Online learning means you can watch any time of the day or night, but things can get in the way! Here are tips that will make your learning much more effective.
Make Sure You Have Reliable Internet Access
Different parts of our homes and offices have different wifi speeds, set up in a place where coverage is best. At busy times, others can slow your connection significantly.
Create A Dedicated Study Area
Wherever you study, ensure it is quiet, organized, and distraction-free. A quality study environment is critical; ensure it supports your learning routine.
Set A Fixed Time
Try taking the Modules at a fixed time every day, or even once a week, just as if you were in class. Before starting the next Module, try replaying the previous Module's review to help bring you up to speed.
Minimize Distractions
Ask others to respect your study time. Turn off phones and log off social networks to prevent constant pings from affecting your quality of learning.
Keep Music Low And Without Words
Play music in the background if it helps. Be aware that loud music, or music with words, tries to insert itself into your brain, making learning harder, particularly when wrestling with complex concepts. Try listening to classical music or soft instrumentals. WQXR, a public radio station in New York, plays classical music 24/7, worldwide, for free.
Download Any PDF Tutorial Notes
If available, download PDF notes to your computer AND smart device. This way, you always have them with you at home or when taking photos. Do the same with the user manual for your camera.
Take One Section At A Time
Courses are often made up of distinct sections that follow each other, but you need time to absorb each to fully prepare for the next.
It is best to take a single Module at a time and let that sink in for a day. The learning process does not benefit from cramming everything simultaneously; our brain needs time to digest properly.
Pause, Rewind, Rewatch
Get into the habit of pausing the video. Even if you think you understand the topic, ask yourself, "Do I fully understand that?" Then, rewind a few times to make sure. Later on, rewatch the entire Module.
Handwritten Notes Help A Lot!
Buy a special notebook just for photography, and print out these tutorial notes to write on.
Handwritten notes are a proven way to help recall, as you have a record of critical things to look back on. With handwriting, our recall can be so effective that we may not even need to re-read them.
Fight Procrastination
Keep procrastination at bay by taking short breaks every 25 minutes or so. Set a timer and focus intently for that period. If your mind wanders, you can force yourself back with the promise of the upcoming break.
The break is also necessary because our brains need time to absorb all the information.
Try Not To Cram
Our brains are not good at taking in a lot of information simultaneously; binge-watching is for entertainment shows, but it could be better for the learning process. We can focus hard for about 4 hours a day.
Have Your Camera With You
Your learning will be enhanced if you keep your camera within easy reach. Regularly pausing, finding where a specific thing is on your camera, and then starting again will benefit your learning process.
Use Your Camera Phone!
When you do not have your big camera, try using your phone. While many of the technical aspects discussed in our courses might not be possible, all the compositional and creative ones are!
Photography Is Hard To Learn, So Be Kind To Yourself
Photography is challenging, particularly the technical side, so go easy on yourself. You would not expect a friend who took a half-day course in car mechanics to be able to fix a Porsche. Apply the same logic to photography.
If you have been away from formal learning for a while, remember that the learning process can take a long time to become familiar again.
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