Pay attention to the following tips and stragedies that can provide effective distant learning.
1) Ask former students of the course about its drawbacks and benefits.
Ask former students of the course what was easy to learn and what caused difficulties. Let them tell you their point of view concerning the course’s drawbacks "if only I had known that . . ."
2) Acknowledge with the course design.
Pay attention to the course syllabus before registration. Find out if this particular study content suit you and you will be a successful self-directed learner.
3) Be realistic.
If you suffer from lack of time and cannot do the work of the course, it will lead to your disappointment and frustration. It is not necessary to maintain a class attendance schedule, but you should do regular academic work.
4) Have intermediate purposes and terms of work.
If you begin to think that you should do the whole course, you can be afraid and become frustrated. If you define time for each part of work, it will encourage you.
5) Determine your purposes in a study schedule.
Do not forget that you should study at least two hours weekly for getting every credit. Determine the periods of the day you are active and attentive and detote this time to study every week.
6) Be in a constant intellectual contact with your instructor.
Do not lose an intellectual contact with your instructor, attend or phone him or her constantly. Frequently, learners have problems with the right order of words in a question. Do not be afraid, ask your teacher for assistance.
7) Be critical and evaluate your own progress constantly.
Read constantly the course goals and standards to evaluate your progress and development.
8) Apply various study resourses.
Distance learning courses have many various study resourses. It is not simple watching or listening. Take notes. Think over questions that might be included in a test available in your study guide, textbook, films or audio tapes.
9) Define time restrictions for test performance.
If you are sure that you have already known the material required for a particular test, you can do a test. Don't hurry, because you will make many stupid mistakes and your testing will be ineffective.
10) Define time restrictions required for work and follow them.
Have a calender with the quantity of weeks in the quarter and the required work that should be done weekly. Mark in the days of taking tests, submiting projects and contacting the instructor.
11) Have some study friends.
If you look for study friends for academic success, encouragement and support, ask your instructor to find other students who will be eager to work with you.
12) Discuss your progress and development.
Discuss your progress and development concerning different points in the course with your instructor. Define the points that cause difficulties or are unclear.
13) Define the things that motivate you the most.
Define the things that motivate you the most. It may be mastering a skill, a reward or praise. Do not call friend before you study, you should keep to a schedule. Imagine being in class and being scheduled to your course work.
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