats to review your Moodle module content in a format that works for you.
Ensure you check in with your lecturer if things are not clear. This could be via a Moodle discussion forum or by email.
- Clarify how best to communicate with them if you’re not sure.
Either within Moodle, Teams or via external groups (such as WhatsApp or Facebook), form study groups to talk through the materials you are learning.
- Explaining how you approached a problem or why your answers are right or wrong is a very good way to learn.
When studying online it helps to develop a reflective approach by keeping a record of what, how and why you are learning.
- Keeping a regular log where you can record what you have learned and how you could improve.
- This can be done on an online notebook such as OneNote even as an audio or video journal.
Develop your initiative and resilience. For example, if your reading link is broken, maybe you can search for the journal article yourself by using the library search.
- Let your lecturer and course officer know about any broken links on your module.
- Log an incident on IT Self Service Portal to help us to investigate and fix any technical issues on the educational technologies that you are using.
Check out the Open University’s Study skills for online learning as well as Preparing to learn Online at University.
You can’t learn if you’re not well, and that includes your mental well-being. Don’t think "I’ve got lots of time now, I should work around the clock." Instead, when you’re studying, break it up into short sessions, and if you’re revising, look back at materials you’ve revised the day after you’ve looked at them.
- Use the study strategies that will make the best use of your time so that you don’t overwork, and maybe change them if they don’t.