For centuries, the concept of teaching was linked to physical presence. However, when internet usage increased in the early 2000s, online education was introduced, and the world of education was forever changed.
Since then, internet usage has increased daily around the world (the number of internet users will reach 4.55 billion in 2022). People soon started using the internet for regular tasks such as shopping, order placement, and money transfers.
Almost all routine tasks gradually shifted online as digital literacy increased. However, online study was never considered an efficient method of education, until recently. One reason for this was the challenge of absorbing all the information received, especially due to the fact students wouldn’t be in a dedicated educational setting but instead studying from their own homes.
However, when COVID-19 and lockdowns arrived, people were forced to shift to online education. Students were faced with the challenge of focusing when studying online, and came up with steps to counter this problem. Universities and course providers have also continued to innovate teaching methods during that time so that those studying remotely have everything at their disposal. In fact, new students are now opting to start courses at home in a variety of subjects such as the online Master’s in Data Science at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Based on their experiences, here are some tips on how to stay focused.
Take notes
Most students relax a little when studying online because their teacher is not physically present, so some do not bother taking notes.
However, taking notes actually helps you stay focused because you need to record all important information. Furthermore, notes are essential to your personal revision or coursework. Relying on memory is never the best method!
Avoid distractions
When studying online, students know distraction is everywhere: whether scrolling through social media, or leaving their work area in search of a snack. It is hard to focus when sitting in front of a screen, but distractions make it much harder to focus on the information you need to learn.
Close down social media or email windows, put away your phone, and leave snacking for break times.
Take breaks
It can be challenging to sit alone without real-time two-way communication. Looking at your laptop screen for too long can be exhausting and lead to a lack of focus. To deal with this challenge, take a five-minute break after every 25 minutes of study.
Taking breaks allows your eyes to rest and your brain to recover, increasing your efficiency and improving your focus.
Conclusion
Most daily tasks have now shifted online. Educational institutions have also decided to teach online. Some of the disciplines best taught online are statistics and IT-related courses, which are practiced on a computer.
Most students find focusing while studying online challenging. Of course, it is not easy to focus in an isolated environment where you are not physically present in class. However, some techniques such as taking notes, avoiding distractions, and taking breaks will help you focus when studying online.
