With the things happening in our world today, online learning is getting more famous for various reasons. Some of them include the ease of taking the courses from the comfort of your home and the current pandemic. However, there are some subjects, especially STEM-related ones, that people think must be in a classroom. Chemistry is one of them, whether at the high school or college level.
Admittedly, individuals may not have the materials needed to carry out a practical. Nevertheless, it’s possible to learn all the theoretical parts without hands-on help. That’s why it’s essential to know what you need for distance or online learning to maximize the experience. You don’t want to spend time studying something with which you’re merely struggling.
Though chemistry is complex, it isn’t challenging to learn, and that’s something you must know. That’s because, with the right materials and study patterns, understanding and retaining the knowledge is more effortless. Naturally, the first thing you need is the course website. You can register with various ones like Chem Professor. Choose the right one, and then you can begin learning.
Tools and Tips for Smarter Study
Besides the website, you must have to enable you to have the best possible learning experience. There are also certain things to do to increase your understanding of each topic as you go. Chemistry takes time and practice, and it would be best to know that from the onset. Subsequently, we’ll briefly discuss some of these study tips, telling you why each one is essential.
Have At Least One Recommended Textbook
Teachers usually recommend textbooks that’ll help to study. It’s best to get one or two with most or all the topics because that saves cost and reduces the number of texts to read. It’s normal to want excellent value for money spent on anything. However, preview them to ensure user-friendliness as with a new device or appliance. For example, when buying water softeners, you’d want one with an ergonomic design.
Avoid Distractions While Learning
Everyone knows the importance of setting out a specific time to take online courses. Howbeit, it might be tasking to keep to that time with the many distractions at home. Therefore, it’s vital to do all you can to minimize them as much as possible. If your device has a focus mode, that’s a great time to activate it. You can also set up a work-like environment to help concentration.
Take Notes
With online learning, you can easily access lecture notes and other materials anytime. However, it’s crucial to jot down things during the classes. While doing that, you write the points in a way you understand, which helps remembrance. It also keeps you focused during the lesson as it requires as much attention as possible. Additionally, it makes studying more comfortable.
Go through Your Notes After Each Lesson
It’s not enough to only take notes; it’s also essential to read through them at the end of each day. Besides solidifying your understanding, it boosts knowledge, as you notice things you may not have initially. Also, pick a time when you’re still up and about, not when you’re exhausted. Learning things that way ensures that you remember them when the time to apply them comes.
Have a Designated Study Time
Apart from going through the lessons on the online platform or website, it’s crucial to set aside personal study time. That’s also beside the period of going through the notes for each lesson. It involves taking time to understand the topic thoroughly, and that’s where the textbook(s) comes into play. Using it with the lecture notes gives you an edge over others.
Take Study Breaks
Taking breaks between study sessions is as essential as studying itself. The reason is that most of us aren’t efficient enough to engage our brains for long periods without tiring out. Thus, it makes us lose our motive and end up distracted. That’s why it’s vital to break up your study time. Depending on your capacity, you can take a five-minute break every fifteen to twenty minutes.
Watch YouTube Videos on the Topic
This tip is one many people tried and can back-up. After each lesson, find a few videos on that topic on YouTube to watch. It helps the same way as a tutor because they mostly break down the tasks in more straightforward ways. That’s cool, especially as you may not be able to form a study group. However, if you can join an online discussion, please do.
Assess Yourself after Each Study Session
The reason lecturers and teachers give assignments after each lesson is mostly to assess if you met the learning goals. Therefore, you must evaluate yourself after your study sessions. That’s because it helps you know whether you understand the topic. Hence, it shows what areas you need to study more if necessary.
Take Practice Tests
After all your hard work on the lessons and personal study, it’s crucial to take practice tests. That’s part of what helps you assess yourself, especially if you have an imminent test or exam. There are various resources online that you can use, especially if you’re taking a standardized test like the SATs. Endeavor to take the exam in a setting as close to what it would be, particularly regarding timing.