E-learning Strategies

Organize Your Workspace

• How you arrange your desk, phone, textbooks, pens, highlighters and other supplies can have an impact on how you use your workspace.
• Make sure any items you need regular access to are within arm's reach from your chair.
• Your workstation area might include desk drawers, a bookcase or other areas for storage. Items that aren't needed on a regular basis can be put away, and brought out when necessary.
• Avoid storing boxes, books or clutter in your leg space. You need room under your workspace to vary your posture throughout the day.
• Establish a set time you'll work on your coursework. You might find you work best in the morning, soon after waking up.  You'll have to come up with a routine that works with your personal schedule.
• Remember to plan with your Weekly Schedule and try to stick to it.Set up good lighting and comfortable seating.
• Lighting in the room should be at least as bright as the computer screen to avoid eye strain.
  You might spend a lot of time at your computer, focused on schoolwork as well as non-academic pursuits: gaming, chatting and surfing. Throughout all this time, it's critical you establish some positive work habits, and get into the routine of working on your coursework.

Study Environment
An ideal study environment is just that - ideal. Some students need absolute silence while others can't seem to concentrate without noise in the background. No matter what your preference is, a well-lit place that is free from distractions is recommended. Note that you'll make much better use of thirty minutes of disruption-free study than an hour's worth of commotion-filled learning.

Managing Your Workspace

Setting up your workspace is an important part of taking an online course. You're going to spend many hours in front of your computer, reading your online textbook, writing assignments and participating in class discussions and activities. It's important you are comfortable, safe, and ready to learn.

You might have a home office in the living area or you might share the kitchen table once dinner's over. If you are completing school work in any of these locations, this is your workspace, and you need to treat it as such.

The following video illustrates good health and safety practices for your computer workstation.  As you watch the video, look for practices related to posture, positioning of hardware and furniture, and health and movement.

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