Study Habits for Online Courses

A while ago, I worked with a student in my online tutoring job. She was enrolled in a writing course and was asking for help with basic grammar. We discussed some of the issues, but before she left, she asked if I had any ideas to help her understand and remember the information better. I asked if she took notes, and she said it was not one of her habits because it just seemed too difficult to pay attention and take notes, which is a pretty common problem. I rattled on for a few minutes about the benefits of tape recording a lecture and using it later to take notes and just listen to again, particularly for students who are auditory learners. I also suggested she try to get together with some of her classmates to talk about what was going on in class. Then I sat back and prepared to end the session after she thanked me for my wonderful advice.

Her reply to this helpful information was to tell me this was an online course. She had a book for some information and the rest was online, but it was largely text, no videos or even power point. There was no common student list or sharing of emails, so her only connection was to the instructor.

I felt like I'd been hit by a bombshell. It had never occurred to me that some of the best study skills advice was no longer applicable in the age of the internet and online courses. So I needed to come up with some other study strategies that would be helpful to students in this situation.

It becomes imperative for students in online courses to get in the habit of taking notes from both readings and visual material. If lessons are able to be revisited, then the first time can be watched without also taking notes, but it will have to be viewed again with note taking. The reason has to do with modalities and memory. When trying to imprint information in memory, you have to create a path. The more often you go down that path (and the more creative, different ways you use to get there), the stronger the memory will be and the better the understanding will be. Reading and viewing use the visual modality. Writing, whether it is hand writing or typing, is a tactile modality. (Note that handwriting is a better choice, but typing is better than nothing.) The actual practice of taking notes is a great study habit that helps with learning just by doing; you don't ever have to even look at those notes again, and it still will have helped you learn the material.

After you have taken notes, then read them aloud. This may seem strange, but it again has to do with modalities. Auditory learners, those who would use the tape recorder in a traditional classroom, will benefit greatly even by their own reading of notes. Hearing the words creates another imprint along the memory path.

Then use those concepts you learned to teach someone else. The best way to learn something is to teach it. This doesn't have to be something formal; just teach the concepts to somebody else (who can be imaginary if necessary). If you find an idea you just can't seem to explain, that is something you need to go over again until you understand it more thoroughly. This step is like the test that illustrates what ideas you need to revisit. Be sure to use all three of these modalities as you study, making them part of your regular habits.

We all know online learning has changed education, but not everyone has considered how study habits also need to change. Taking an online course doesn't mean you have to study more or less; it just means you have to study differently than you might be used to.

Although I don't get the luxury of seeking out students I have tutored to find out how they are doing after our session, I do feel secure that my revised suggestions for my online English student will help her gain more from the course she is in and learn some helpful study habits for future classes.