15 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your Online Curriculum
1. GET ON THE SCHEDULE
No matter how well-organized a course is, it’s worth making your own learning plan that works for you. As an early student, I would divide the lessons into “bite-sized chunks” (15-20 minutes at a time is a manageable amount, to begin with) and schedule each chunk on my calendar to ensure I made time for it.
Set a reminder for each lesson if you want to ensure you stick to your schedule. I also used a Pomodoro app to mark my progress.
2. CONFIGURE YOUR SYSTEM
Daily reflection on your learning can help you learn more quickly and easily. So, before you begin your lessons, decide how you’ll approach them: will you quickly scan everything to get a sense of what’s coming up, then return and dive in? Or will you begin each day by reviewing the previous day’s lesson? It’s entirely up to you, but making that decision ahead of time will allow your mind to focus on the task at hand.
Don’t forget to prepare your physical environment for studying as well. Install the necessary software, create the perfect playlist, brew a cup of your favorite tea, and get ready to learn!
3. DETERMINE HOW YOU LEARN BEST.
Because online learning allows you to complete your course at any time, consider when you are at your best and/or can best concentrate on your coursework. For example, if you’re a morning person, try studying first thing in the morning every day. Then, go for a lunchtime learning session if you need to get your family out the door before 7:30 a.m.
When studying, keep your personal learning style in mind. If you learn best by listening, watch videos again. If you are a visual learner, read articles several times. Re-do exercises if you prefer a more hands-on approach.
4. MAKE A GOAL
To make a course mean more to you than just a list of lessons completed, you should also outline the outcomes you hope to achieve from the system. In a broader sense, this could mean learning Python so you can get into data science. It could also be mastering web design so that you can make your company’s website even more beautiful. More specifically, you can set a goal of completing five lessons per week or completing a class project by the end of the month.
5. OVERACHIEVE (BUT TAKE A BREAK WHEN YOU NEED TO) (BUT TAKE A BREAK WHEN YOU NEED TO)
Remember that you’re not bound by your goals once you’ve set them. You can get even more out of your online class by going above and beyond the bare minimum. Instead of just finishing your HTML and CSS lessons, learn about the most recent and cutting-edge front-end developer tools. Alternatively, if you’re enjoying your UX course, do some research on related topics like UI to see if that’s the niche for you. But remember that it’s okay to take a break when things come up in your life — no one is a machine!
And, while it may appear that there is still a long way to go before you can turn your skills into a new job, you can change your career in a surprisingly short time. If you know the software, you can already take on side projects for designing and creating 3d models. So if you’re getting to know design, you might be able to assist with the a new project type at your current job or a small business.
6. PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMUNITY
Because you are not physically in the same place as your instructors and fellow students when studying online, you may want to take some extra steps to stay connected and motivated. During webinars, interact with other attendees. Participate in live class events. Join the online student community as well.
You’ll quickly realize that you’re not alone and that many amazing people understand your situation and can help you learn faster and more effectively. Even if you don’t have any specific questions or problems, the community of like-minded people will help you find new resources, learning opportunities, and networking opportunities — all of which will enhance your learning experience.
7. CONNECT OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM
While online learning is primarily a virtual experience, it does not have to be lonely. If you want to meet other students in your area for in-person learning sessions, you can do so. Check out local meetups and groups for more opportunities to meet people in person. Join digital groups outside of class and engage via Zoom, Slack, email, and other means if you’re stuck inside due to pandemic guidelines.
Alternatively, share what you’re learning with people outside of your course. Professional developers use a technique known as the “rubber ducky method,” which entails finding someone to explain a difficult problem to. As the name implies, even a rubber ducky can be used as a listener. Alternatively, ask your best friend, mother, or child to listen. When you have to explain technical concepts to someone who is completely unfamiliar with the subject, you will learn a lot. Plus, your loved one will appreciate that aspect of you much more afterward!
8. KEEP A BOOK
Many online classes, such as our iamthestudio courses, include a built-in system for tracking the lessons you’ve completed. You should definitely use these features, but you can also go above and beyond. For example, simply writing down what you learn each day (on paper or electronically on your phone) can help you solidify the concepts or at the very least appreciate your progress.
Remember to save techniques and commands for different projects you work on. Looking back on them later will help you combat imposter syndrome by demonstrating how far you’ve come. Or you may decide to use a “old” idea again someday! You can also blog or tweet about your courses and projects to impress potential employers and strengthen your understanding. It will be similar to the rubber ducky concept, but for the entire World Wide Web!
9. PERSEVERE
Learning anything takes time, and learning a completely new set of skills will undoubtedly require some investment. So don’t be concerned if you don’t fully grasp a new concept the first time you read about it or if your code doesn’t work the first time correctly. Or the second time around. Or, for the third time. Yes, exactly as your mother warned you, “If you don’t succeed…” Well, you know the rest!
When you accept that you must do the work (lessons, projects, etc.) to become a designer or developer, you can stop worrying about the future and concentrate on where you are now. Continue to learn on a daily basis, and your efforts will pay off before you know it.
10. SEARCH FOR YOUR OWN ANSWERS
Knowing how to help yourself is one of the most important skills you can develop in any profession — and in life in general. Wherever you work, hopefully you’ll have colleagues and supervisors who will assist you, but they will still have their own work to do. You won’t be able to run to them every time you hit a snag, so you’ll sometimes have to figure out ways to get the answers you need on your own.
Finding solutions yourself as a designer entails being able to critique your own work, revise your own drawings, and sort through different design resources. Don’t worry; honest professionals in the field will admit that they, too, need to look up both advanced and basic information from time to time. So, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification or to refresh your memory. It’s a necessary and normal skill to have.
11. ASK (MANY) QUESTIONS
You can’t find the answer? You are not required to give up or suffer in silence. After all, having instructors and fellow students in your online course is the point. If you’ve tried to solve a problem on your own, don’t be afraid to seek assistance. BUT, if you do, here are some guidelines to follow to ensure you get the right answer:
When you send an email to an instructor or post a question on a forum, make sure to include the following:
Your current lesson, exercise, or project
What you intend to do
So far, what you’ve tried
What happens if you give it a shot?
Include relevant code, screenshots, links to your project, specific details, and your question. Also, make sure the title of the message or post is descriptive (rather than just “Help!” or “Question”) and that you express your appreciation in advance. Then take a seat and wait. Good questions are usually answered quickly.
12. ANSWER QUESTIONS AS WELL
You can now do some answering now that you’re an expert at asking. Even if you’re still learning, you’re bound to have some answers that your classmates don’t, or at the very least constructive feedback or helpful resources to offer them. Knowing how to help yourself is important in your career, but so is knowing how to help others and provide constructive criticism.
Aside from the karma and career benefits, explaining or providing code solutions will help you double-check your learning. Yes, that little yellow ducky has reappeared!
13. PRIORITIZE THE PRESENT
The beauty of technology is that there is always something new to learn. New frameworks, software, and trends have emerged. Exciting, but potentially overwhelming.
When you start, you may feel like you can’t learn everything fast enough. But keep in mind that every developer rockstar or designer unicorn started in the same place.
How did these gurus acquire the skills you desire? Take it one step at a time. That’s how you’ll do it as well. Follow your course lesson by lesson and try not to get too caught up in the big picture. Build your foundation in one area before deciding whether to go deeper into it or move on to another. Nobody will ever know everything, and you don’t have to!
14. HAVE A GOOD TIME!
You don’t have to take yourself too seriously just because you’re learning critically important skills. There’s an entire subculture in the design world dedicated to having a good time. So you can have fun while also learning a lot.
Listen to podcasts, attend a design charrette or design conference, design a pavilion, or do a site masterplan design. Also, spend time doing something other than design. You will not forget everything you learn. In fact, you require some downtime to process your thoughts and recharge for your next challenge. And leading a more balanced life will make you a happier, healthier, and more employable tech genius.
15. KEEP ON GOING
It’s okay if, despite these suggestions, you find yourself exhausted or falling behind. It is always possible to catch up or restart. The goal is to keep moving forward, whether quickly or slowly. It is never too late, no matter how long it takes. And everything you do to improve your skills is another step toward your fantastic new career!