Studying nowadays is not as hard as it was in the past years. Technology has made life easier; a student can choose to take classes wherever they are and even earn a degree in a field of their choice. 

This is all possible thanks to online classes. Many learners have fully embraced on-line learning, with some opting to blend the two forms- both online and in-person learning.

However, when studying online, certain aspects need to be considered for you to excel with your studies.

CEO of Smart Class, Abdul Niyonizeye says that online learning is like any other physical class; it takes concentration and discipline, though by default, platforms do their very best to make sure users can navigate through and learn how to use a particular platform.

Online learning takes concentration and discipline. 

Vanessa Umurungi who is taking online classes says with the right balance, a student can excel in class even with online studies.

She narrates how reluctant she was when it came to online classes, but later chose to give it a try.

"I did a major in University that I didn’t really feel comfortable doing, so when I graduated I wanted to go for the things I wanted to actually study. Since I couldn’t manage to balance school and work as I am a busy person, a friend of mine convinced me to take classes online. I was reluctant at first but later accepted, and in the end, it was way easier and effective and now, I am about to finish them,” she says.

 According to the Northern University Graduate Programs page, it is important to take note of the following;

Treat an online course like a "real” course. When it comes to online classes, you need to have the discipline to sit down and say, "I am going to work on this,” as well as the dedication to actually follow through.

Hold yourself accountable. Set goals at the beginning of the semester, and check-in with yourself weekly. In a traditional classroom setting, you’ll often receive verbal or visual reminders of an assignment’s upcoming due date.

Practice time management. The flexibility to create your own schedule is often one of the biggest appeals of taking online classes. But that freedom can also be detrimental if you do not have solid time management skills.

Create a regular study space and stay organised. Set up a dedicated learning environment for studying. By completing your work there repeatedly, you’ll begin to establish a routine.

Eliminate distractions. From Netflix to social media to dishes piling up in the sink, you’ll be faced with many distractions that can easily derail your studies. The best online students know how to lessen these distractions and set aside time to focus.

More tips for success

Niyonizeye believes these few tips can help a student succeed while taking classes online:

Set goals. "Say by evening I will be covering this particular topic in mathematics, it is bad to just click on every topic you come across.”

Build relations with your learning community; share and receive feedback from facilitators and peers.

Having a hand note to write down your summary will help you understand and memorise what you have learned.

An article on tips for succeeding online classes shows that for a student to succeed studying online, they need to treat it like an in-person class. Without the regular meetings of in-person classes, it’s easy to fall into bad habits and get behind on your work. To avoid this, treat online classes like in-person classes. Even if the class doesn’t meet at a particular time each week, set a time on your calendar when you’ll "go to class.”

Form a virtual study group. If you’re used to studying in groups, then online classes can be an adjustment. Sure, you still have classmates, but there isn’t the same connection you’d get sitting next to someone in class. However, you can still get the benefits of studying with other people even in an online class. You just have to be a bit more creative.

Distance learning has come a long way since the correspondence courses of the mid-19th century. These days, it’s possible to take courses on just about anything you can imagine from the comfort of your home.