Stuck inside? Here’s how to make the most of online studying!

Gabrielle Stratford is a current UWA international student, studying a Doctor of Medicine within the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. Gabrielle is from Ontario, Canada and currently resides in Perth, Western Australia.

Hey everyone!

My name is Gabrielle, and I’m a med student at the University of Western Australia. Today’s post is going to be about methods for studying online. For everyone who’s trying to learn online, I thought these tips could be helpful with finding ways to keep yourself accountable and learning effectively. What’s even better is that some of these tactics can carry on beyond online learning (which is hopefully just on the horizon), so read on if you’re looking for some resources and/or inspiration!

#1 Anki is a med student’s best friend

Anki is essentially a flashcard program (not unlike Quizlet) that you can download to your computer and create an unlimited number of decks and cards. Furthermore, you can organize these cards by tags, folders, etc., so the information can be accessible and your studying can be as organized however you so desire. There are also Anki decks that you can find online (but disclaimer: be careful with downloading things online) from other students, which can help with quizzing yourself when the information is asked in a different manner from what you’re used to.

#2 Share your knowledge

Another very helpful tactic that friends and I have used is teaching the content to someone else. This someone else can be another friend, another med student, a parent or sibling, or even your stuffed animals. The less they know, the better, because they can ask questions or ask you to explain it in a different way, which helps to ensure that you have a comprehensive understanding of the material. As long as you take it seriously, use your knowledge to put on the best “class” you can, and take note of filling in the knowledge gaps that you may be missing, the learning will be effective and the consolidation will be tangible come exam time.

#3 Draw it out! 

Lastly, and this is my personal favourite, I’ve found that making diagrams is incredibly helpful. Whether it’s anatomical drawings, study mnemonics, or just making pretty notes, incorporating visual components to my study notes has helped me to remember bits of information so much more easily than if I’m just staring at words and hoping that something is absorbed. Not only is it an effective adjunct to written notes, it’s also really fun to make!

If you’re interested in taking a peek at my Instagram accounts for study aids, here are the links:

Study page: @DrGabDoodles
Personal page: @gabbynicolaa

Thanks for reading, and happy studying!

Gabrielle

Read more about Gabrielle's student journey here.

This article was reproduced with permission from Oztrekk. The original article appeared here.