With many students coming to grips with studying courses online or at home, Education Advisor for the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT), Lesley Cioccarelli has come to the rescue with advice and suggestions on how to cope with the challenges.
CIT said Ms Cioccarelli had 14 years of experience with distance and online learning and had also completed part of her high school and tertiary education via distance learning.
Ms Cioccarelli said there were a few basic guidelines to studying and learning from home.
“If you aren’t going to regular classes with a teacher to help guide your study, you will need to become a more independent learner,” Ms Cioccarelli said.
“You need to draw on your self-motivation and pay more attention to managing your time,” she said.
“Be patient; don’t expect it to go perfectly straight off.”
Ms Cioccarelli said what might seem difficult at first would get easier as people developed new skills on top of the ones in their course.
The Education Advisor said communication with teachers was vital for students.
“Teachers understand this is new for everyone and they can offer alternatives or refer you to additional support,” she said.
“Ask your teachers to provide verbal as well as written instructions.”
Ms Cioccarelli said people should also try to find a quiet place to study where they were free from distractions or interruptions; have a schedule and stick to it; take breaks and stay healthy through exercise and eating well; set short and long-term goals but avoid putting pressure on themselves; and stay connected with friends, family and classmates.
Further study tips and resources can be accessed on CIT’s Study from Home webpage at this PS News link.
