Learning Tips from the Continuing Studies Team

The team at Western Continuing Studies is passionate about lifelong learning! Not only do they work to provide you with opportunities to keep learning, but they love to learn as well.

We asked them to share a few learning tips from their experience back in the classroom.

Support

You have a large network of support to help you stay motivated and do well - use them as much as possible. There are a lot of people who want to help you succeed, from family and friends, work colleagues, instructors, your classmates and the Student Support team at Continuing Studies.

Apply what you are learning

Set a goal or make a plan to apply what you've learned. When you're learning theory in a course, think about real-world situations and how it would be applied to gain a better understanding. After the course, hold yourself accountable by setting a deadline to implement what you've learned.

Don't procrastinate

Stay on top of the work load and don’t be afraid to try something new. In an online class, it can be very easy to procrastinate or put off the work until later, but this approach can cause you to quickly fall behind.

Participate

Your actions contribute to creating a constructive and positive learning environment. Ask questions when something is not clear, listen to others, and share your experiences and opinions to contribute to everyone's learning.

Access your online course regularly

Many courses require you to participate in forum discussions, and if you only look at the course once a week, you quickly realize that a lot of new posts have piled up. Logging in and reading the forum posts on a daily basis (can take 15-30 minutes a day on your lunch hour) will help you to stay on top of the new posts.

Limit distractions

Learning requires concentration. If your mind is occupied with other things that need your attention, you cannot be fully engaged. Find a place that’s distraction-free and allows you to be focused. Try a library or quiet coffee shop, or even your office after work hours. Put your phone away. If you absolutely need to check in, do it when you take a break.

Schedule time

Plan your week ahead of time. What commitments do you have? When can you study? Block time in your schedule for studying just as you would for meetings and appointments.

Connect with your classmates

Your classmates are another source of learning for you. When you get to know the other people in your class, you will build your network and further your learning. If you are attending class with one of your colleagues, sit at different tables and try to connect and learn from new people.

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