How to keep engaged with your studies

During these uncertain times and with educational institutions closed for the foreseeable future, many of you may be wondering ‘How can I keep engaged with my studies?’.

It may not be easy to regulate your own studying and to utilise online resources to their full potential. But for those students who wish to keep on learning, here are several suggestions to make the most of your extra time and be raring and ready to go in the next academic year.

1. Read, read and read some more :work:

Whether you are at school, college or university, reading is good for everyone no matter the content. Obviously, textbooks, journal articles and other educational literature will give you the most help with your studies. However, even comic books, magazines, novels, autobiographies and other resources are beneficial to enhancing your vocabulary and for mental stimulation.

Check with your educational institution if you have access to an online library and if you are struggling with what to read, you could ask your teacher for a reading list to keep you busy.Tip: Set yourself a goal of how many pieces of reading material you are going to read before the start of the next academic year to keep you motivated.

2. Use the internet to your advantage :cyber:

Technology is your best friend when it comes to your studies. There are so many different websites you can visit and apps that you can download to help you practice skills you have learned in the classroom and develop new knowledge. The internet is filled with educational content to keep your brain active. Research new concepts, watch videos such as TED talks, read real life case studies or even test your knowledge with a quiz.

Tip: The websites or apps you use will vary depending upon your level of study. Try doing an online search yourself or ask your class mates to share their resources.

3. Gain new skills :blow:

Utilise the extra time on your hands by learning something new or fine-tune a current skill. This could be related to your academic development such as presentation skills, how to academic reference, public speaking or personal development such as photography, a new language or an instrument.

This will not only help you be more prepared for the next academic year, but it will also give you a great sense of achievement and give you something different to add to your C.V.

Tip: Check out the hundreds of free online courses available on the internet. There is something for everyone.

4. Virtual study groups :smartass:

Get together virtually with your class mates and set up study groups to discuss ideas and concepts together, analyse texts with one another, swap study advice and exchange reading lists. You can use one of the many free online platforms such as Zoom, Skype or Google Hangouts to organise group video or voice chats to facilitate study sessions.

This is a fantastic way to keep in touch with your class mates, continue to learn and enables social contact so you don’t feel too isolated studying alone.Tip: Plan to discuss a particular topic each session to ensure the conversation is productive and to avoid distraction.

5. Keep in touch with your teachers :call:

You may no longer be able see your teachers and academics face to face, but try to keep in contact with them on a regular basis if possible. By doing so, this will ensure you are aware of any developments in your course(s) and are looking in the right places for reading material and other resources.

If you are feeling anxious or have any concerns about your learning, speaking to your tutor could help to alleviate any worries you might have.

Tip: Be patient when expecting a response. Your tutors are probably really busy replying back to all of their students, so give them time to get back to you.

I hope these suggestions are helpful in keeping you engaged with learning outside of the classroom. If you have any questions, pop them in the comment box below and I’ll be sure to get back to you!
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