Online Learning & Working From Home
Benefits of online learning:
- You can study wherever you want
- Most times you can build your own schedule
- Could potentially save money (travel,parking, etc.)
- Learn while balancing life and working
Skills to support online learning:
- Self-regulated
- Effective Time Management (i.e., short term and long-term goals, due dates)
- Independent Learner
- Communication skills (it is important to reach out to your professors to arrange a time to ask questions or speak to them. Just because they are not there in person doesn’t mean you can’t build a good relationship with them).
Tips for Online Learning Success:
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Have Goals
- Define your reasons for studying, set daily, weekly, and monthly goals for studying and doing assignments
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Be Focused
- Create a quiet, organized study space
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Identify what works for you
- Be aware of your daily responsibilities, how you study, and your energy levels during certain parts of the day, etc.
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Schedule your time
- You are in charge of creating a routine that works for you
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Organize your work
- Know your workload & due dates
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Attend your classes
- Visit classes when they are live or set a schedule for you to do your async coursework
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Make the most of what your College/University has to offer
- Contact the Student Support Centre for help managing your timetable and choosing courses
- Career and employability resources e.g., help with writing or choosing a career path
- Help for students with disabilities
- Resources to help you learn the technology skills your course requires
- Resources to improve your study skills
- Connect with tutors
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Connect
- Socialize and work with other online learners
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Make sure you have supports in place
- Family & Friends
- Childcare needs
- Financial assistance
- Employer communication
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Talk to your employer
- Sponsorship: some companies may be able to fund or even partially fund your studies
- Study leave: they may be willing to work around your exams or big assignments
- Flexible work arrangement: your work may have a work from home policy which could allow you to use your saved commuting time to study
- Unpaid leave: your company may be able to offer a few unpaid leave days if you need them to fit in your studying
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Embrace Technology
- Make use of free productivity apps
- “Calendar” app on your phone
- “Evernote” for class notes
- “Easybib” for citations or bibliographies
- “Mendely” for sharing and keeping track of your research
- “Doodle” for scheduling meetings
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Backup EVERYTHING
- You never know when your computer will crash or when you might spill your 2:00 a.m. coffee on your computer
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Be mindful of online etiquette
- Read out loud before pressing send. You will be able to check for errors as well as your tone
