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Despite your efforts, it is quite
likely that you may not be satisfied with your performance. Why is this
so? Of a host of reasons, they way we study is an important one. You need
to meet a few basic study requirements, if you intend to get the maximum
from learning at a distance.
Let us be clear that there are
no shortcuts to do well in studies. However, with good study habits, you can
study better.
Motivation is the single
most important factor for studying well. You choose to study a Programme at
a distance, because you feel that a successful completion of this Programme
will help you in social mobility. In other words, you have joined the
Programme by choice and not by chance. Motivation, in your case, therefore,
is not a problem. But, sustaining the motivation may at times pose problems,
especially when you study in isolation. You should be aware of it.
You derive the optimum from
your studies, if you:
- Keep you mind open to new, perhaps,
conflicting ideas and experiences. At times, you will come across
topics/issues in the Course, which may not have been dealt with the way
you want them to be. Now, try to understand the viewpoint of the writer.
There may be some purpose for the writer to present them so. Or, the
writer may be wrong. If the latter is the case, write to the person
concerned or the institution concerned and express your concerns. This
is important, as most often we develop an aversion to the subject just
because we don't like the teacher! We know that it is very east to say,
"have a positive attitude", but not so easy to imbibe. But, without a
positive attitude you will contribute to making things harder for
yourself.
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- Look for principles and the basic
unifying ideas in the subject. Usually, exemplary students are those who
can see a Course as a 'whole' and not in its parts. It is true that we
usually read sequentially (say from Unit 1 to 2, 3 and then to 4 and so
on.) Looking at the Course as a 'whole', on the other hand, means to
find the common thread of argument across the Units. In other words,
analytical reading should lead you to synthesize what you have read.
This helps in more fully understanding the subject.
- Set clear and realistic goals. Even
with a positive attitude, you will at times face difficulties as a
distance learner. Many students have expectations, which are very high
and are disappointed when they cannot meet them. If our expectations of
ourselves are too high, we will become stressed and will be unable to
complete even simple tasks. In fact, we will make sure that we cannot
succeed! However, without goals you will not be able to plan your life.
Take a moment to think about your own goals for your study. Think about
short-term goals (say, over the next few days/weeks/months) and
long-term goals (over the next few years). Write these down. For
example:
- long-term goal: to enroll for a
Programme in (specify year), to get a Master's degree in (specify year),
to do one subject which will require approximately 15 hours for study
per week over a period of 13 years.
- short-term goal: to spend 15 hours of
time on my studies every week (starting from…), to study for 2 hours on
Monday, 1 hour on Tuesday, 3 hours on…and so on.
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Once you have established
what your goals are, you will be able to plan ahead. Start by planning to
achieve simple goals on a week-to-week basis. If you find that you can meet
these goals then think about long-term goals. Achieving long-term goals
usually requires sustained efforts - like studying for a full degree.
Now, planning is one thing
and adhering to it is quite another. Write down your specific goals and pin
them up somewhere you pass by every day. Reinforce them by thinking of them
at least once a day. Regularly assess whether they are realistic or not and
set new goals for yourself, if you are unable to meet existing objectives.
Have a systematic approach to studies. Mere
academic brilliance may not always be rewarding. Academic success or failure
does depend also on how organized and systematic you are in your studies.
You will be least anxious about your work, if you:
- work to a plan, plan what you want to
achieve in the next day, week…,
- tick to your plans, or modify them for
good reasons only,
- put to use, in the best possible way,
every bit of time available,
- understand that one who plans will get
ample time to have rest,
- realize that you will have to
sacrifice something in order to find time for the Programme.
Get support from the dear ones. Besides
being a distance student, you no doubt have many social roles to play -
that of a spouse, parent, friend, employee and so on. When you first
return to studies, it can be a difficult time for the ones around you.
Hopefully, you have envisaged it. If not, now try to discuss with them
reallocation of duties and responsibilities, etc. After all, people who
are around us do matter.
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