In light of COVID-19 and the UK government lockdown, LD Training has suspended all face-to-face lectures and classes. However, we have remained operational and will continue to carry out classes online for all of our students on programme with us. This means that you will be able to continue to study with us. If you are currently studying with LD Training, please check your emails regularly for updates on classes and assignments.
We understand that moving from face-to-face lectures to online delivery can be a challenge. We would like to support you during this difficult time to ensure that you can continue to make the most out of your education.
Here are some tips on how to keep your studying on the right track when working online.
Set A Time Aside to Study
It can be tempting to study if and when you get the urge. After all, it may seem as though you have all the time in the world with not much to do at all. However, it is a good idea to keep to some kind of schedule, as this will keep you motivated and on track.
Online classes will be scheduled with lecturers and assessors on a regular basis, so make sure to factor this into your weekly routine. If you have any extra work to do, schedule yourself some time in your week to do this and try to stick to this. It may be a good idea to write this down in a diary or planner to make sure that you don’t forget.
Set yourself short-term goals that are reasonable and fair. Try not to push yourself too much with what you expect to get done in each session. If you don’t meet a goal, it is no reason to panic! You can be flexible and make up for it another time. However, you can benefit greatly from keeping a loose schedule and adapting to it as things arise. You may find that you get a lot more done when are realistic and clear about your goals.
Discover The Best Way For You to Study
There are three main learning styles: auditory, visual and kinesthetic. You may fit into one of these or be a mixture of two or even all three. Learning your personal learning style can prove very helpful, as it will allow you to have efficient and useful study sessions. You will be able to better understand what you need to do to study well and remember as much of what you have learnt as possible.
Start your first study session by discovering what kind of learner you are. There are many great quizzes online which can help you with this. Once you have learnt what learning style suits you best, you will be able to make changes to get the best study session possible.
It is also advisable for you to discover if you are a solitary or social learner. If you learn best when you are with others, try reaching out to other people on your course and arranging a study session. Or, email your lecturer or assessor if you have questions and see if they have any suggestions.
Auditory Learners
Auditory learners study best when they are listening to information. If you retain information well during lecturers, you may be an auditory learner, or a mix with auditory.
If you think you are an auditory learner, try the following tips:
- Record yourself saying your notes out loud and re-listen to them whenever you need to.
- Find YouTube videos that summarise your topic to give you a basic overview of what you need to learn.
- Arrange a study session with others and try to explain the topic to each other in your own words.
Visual Learners
Visual learners study best when they can see the information presented to them through pictures, graphs and colours. If you are someone who learns by watching people or needs to draw diagrams or put your ideas on paper to learn, you might be a visual learner. Often, people can be a mix between audio and visual, or visual and kinesthetic. You may even be a mix of the three.
If you think you are a visual learner, try the following tips:
- Use highlighters in your notes to colour-code the important things.
- Find YouTube videos on your subject that use graphics often.
- Try drawing graphs, charts or simple pictures to explain the point better.
- Look for books and online resources that have many images in them.
Kinesthetic Learners
Kinesthetic learners study best by doing. If you find yourself needing to try to figure out how to do something, you may be a kinesthetic learner. Many people are a combination of kinesthetic with other kinds of learners.
It can be difficult to find good ways to study when you think you are a kinesthetic learner. Try the following tips if this is you:
- Study by doing exam material. Start with any notes open and slowly use notes less and less as you understand the material better.
- Use flashcards to split up the information better. This will force you to break up the reading with the action of turning to another note.
- Revise with others. Explaining a subject to other people may help you to retain the information better. Put it in your own words and take on the role of teacher.
Take Regular Breaks
It can be tempting to try to study all in one session. However, this may cause you to forget the information you learnt later on, as your brain becomes tired from working for long periods of time.
As with working out muscles in your body, your brain functions best when you take regular breaks to give it a chance recover and retain the information. So make sure to stop and take short breaks regularly to keep your learning at optimum levels. Forcing yourself to study after your brain has become tired can be a waste of time, as you are more likely to forget or fail to process the information.
Get up and stretch if you can. If you are able to get some fresh air, it is a good idea to do so. Listen to a song or take a few moments to have a conversation with a friend or family member. This will help you to be much more productive when you come back to your work.
Make Notes
If you are in an online video lecture, you may feel the desire to sit in front of the screen and just listen. However, this can go against you in the long run. You are likely to forget the information. Or, you may even tune out completely.
To ensure that you are getting the most out of your time with your lecturer, it is a good idea to take notes while listening to the lecture. This will keep you engaged and on topic, which will stop your mind from wandering.
Pick our the most important information in the presentation and write it down in a notebook or on a piece of paper. If you have been given PowerPoint documents before the lecture, try printing them out and annotating them.
Keep Hydrated
It is a good idea to drink water regularly when studying to make sure that you retain the most information possible. Research has suggested that people who drink a good amount of water score higher on tests. Also, drinking water regularly can help to improve your immune system and fight off diseases.
Try keeping a bottle or glass of water with you when studying and take regular sips. Refrain from drinking too much tea or coffee, if you can, as caffeine can affect your concentration. Make healthy choices to keep your immune system fit and study well.
Keep in Contact With Lecturers and Assessors
When studying through online delivery, it is natural that you may have some questions or find some of your work confusing or difficult. If this happens, don’t panic. You are not alone.
Lecturers and assessors at LD Training will be accessible through emails during the lockdown. They are here to answer your questions about your course and provide the help and advice you need.
If you need to speak to a member of staff urgently, consider calling us on 0207 998 3655 to be transferred to someone who can help.
