3 Tips To Become A Self Directed Learner

Online learning has become very popular, especially among highly-motivated youngsters preparing to adapt to a dynamic work environment. But the platform is not for everyone. Without the constant presence of an on-site instructor who guides students through the course, learning can become an isolating experience. This is especially true for students who come from a traditional educational environment. Online students must be proactive in assessing needs, identifying resources, and determining strategies that facilitate learning. In other words, they must be self-directed. But self-direction is not an inborn trait; rather, it is a skill that can be acquired through conscious efforts.

If you have signed up for an online course, or are planning to sign up for one, here are a few tips to help you become a self-directed learner:

1. Find A Mentor:

You could start on your own and work your way through trial and error, or model someone who you know is a self-directed learner. The latter is much easier because it has already been proven to work. But you don’t have to follow your mentor’s plan to the T; feel free to customize strategies suited to your requirements or work best for your personality. Thanks to the internet, finding a mentor is not really that difficult. Use social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube to find successful self-directed individuals and invest time in learning about their strategies. Biographies, blog posts, video documentaries can also help you learn more about them.

2. Embrace Change One Step At A Time:

Unless you are Drake, life cannot go from 0 to 100 real quick! Rather than trying to change as a person, how about changing your habits one at a time? If you’re strength training, would you start with the heaviest weights? Small wins offer an ego boost and push you to grow.

And most importantly, don’t associate your habits with yourself. For example, just because you struggle to get up in the morning, it does not mean that you aren’t a morning person. Ask yourself, is it a good thing to get up late? If the answer’s yes, continue. And if it’s a no, don’t do it! Your habits don’t define you, so keep your ‘self’ out of this.

3. Practice Active Learning:

Applying the skills that you have learned gives you a better understanding of the material. Agreed, this is easy for certain subjects like maths and physics. But you can also practice active learning for subjects like history or economics through note-taking. When reading, open a note-taking app like Evernote or OneNote to write down important points.

Even the best student can sometimes falter. When you are busy with work or other commitments, call us to ask, ‘can I pay someone to take my online class?’ Our online class takers are ready to help!