Six Study Tips For the Online Learner

How in the world do you block off time between running around behind the kids, cook dinner, do laundry, prepare for work the next day, sit in unmovable traffic, and attempt an A in a distance learning course? Your study skills are challenged, you have limited time to sit down and prepare resources for a discussion question or a test. So what do you do, you strengthen your study skills with these six easy steps:

1.) Ask family or friends for help. Many of you who have children will definitely need to heed this advice. As a mom myself, it's hard to set aside an hour or two a couple times a week to devote to studying, posting discussion answers and submitting assignments. So, who helps? The spouse and my parents. So parents, who are doing a great justice to your professional growth by pursuing an education online, you need help to manage the children, especially the smaller ones.

2.) Read assigned chapters at least 30-45 minutes a day. Use a highlighter to capture important points. Read over any sentences that may stump you. Write notes or questions to the side that catch your attention to refer back to later.

3.) If there are important concepts to learn or theories to master, make a chart or table to compare or contrast the concepts for the unit your class is working on.

4.) Application of learned concepts. What's the use of learning something if you don't know how to apply them to real life? Write examples on how you would use the concepts on a daily basis or scenerio.

5.) Work the questions at the end of the chapter, even if they are not assigned. This will help you with Tip #4.

6.) Do your best to not study in bed or when you are the most tired. You will not get anything done and you will instantly feel sleepy because you are in a comfortable state. Try a kitchen table or a desk, get some good lighting and play very soft music without words to stimulate your mind. This will help you retain information much better.

Bonus Tip***: Use additional resources that the instructor lists in the syllabus.

Make a routine of your study time, try to find out when you are most alert and motivated. For example, I am a morning person. My study times are mostly done around the morning hours, because at night, I usually set aside time for clients, household duties, and writing articles. Find your time where you are studying effectively. But most of all, make sure you master your learning experience.

Jayna Butler is the Founder of P&P Life and Educational Consulting Services. With a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Tennessee and pursuing a Masters degree in Counseling Studies from Capella University, she started P&P Consulting to help others obtain their dreams. She has experience in Sales, Management, over 9 years working with youth groups, 5 years working in Nonprofit and Job Coaching, Higher Education Administration, and Recruiting/Staffing. P&P Consulting works with Clients in 3 specialities, Educational/Collegiate Consulting, Career Counseling/Development, and Confidence/Self-Esteem Coaching. Her professional organizational memberships include the Association of Career and Technical Education and the Tennessee Association of Guidance and Career Development. Based on the scripture Jeremiah 29:11, this consulting agency works with clients to guide, focus, and bring results to clients plan and find their true purpose. She works with college students, adult learners, business owners, and other organizations. She resides in Memphis, TN with her loving husband and 1-year old daughter.

For more information: Visit http://www.purposeandplan.org

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Benefits of Taking Online University Courses

The advent of the internet has given students many more opportunities than in the past. The people who feel they couldn't receive an education in a normal classroom now have the chance to get a degree or diploma via an online university. Some people are attached to traditional universities, but nevertheless, there are several benefits of online universities.

1. Unlimited access is provided by online universities. Location does not matter at all for online universities. Regardless of whether you are feeling unwell, paying a visit to a relative who is ailing, or you are away from your local university, you can nevertheless go to an online school. There is no restriction for anyone from attending and this is the advantage of an online university. If you have an internet connection and a computer, you can attend a university online.

2. You can save more money this way. A great way to save money is by utilizing the advantages of online universities. Other than your education fee there is nothing else to be paid. This campus has no library, no recreation room, no janitors! Why? Because it is all online. Enrolling in an online university will not incur any additional fees as you do not have to pay for extra services. Universities online only offer the necessities to students so it permits students to save a great amount of money every year.

3. Scheduling presents no difficulty. Online universities also have the benefit of being flexible. Say that you have a doctor appointment during the 10:00 a.m. class online, you are able to view the recorded lesson via webcast whenever you get home. You can participate in online group chat sessions at late a night, after you finish work and see the messages your classmates have posted several hours earlier. Online university programs do not have rigid schedules. You can have the craziest family and work schedule imaginable, and it won't matter. You can study and take classes on your own time at your own pace. You can have your meetings when it is convenient for you. If you go to school online, you will always be able to reconcile your school schedule and your life schedule.

4. There is access to a better quality of professors. Qualified professors are often enticed to teach at online universities. There is no need to travel to the university each day and so more intelligent and experienced professors are available for online teaching. Students at online universities get the chance to be taught by some of the nation's most elite professors since the location and scheduling is so convenient for everyone. Every year online universities are becoming more popular.Because they provide greater access to the average student as well as the experienced professor, universities online fill in the funding and location gaps that simply cannot be bridged by the traditional education system.

Tiffany Provost writes about School and Education for HowToDoThings.com.