If you started reading this article, hoping to discover a universal remedy or THE one and only most effective method of learning – you will probably be disappointed. Because that one perfect method doesn’t exist. All People are different and so are their studying skills, for example some students tend to learn better at home others in the library. But there are a few techniques, tips and tricks developed by scientists, that seem to boost most everybody’s learning skills.
Before you start experimenting with different techniques be sure to check the basics: 6 to 8 hours of sleep each night, fresh and healthy food, a well ventilated work space free of distractions – you might consider blocking facebook.
In the following we will present a few learning techniques, that scientists have dubbed: effective.
Children do it – and you should, too: Ask why! Scientists have discovered, that an elaborative interrogation of facts will facilitate those learning skills. This technique comes as no surprise: We humans don’t like taking things for granted, we want to understand them, to comprehend the story behind the fact.
Whenever you read something, summarize it in your own words. And be sure to write it down. You don’t have to finish a text in order to summarize it, depending on the difficulty level, you may even want to do so after each paragraph. Some students find highlighting keywords or core statements of each chapter helpful.
This might sound like a great bore, but it is more than useful: reread. Don’t forget, you’re studying not just reading for the fun of it. Always reread learned material the next day. So do plan ahead and start studying early enough, so you will have enough time to revise.
Once you’ve learned your material or feel comfortable with it, test yourself. You can do this by asking somebody to quiz you or by checking online for practice tests. But don’t cheat, it’s for your own good.
Some universities, which has specialized in long-distance-learning, might even develop a personalized study concept with or for their students. Be sure to ask your counselor about such an option.
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For those who are planning to go back to school but do not necessarily have the time to sit in a tradition classroom setting, they should consider distance learning. By attaining your degree online, you no longer have to worry about setting your class schedule according to your work schedule, and you are free to login to the online university any time of the day to participate with your class. Distance learning has changed the educational system for the better and allowed more people to enroll into college to attain a degree. If you have other obligations that may have been keeping you from getting a college degree, you no longer have an excuse because you can schedule online classes around you everyday schedule.
Now, distance learning is not everyone, and it takes a special person to learn on their own without a professor standing over their shoulder. To succeed at online courses, you have to be accustomed to learning on your own with very little insight from your professor. You will also have to do a great deal of reading because you will not have a lecture like the traditional classroom setting. This will be a major factor when determining if you are able to adapt to learning online.
When it comes to all classes that are taught online, you will notice that each of your professors will have a different teaching style. There are some online classes that will require you to interact with other students on the classroom message board. Also, when it comes to testing, you may receive a timed test, a take home test or you may receive a test that is to be administered by a qualified professional. Distance learning is a wise choice for a potential student that lacks the time to sit in a traditional classroom setting. There are also many online courses out there that are not accredited, so students should keep this in mind when selecting a school to attend. Once you check the accreditation of your potential school and it is considered a legitimate school, the sky is the limit with your educational endeavors.
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Virtual universities and distance learning
The virtual university is another product of the WWW era (though the idea actually predates the Internet— in 1969 the Open University was founded in Great Britain, using television to broadcast its courses). VUs include both the online versions of institutions that existed long before there was an Internet, as well as those that offer their courses entirely online. Examples of institutions in the latter group include Michigan Virtual University, Canadian Virtual University, Syrian Virtual University, and the Virtual University of Pakistan. Some of these have affiliations with “brick and mortar” universities. For instance, CVU has affiliations with the University of New Brunswick, Athabasca University, and other prominent Canadian institutions, which means that students registered there can take online courses from any of these places; and MVU also includes a high school!
Virtual universities were created so that students who lived far away from the campus of the institution where they wished to attend classes and could not afford either to commute to and from campus or to pay to board there, would nonetheless have the opportunity of receiving an education there. (Of course, you have to pay the fees for online classes too, but the cost is much cheaper than if you attended them on campus.) Online learning has a number of other advantages as well. The student can watch the lectures at his own pace, and even pause the video in order to take notes on important points. And if he misses any part of it or would like to go over it again, he can always rewind it. The instructor, too, has the benefit of being able to reach students in many parts of the world.
Courses at online universities are conducted through websites and email. On registering for the desired class and paying his tuition, the student receives a user ID and password with which to log in. He can then watch each lecture online and take notes as he would the old- fashioned way (with the differences described above). Online courses are divided into sections called “modules,” each with its own topics and objectives. Written assignments are sent by email, which the student can do on his computer and send it to the professor as an attachment when it is complete.
Online learning has become a popular form of education. It gives students opportunity for free expression that they often do not have in a classroom. And less than a month ago, on January 31, MVU announced plans for a new holiday called Digital Learning Day!
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