Study Skills – Social learning

Ah. Distance learning, isn’t it perfect?
You can study when it suits you,
where it suits you,
and you can save money.
There’s just one problem.
You can feel lonely.
Do you ever feel lonely?
It’s ok: this isn’t a dating video.
We’re here to talk about education.
You see, learning well isn’t
just about you and a lesson,
it’s about you, a lesson
and your student community!
In fact, many experts believe
we learn most effectively
when we interact with other learners.
Learning together in groups or pairs
can even improve your scores.
Let’s say you’ve learned
some new information.
Discussing and sharing this info
means you process it again
and again, helping you form
long-term memories.
And by questioning all the angles,
you get a broader understanding
of your topic,
and you don’t get stuck in your own head.
It means you have someone else
with whom you can complain,
debate,
celebrate,
compete
and
commiserate.
And if you’re motivated
and engaged,
you’re more likely to complete the course.
So, you need some study buddies.
But you’re doing distance learning.
What can you do?
Here are some suggestions.
You can
join an online forum on the topic.
Maybe your course has a forum already.
Use it.
Or start a new one.
And maybe you’re on a course with its
own page or group on social media.
If not, then, why not start one?
And you don’t just
have to write
messages to your fellow students.
Try using software or apps
to talk to them,
or even do video calls.
And remember,
if you want to make the most
of these groups,
it’s best to have some structure
and guidelines or rules for taking part.
All of these are informal ways
of staying in touch with other students,
but your course
might ask you to do formal tasks,
such as collaborating on a project.
In which case, your course will
probably provide or suggest online tools.
So try to use these tips to create
your own online study community,
so that you’re not left out in the cold.