You will require certain skills to study online. The good news is that these skills can be mastered with a little effort.

Here are 4 important online study skills that will help you with your study;

1) Make good notes

It is advisable that you make quality notes so that you can pull together what you are learning. This helps you understand the information and helps you to review it later.

To make good notes write down the information in a way that you understand. If you need big headings or to bold important points do so in a way that sticks out to you.

A good tip is put a number against points so that you associate the number with the topic.

For example;

The Three Levels of government in Australia;

1. Federal
2. State/ Territory
3. Local

2) Do quality research

Whilst this can be a highly individualised skill based on how you like to learn, there are some ways that you can become better at researching.

Start by establishing what you already know by writing this information out. Add to this list with new information by using all available tools and taking advantage of being online; there are some really good sites, such as Google Scholar, where you can find information on line.

Evaluate the information you have and only keep what is really important or useful. Once you have completed your assessment, hold on to old work as you never know when you may need it again.

3) Think critically

Critical thinking is about how we work through information and whether we trust the information presented to us. This is especially important when studying online as there is a great deal of information on the internet that simply cannot be trusted.

To help with critical thinking you must carefully read questions and set texts to get the best meaning, ensure that you are using a trusted source, use multiple sources to get to the same answer and question what you don’t trust.

4) Manage your time

I cannot place enough emphasis on this point enough – you cannot study online if you are not organised!

Keep track of what you are studying by writing down important dates and keeping them in a place that you will check again; keep all of your study information in a space in your house that you have reserved for study; and most importantly use your network of friends and family to keep you on track with your study!

As with anything, you can achieve these skills and more by applying yourself and consulting appropriate resources.

If you would like some specific advice or just want to add some more information about your own experiences, please feel free to comment below.