Three tips to a successful online learning setup

1. Set the scene for your experience

Whether you’re going to be learning to code in Python or cook a meal, you’ll want to make sure you’ve optimized your space accordingly.

What to consider in your online learning environment?

• Location. Are you going to be in a busy part of your home or office? Do you need quiet or is this a group event that will be interactive and noisy? Considering a good space to set up for your event is important to your ability to focus and interact with your facilitator or others in the workshop.
• Tools and equipment. Do you need specific items for your workshop? Make sure anything you need is readily at hand so you can concentrate on the education and experience instead of searching for supplies.
• Lighting. No matter what type of workshop you’re attending, you’ll want to make sure you have decent lighting to engage with your facilitator and to see any tools or items you’re working with during the event. Natural light, office lamps, computer webcam lights, ring mounts, and a variety of other options are all great for keeping you alert and making a great impression.

2. Know your routine and plan accordingly

Managing your energy is just as, if not more, important than managing your time when it comes to learning and retaining new information. Considering your routine and regularly scheduled events in your day will make a huge difference on how you approach your class.

If you’re the kind of person who feels sluggish at 2pm every afternoon, try to plan your workshops for morning or evening hours. If you’ve got a stressful call at the same time every Tuesday, don’t back your online education up immediately before or after it because your energy and attention won’t be at their peak.

Similarly, if you need snacks or a drink every hour, be sure to have what you need handy. Don’t let your rumbling stomach stop you from learning that new chord progression on the guitar or miss string theory in your dev course.

At Klatch, many facilitators will work with you or your team’s schedule, so be sure to ask if you can’t find the right time for your needs.

3. Commit to it

Studies show that commitment to new experiences and habits requires regular practice at the behavior. When it comes to learning a new skill or picking up a hobby it’s just as important.

A few ways to commit yourself to the online education experience include:

• Sign up for a series instead of a single event. You’ll be building on the skills you learn each time and you’ll have more opportunity to practice and get to know your facilitator throughout the process.
• Invite someone. Whether it’s friends, coworkers, family members, a spouse, or a date – if you invite someone you’ve got accountability to attend.
• Have a goal. Maybe you’re learning to crochet and you want to be able to make a sweater by Christmas. Learning cook? Pick a recipe and plan a dinner party to try it out. No matter what you’re learning to do, setting a goal will help you stay motivated to make it to the finish.

Try something new

Looking for a better online educational experience? Try a Klatch.

Klatches are live, interactive experiences where you engage with your facilitator to learn while doing. If you’ve been stuck in a webinar or video course rut, this is just the experience to get you back on track!