A Room of One's Own: Setting Up for Online Education

According to the Sloan Consortium, almost 67% of academic leaders cite poor self-discipline as a critical obstacle for Online students. One way to overcome this hurdle could be to create a home office where you can work with minimal distractions.

Claim a Space

Try to set aside a room for your Online studies. Seek out places in your house that aren't used very often, such as a loft or guest bedroom, and claim it for your office. Ideally, your room should be in a quiet location, far away from the noisy dining room or bustle of outside traffic. A door that closes is highly desirable.

Redecorate Your Room

Do you work best in a relaxed environment? If so, paint your walls gentle blue or soothing green. On the other hand, if you study better in a stimulating setting, decorate with vibrant colors and install a stereo system. Make sure that you have a comfortable chair, a desk, a computer with an Internet connection, and a working printer. Also, studying for hours can strain your eyes, so ensure that your room has plenty of light.

Finally, it may be helpful to restrict the activity in your room to studying. It's wonderful if you enjoy knitting, but if your hobby has the potential to distract you, keep the knitting needles elsewhere. A clutter-free home office with minimal disruption can be an important step toward acing your Online studies.

Source:
"Making the Grade: Online Education in the United States, 2006," Sloan Consortium

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