Are you a high school student, university student, or employee in distance learning? Do you sometimes feel like you're wasting your time, getting bored, or lacking concentration when you're online? Would you prefer to be in a room with other people? Do you sometimes feel demotivated before logging on?
So I invite you to read the rest of this article. It will give you some keys to help you experience remote work with greater peace of mind.
1. Before the online course
Just as you would for an in-person class, it's important to prepare for your online training session. This will bring more peace of mind, motivation, and enjoyment to your day. Of course, some elements differ from in-person training and need to be considered. Here are my recommendations:
Establishing a lifestyle conducive to distance learning
First of all, even if you're staying home, I encourage you not to abandon your good habits. Getting enough sleep and waking up at a reasonable hour every day, exercising, taking a good shower, and eating well are the foundations for anyone who wants to take care of themselves and feel good. This also applies to remote learning! Get dressed and act as if you're going out to your class. You'll feel fresher and more inclined to connect with the lesson and with other people.
Prepare your day "online" with serenity and motivation
Whether for remote work or training, we find ourselves in front of a screen for many hours. We are all aware of the debates surrounding screens and their effects on the brain. We also know today that reading on a computer screen takes 25% takes more time than reading on paper. This can be discouraging. That said, there are ways to approach the day with serenity:
- Prepare yourself mentally before starting the day: by practicing the meditation, there heart coherence Or breathing and relaxation exercises. This will calm your mind and prepare you for better concentration.
- Do something you really enjoy before you start: read a good book, walk barefoot in the grass, practice some yoga poses, contemplate a landscape, listen to music, drink tea or coffee… This will boost your feel-good hormones and put you in a better mood.
- Review your notes and write down your questions in advance. This will allow you to be more attentive, engaged, and active during the lecture.
- Prepare a quiet space, air it out, and arrange it comfortably. Make yourself at home and at ease!
- Put your phone and/or tablet away in another room. The brain cannot concentrate and memorize optimally if you are multitasking.
Understanding and respecting their learning styles and pace
Everyone learns differently. And it's essential to recognize, understand, and adopt your own learning style. Yes, the neuroscience We are taught today that there isn't just one learning style and that we all need to use all our senses to learn. For my part, I would add that most of us have one or two dominant styles.
I like the VAK model (Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic) which is simple and clearly explains the differences between each learning style. I invite you to watch the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrsAZsbEYeg
The following diagram summarizes the profiles and needs of each:
Source: Aurelia Visuals
Indeed, if you are visually dominant, You will learn better with stimulating visual aids such as videos, animated slides, images, drawings, colours, highlighted, underlined, circled, with diagrams and tables…
If you are auditory dominant, Listening to someone speak, hearing sounds, music, spelling words, recording and then listening, re-explaining to someone what you heard, making metaphors or telling the lesson in the form of a story will stimulate you.
If you are predominantly kinesthetic, You will need to absorb the information through emotions or projections, and you will need to touch, experiment, put into action, move your hands, walk, touch your pen or an object, do practical exercises or games, model, play in a theatrical way…
Some people write during class, some listen, others observe, some need to reread their notes and organize them in their minds, some need practical exercises, some ask questions and rephrase, and so on. The important thing is to know and, above all, respect each other's learning styles. All teachers are aware of this and prepare their lessons with all learning styles in mind.
2. During the online course
Now that you're feeling fit, motivated, and relaxed, you'll log into your online session with more enthusiasm. To enjoy the class and be more productive—that is, to get the most out of it and grow—here are a few tips to apply during your session:
Humanizing distance learning
The first thing to do is to consider that you are physically present with the group. You've prepared yourself, you've turned on your camera and microphone, you're standing up straight, and you're aware that everyone can see you. Act as if you're arriving at the training location in person: say hello, ask how everyone is doing, ask questions, answer theirs, joke around, and connect with others! You'll feel more included in the group, you'll be able to expand your network, and you'll feel more focused. We're human, and despite the distance, it's important to maintain contact and show genuine interest in others. Many coaches (myself included) practice remote coaching, and this doesn't prevent them from building intimacy with clients through the screen. If this isn't already the case, don't hesitate to ask the instructor to humanize the course by organizing roundtables, small group exercises or games, and encouraging questions and interaction.
Tips to improve concentration
It's not easy to sit in front of a screen for several hours and stay focused. Some professionals agree that a day spent in person should be divided into remote sessions of 1.5 to 3 hours maximum.. Otherwise, it leads to a loss of concentration and therefore of learning.
To avoid this, here are a few tips:
- Keep in mind that you are being seen on screen, keep yourself stimulated by keeping the video on and don't get distracted by reading your emails or texts at the same time.
- Participate, ask questions, give your opinion and ask for the opinions of others, dare to ask for clarifications.
- Take notes to summarize what you are listening to.
- Don't forget about yourself; you're not a machine. Take regular breaks, go outside for some fresh air and walk for a few minutes, and do some breathing exercises. Ideally, apply the Pomodoro Technique It is known to improve efficiency. It consists of taking 5-minute breaks every 25 minutes of intensive concentration without distractions.
- Make sure you won't be disturbed or interrupted during the lesson.
3. After the online course
What did I learn?
Now that the course is over, how can you ensure that you have retained what was presented?
Observe the pyramid below:
It perfectly illustrates the key factors for successful learning by trainees or students during training. Overall, students retain little from a simple lecture in an amphitheater or a conference where concepts, ideas, and knowledge are presented unilaterally, with little interaction.
Let's use the rest of the pyramid to help you fully integrate what you've learned online:
- Audio-visualWatching videos related to the topic can help you retain certain concepts. The internet is full of them!
- Demonstration: ask someone in your circle who knows the subject to show you how they would do or explain the lesson, concept or exercise.
- Discussion group Most online courses include forums where participants can discuss the material during and between training sessions. Shared drives are also available for storing and sharing documents. Even if you don't enjoy chatting, read what others are posting; you'll discover new perspectives on the course, tools, and interesting insights that will help you progress. If you enjoy chatting even more, share your opinions and ask for others'—it's a sure way to have enriching and informative exchanges.
- Learning by doing One of the best ways to remember something is to practice it again and again. Do exercises with answer keys or practice the activity taught outside of class, with other people if you wish – that's even better!
- Teaching others It's not for nothing that The information retention rate is 90% when we teach others what we have learned.. I recently used this technique to help hospital nurses understand how to teach nursing students care procedures. The sentence is simple: «"Explain to me how to do it!"». In short, the experienced nurse performs the actions demonstrated by the student, and by observing the nurse, the student adjusts their instructions and independently becomes aware of mistakes to avoid, successes, and areas for improvement. The next day, they will improve, and so on. Don't hesitate to play the role of a nursing student; teach others, even if it's not perfect and you make mistakes. You will learn much faster because you will naturally and effortlessly refine your skills by proceeding this way.
How do you feel after reading this article? To what extent has it reinforced your desire to enjoy your online courses rather than just endure them?
I wish you many enjoyable moments of online learning. And don't forget: "Learning by doing is learning!".
If you would like to benefit from the expertise of a career and educational guidance coach, Write to us now via our contact form for a free initial exchange.
