If you’re anxiety ridden lately from exams and papers, maybe it’s time to switch up your playlists.

For the most part people find a calm when listening to their favorite music. It also encourages movement, motivation, and productivity. At seminars you’ll notice music being played softly in the background while you chatter away, and most stores they’ll play music that relates to the retail stores demographic to conjure up positive feelings while you shop. Why not do the same while you study? Make playlists based around your most common stress points in school.

Playlist names:

• “Learning new material”
• “Reading from sun up, to sun down”
• “Exam cramming time”
• “Discussion post jams”

You get the general idea. A good note to keep in mind is including fast music on these tracks to up your level of productivity. Author Galina Mindlin states in her book, Your Playlist Can Change Your Life, that “a fast song with a high beats per minute can calm you down.” It’s something she recommends for people who are striving for high concentration and focus. Just be sure to choose music that you like and feel excited about.

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By: J. Mason

One of my tricks for memorizing important details for a subject in class is to pick out “hot words.” These are the words that trigger a memory of a sentence in a novel, or a scientific process. So, instead of trying to memorize large chunks, treat it like a search engine would with SEO.

Separate Main Points

The best way to do this if you’re more visual is to take a stack of notecards, put the keyword on one side, and on the other as much relevant information to that word as possible. For example, if you have history test and you write Magna Carta on one side, the other should side should summarize its conception, purpose, and its effect on society. Be sure to cover all the topics your professor outlined throughout the semester, and then take your time reviewing just those cards. I found it easier to have small bites of information, as opposed to large sheets covered back and front with words and symbols.

Get Quizzed

Once you’re feeling confident about what you know, let your family quiz you! The more practice you get the better, and encourage them to ask you for in-depth information. It will improve your understanding on the topic, and relieve some of the stress that comes along with taking your test(s).

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By: J. Mason

It’s been said that the virtual platform allows the introverts to come out of their shell. Without the face to face interaction of a brick and mortar school, you rely more heavily on your social communication skills through text and content.

In the online learning environment the class clown isn’t favored, it’s the student that has the most value and information to offer the rest of the class. So, if you’re looking to fit in online, or at least network with students in your program, you’ll need to learn about the overall attitude of the student body. What’s the best way to do this? Get involved the school’s social networking groups. If you frequent a blog, or forum you’ll know that the more you particpate the more feedback and support you’ll receive. The same goes for social groups in an online school. Throw yourself into the mix by answering a question posted by one of the admins, or ask a question yourself. Depending on the response, helpful/not helpful, you can start to get a better sense on where other students are at.

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Don’t be afraid to use the chat feature, or engage other students within the classroom as well. Check with your advisor on if there’s a virtual student lounge you can visit to get in touch with other students. Online education still has the same end goal as any other brick and mortart institution, to educate and inspire innovation. Everyone interprets their education differently, but for the most part you’re in school because you want to be.

Just remember, you’re not alone in the learning process. There are thousands of other online students just like you working on their degree. One way to keep your motivation levels up while in school? Get social with your peers. I’ve seen friendships develop on our school pages on Facebook from students having continued and supportive interactions with one another. Take a second today to get connected with your peers online, you may find a new study buddy!

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By: J. Mason

Given that many online learning colleges (and even online programs at community colleges and 4-year colleges) do not have permanent faculties (or do not use the permanent teachers for the online program), it’s especially important to check out the credentials of the person teaching the course. Look for the instructor bio on the course Web page. Check out his or her degrees (the higher the better), teaching experience (how many years, at what level), and whether he or she is trained in the field you’re going to take. And, if the info isn’t there, send an e-mail (polite, of course) asking a few questions about the instructor’s background. A good instructor should not take offense and should have nothing to hide.

(Source: USNews.com)

I’m not speaking specifically about the cheat sheets you made in grade school for tests, I mean sheets with shortcuts, and tool tips.

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You may have post-its plastered like wallpaper around your desk at home, some with random thoughts and others with tips like Ctrl + C = copy. It’s a great idea to keep these around and within eyesight, or you can create a post-it on your computer’s desktop. If you aren’t sure what type of cheat sheets to make and have on hand check out my list of suggestions below.

• Keyboard shortcuts: With the fast pace that our fingers move, (thank you texting!), it’s nice to have 2 or 3 button solutions that save you extra clicks on the mouse.
• Program shortcuts: If you use programs like Excel and Word there’s always something new to learn. Building spreadsheets can be a pain, but when you know some tricks to save time it can go from being cumbersome to a great resource.
• Classroom tricks: Every online school supplies students with a resource center to navigate around the online environment. Bookmark this page, and either print it out or scribble down the ones you use on a daily basis for a reminder.
• Bibliography help: There are plenty of great applications on the web that can do this for you, but when it comes down to it you’ll need to know the basics yourself. Print out guidelines from your University’s library or resource center. Always double check your work before submitting!
• Formulas: Whether you’re in math, or trying to remember the “formula” for APA style for a paper, make this an important sticky note. Being able to physically see the layout beforehand can help with comprehension, and of course it’s a good reminder to have on hand.

If you have any great suggestions for cheat sheets let us know!

By: J. Mason

We all need breaks in between work, studying, and writing papers. Some people take walks, others veg out in front of the TV, and others read for pleasure. If you’re not a “reader” there are plenty of other activities to keep your mind stimulated while you step away from your classwork.

Here are some mentally engaging things you can try:

• Read the latest book on a bestseller list.
• Do a crossword puzzle.
• Work on a puzzle.
• Work around the house on a DIY project.
• Visit a local art museum.
• Quiz your family on a popular topic.

Feel free to add your brain teasing activities in the comments below!

If you’re currently enrolled in school right now, do your employers know about it? Usually this is something to share with your boss, or even brag about. Not only are you making yourself more marketable, but you could become more of an asset to your company.

[Get started on your education adventure with an online degree.]

Say you’re working towards a degree in your current job field, this can increase your industry knowledge and give you an edge with peers. On your lunch breaks feel free to share what you’re learning with co-workers, or even in small staff meetings. Be proud of the fact that you’re taking classes in order to better yourself.

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Much like you have an annual review at work, you should require one for your performance in school.

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In some reviews it’s better to be objective, but in this case I think it would be alright to rate yourself. Start off with something simple like your grades. Are they where you want them to be? If not, note how much time you spend studying, and the difficulty you’re having with the subject. The review for some will reveal that you should spend a couple more hours a week studying, and for others it could mean you need a tutor.

By: J. Mason

Going back to school can be a daunting task, especially graduate school, when you have a million other things going on in your life. Also, in the world of distance learning self-discipline is key, but not always easy to practice. However, I have found that there are some things you can do to effectively ease the study pains.

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When it comes to writing papers, I have to admit I’m a bit of a procrastinator. Because of this, I am usually sitting at my computer the morning the paper is due wondering what I will write about. To clarify, I do NOT recommend this learning style at all. Still, every time I did finish the assignment, I would reward myself with a cup of coffee at the local Starbucks. Over time, I found that I related getting my work finished with that cup of coffee I loved so much. After I realized this motivation to do my work before its due date became much easier.

Whatever your guilty pleasure might be, a cup of coffee or a scoop of ice cream, indulge a little bit when you accomplish something good. Who knows, maybe a little bit of ice cream, over time,  can push you to finish your degree earlier than you thought you could!

By Rachel Baehr
M.B.A. student at American Military University

The online format can be tricky for some, so a little bit of training in it is a good thing. Some schools will offer a tour of the classroom up front, and once you become a student they send you more detailed information of the classroom layout.

You can also elect to take the training again after you’ve started classes. The second training you may get more out of since you’ve had time to explore the landscape of the online classroom. Don’t be shy about asking for help, your peers would be a great start!