Marc's Super-Effective Study Tips
for Online Learning

These study tips are geared towards students getting a degree online, which is what I do. Currently I work on a Ph.D. in General Psychology at Capella University and have a 4.0 GPA. There is nothing magical about getting a 4.0 GPA if you have decent reading comprehension, decent writing skills and use these effective study tips.

Tip #1: Most online universities have a tutoring workshops to help with writing skills. Use them if your academic writing is a bit rusty. You can also click here for a site that provides writing study tips.


Tip #2: Read the syllabus for each class. A properly designed syllabus provides key information about assignments, papers, when they are do and an idea of how much work is involved. Mark due dates on a calendar and estimate the amount of time you will need for major assignments.

Tip #3: Typically a major online assignment involves writing a 15-25 page paper, double-spaced. Based on experience, I know that it takes me about 45 minutes per page, including up front research. In the graduate world, research consists of evaluating scientific papers from research journals, so the research requirement may be less intense for undergraduates.

After you write your first couple of papers and keep track of the time it takes to research and complete the paper, you will know your own minutes/page rate.  A 20 page paper at 45 minutes per page takes 15 hours to complete, so plan accordingly.

Tip #4:  Usually class work from week to week consists of two comprehensive essays and corresponding discussions with fellow students in the class. That's how Capella University structures the work, anyway. It amazes me how students fail to read the assignment and answer all the questions. Read the assignment and identify all the elements to be discussed. Make sure you answer them all. Simple, right? Stuff like this can easily move you from doing C work to doing B work.

Tip #5: Elaborate your answers with personal experiences or with additional knowledge that enhances the presentation. For example, when discussing the growth of orchids, mention personal experience of doing so in your own garden, or contrast how the growth or orchids differs from that of roses.

Elaboration demonstrates an ability to analyze, synthesize and evaluate what you have learned, rather than just demonstrate knowledge and comprehension. Analysis, synthesis and evaluation are considered higher forms of learning by scholarly professors and you will get higher marks for demonstrating an ability to do so.

Consistent elaboration separates the A's from the B's. Plus, you will retain the material better than simple summarizing material can accomplish; and anyway, how boring is that?

For more information on the levels of education, read about Bloom's taxonomy of learning, a psychological theory about learning that has been well researched over several decades. Understanding Bloom is a key study tip for you to keep in mind.

Tip #6: Stay current with the class. It's okay to get ahead of the class to make more time for assignments, but make sure to participate in class discussions in the requested time frame. This helps you stay focused. I've noticed when I get behind in discussions and assignments, my work gets sloppier and hastier. This obviously leads to lower marks. Stay on top of the work, and plan your time accordingly. Even though you have flexibility, online degree work still demands resources of your  time.

Tip #7: In keeping with the theme of this site, I suggest you study material you enjoy! If you feel you need to get a Master's in engineering for advancing your current career but have always enjoyed psychology, it's time to evaluate what you really should be doing. Check out the goals of this website for more information along those lines.

I hope these study tips are as effective for you as they have been for me.