If you’re an online student, you’ll already know that studying online gives you the flexibility to take your class anytime and anywhere. The trick is staying on top of your work which requires discipline, organisation and commitment and these are ideally traits that all successful students should possess.
Managing your time well is extremely important as an online student because unlike students in a lecture room who have frequent face-time with instructors, online students do not receive a reminder of when papers are due or tests are scheduled. Although online students have more flexibility, it’s more important to be disciplined because you’re left to your own devices and if you allow yourself to get distracted, the work can easily pile up.
These time management tips from leading online learning experts can help you stay ahead of the game:
Make A Plan. Online students need structure and the best way to create it is with a study calendar. It’s a good idea to check your syllabus before your course commences and commit the due dates on your calendar. You should then allocate study times for each class and adhere to them. Sticking to a plan helps if you have to juggle work and family with your online course without falling behind.
Check In Daily. An advantage of studying online is that students only need to have internet access to connect to their courses. If you have an iPhone or Android device it’s a good idea to use it to stay organised. You can still be checking in and staying on top of things even if you’re on the go. By doing this on a daily basis, studying is less overwhelming and it can help prevent you from getting caught off guard by syllabus changes.
Look Ahead. Knowing what is due in and when can help students maximise their time. Many times students don’t read ahead to see what’s coming up next and end up replicating work that they’ve already done. If you are given an assignment, it goes without saying that you should not wait until the day before it’s due in to start working on it.
Speak Up. It is important that if you are struggling or falling behind not to stay silent. Students who are hesitant to ask for help will start to drown and end up either taking drastic measures or do nothing at all. Either way, they end up making a mistake. Remember that all good online programs have advisors to help you along the way but you still need to be proactive.
Applying these time management techniques will help ensure that you keep on top of your online studies and go on to successfully secure your online degree.
Do you use time management techniques for your online studies? Share with us what works for you…
