Due to advances in technology, there are many more opportunities to learn remotely than there have been in the past. You can attend courses at almost any educational level via live video calls or enroll in many types of classes and learning programs that you can then take at your own pace. Here are five tips all online students can use.

1. Secure All Devices Related To Your Education

Online learning involves accessing data and networks over remote connections, which puts any device connecting to a learning network at risk. Make sure you have good cybersecurity tools installed on any devices that you utilize for online learning, whether they're desktop computers, laptops or mobile devices. You should also make sure you know how to determine whether websites or programs are safe by learning what is SSL or HTTPS and how to recognize those features, for example.

2. Find Ways To Stay Organized

If possible, curate a dedicated study space for yourself where you can keep all of your learning materials and spend class or self-guided learning time. You can then organize all of your materials and tools in that space in ways that will facilitate your learning style. If you don't have a dedicated space, for example if you live in an apartment and attend classes from your kitchen table, find a place to store your materials and keep them organized in that space whenever you aren't using them.

3. Take Opportunities To Actively Participate

It tends to be more difficult to actively participate in a remote learning environment, so it's important to be proactive about your participation. Keep your camera on in live classes and use any signals or tools your instructor provides to let him or her know you wish to ask or answer a question. Make a point to post and comment on message boards and give timely, helpful feedback when you participate in group work. Review your notes after each class or lesson and contact your instructor if you have any questions, comments or concerns.

4. Avoid Distractions

While there are distractions in any learning setting, there tend to be more in remote learning settings. To succeed in such a setting, you need to find ways to remove distractions from your environment and avoid or ignore any distractions you can't remove. Make sure you have a quiet place to study or attend classes alone, whether that be at home or a public place such as a coffee shop. Utilize a website blocking app to prevent yourself from attempting to multitask. If you're not attending a live class, you may find that listening to soothing, quiet music helps you to concentrate. Try a few different strategies to see which ones work best for you.

5. Learn To Manage Your Time Effectively

Not only do you need to manage distractions, but you also need to manage your time. Unlike traditional education, remote learning is more difficult to block out time for. This is particularly true for independent study programs. Utilize time tracking apps, calendars and day planners. Review your syllabus or class schedule and create a schedule for the course, broken up into weeks. List all of your assignments and exams with reminders for when to begin working or studying. You should also manage the time you spend working on assignments with strategies such as time blocking.

Online learning is different for everyone. Some people may find it more effective than traditional learning while others may struggle to find ways to make remote learning work for them. It's important to take the time to figure out the best ways for you to leverage online learning and to ask for help when you think you need it.