How to equip yourself for a distance learning course

If you are planning to do a distance learning course then read on to see our tips on how you should best equip yourself for learning.

If you are about to start a distance learning course, then you might be wondering what you should be doing to ensure that you get the most from your learning. Having the right equipment and set up in your home can be very important when it comes to distance learning. So taking a little time to ensure that you have everything that you will need should prove to be time well spent.

Computer equipment

It might sound obvious to some learners, but it is really important to ensure that you have the right computer equipment for the distance learning course you are preparing to undertake. That means ensuring that you have a laptop, or desktop that is not going to let you down. If your computer is older then you may struggle to run your course software on it. You will also want to ensure that you have a good internet connection as you do not want to continually be knocked off the internet whilst you are trying to study.

In addition to having the right computer equipment you should also ensure that you have a good chair to sit in, it should be comfortable but not too comfortable. If you have a proper adjustable desk chair, then this would be a good choice. Ensure that your computer is at the right height so that you can see it properly, this can make a huge difference to your levels of concentration.

Clock or timer

A clock or a timer can be a helpful tool for your distance learning course. It is widely acknowledged that studying in small bursts is much more beneficial than sitting for several hours of study without any breaks. Choose a length of time to study for and set a timer to alert you when that is over. If you don’t have a timer then you could use a clock, but you may find that it is not as effective.

Flashcards

There are several revision and learning techniques that many people find very beneficial and flashcards are a great example. They are easy to make; all you will need is some blank cards and some markers. As you are learning write important questions on your flashcards, with the answers on the reverse, these will come in handy when you need to do any revision.

Headset

If you doing distance learning at home then there is a good chance that other things going on around you may prove to be a distraction. This can be especially true if you have young children.  A headset can be a good investment for your online courses. If you choose a brand that have noise cancelling properties you will be able to cancel out any noise in your home, allowing you to hear the course clearly and not miss important information.