Once you’re set up to learn from home, make the most of it by finding which study hacks work for you.
Create a schedule
Learning from home brings many benefits (including saving time from not commuting to uni) so look at how you can use that to your advantage.
There’s a range of online study planners and scheduling apps that can help you plan your day so you can see where you might have some extra time. Once you’ve familiarised yourself with the key information in myMurdoch, check out a few apps to easily organise the main events and tasks you need to complete each day. Here’s a few to explore:
Once you’ve got your schedule, do your best to stick to it. Learning how to be organised can help you remain on track to successfully complete the semester.
Optimise your study environment
Are you a morning person or a night owl? Work out when and how you study best and plan your time around that as best you can. Some of us prefer silence while others like background music. Knowing what helps you focus can make learning from home a little easier.
Need some study music inspiration? Check out Murdoch’s Spotify channel for a range of playlists and music styles including chilled out or exam study tracks, or find out what other students are listening to.
Stay connected
Even though you may be physically distant from other students and academic staff, you’re only a few clicks away from collaborating and chatting. In addition to the tools and apps you can use to keep in touch, there are many Murdoch communities you can connect with on social media.
The successful online learner
Online learning is not so different to learning in a traditional classroom. The study skills that you have apply in an online learning environment and you probably already have many of the habits of a successful online learner. Here is some advice from your Peer Academic Coaches (PACs) about adapting to learning in an online environment.
Staying motivated
Being motivated is an important part of learning, regardless of whether you’re learning online or face-to-face. However, staying motivated especially when you are not in a physical classroom can be quite challenging. Here are a few tips on how you can stay motivated:
- Set broad goals - Setting personal goals helps with managing time effectively. Familiarise yourself with your unit learning outcomes and course objectives. Reflect on why you chose to enrol in a course and set goals you want to achieve after completing the course.
- Embrace the flexibility of online learning - Online learning also allows you to learn at your own pace. So, you can set the pace of how quickly and broadly you wish to acquire information. As an online learner, you can create an experience that is beneficial and rewarding for you. This will add value to the experience of being online.
- Value online communication - Online interaction (video conferencing) is now a big part of workplace communication. Online learning can be a good way to develop your communication skills.
- Become friends with technology - Some people struggle with online learning because they are unfamiliar with the language of computer technology. Taking some time to discover the world of computers, besides word processing, can be a good way to develop confidence in an online environment.
- Know thyself - Take time to understand who you are as a learner. Knowing your learning preferences might help in understanding how you learn.
Prioritise your mental wellbeing
Study is important but it’s vital to keep your health and wellbeing front and centre. Whether its reminding yourself of the importance of taking time out, seeking out support services or ensuring you’re getting enough sleep, all aspects of mental health health and wellness are important.
Learn more about how to look after our mental wellbeing.