In order to prepare for a big paper or tough discussion board post you may tend to over think the process. Some may spend more time on the research component, and less on the execution of the assignment. Others may spend less time reading, and more time theorizing and putting thoughts down on virtual paper. For both methods of reaction to classwork it may be a toss up which one performs better. Regardless of your preferred method it’s vital to strike a balance between the two.
Martial Arts master Bruce Lee had a fantastic method that can be applied to school. He believed that it was important to balance your “thinking time” and “doing time.” For example, your time is better spent putting equal value on the preparation of the project, and the execution. Placing too much importance on one or the other could result in a lower quality product, or you’ll never get it done. It’s vital to give great thought to what the learning concepts in each lesson mean to you, and you should be able to synthesize your own data from the lessons being taught. In my experience though some students that are great at creating new direction in a piece of learning, but they have great difficulty when it comes to relaying these points in the final product.
The best way to go about finding balance is by allotting equal time to your process for classwork. If you spend two hours researching then spend two hours writing. Sometimes there may be overlap, but overall the time you have should be equalized between each process.
What type of learner are you? A “thinker” or a “doer”? Share your online learning methods in the comments below!
By J. Mason
Online Learning Tips, Editor
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