How to maximise your online learning

Continue to Learn 2021 is supported by The R&A and sponsored by Aquatrols, ICL, Rain Bird, Rigby Taylor, Soil Scout and Syngenta. 

Online video calls and learning are new skills that many of us have had to learn for the first time in the past year. For BIGGA members who spend their working lives outside and who are accustomed to learning taking place in a structured classroom environment or even out on the course, the idea of staring at a computer screen at home is an alien concept.

If you’re nervous about online learning and about getting involved in Continue to Learn, the team at NESMA have put together a handy guide to help you maximise your online learning experience: 

 

1. Watch the time

Punctuality is equally important for online teaching sessions. Your trainer will be there at least five minutes before the start of your session and we recommend you join a couple of minutes before the allotted time. Entering promptly will avoid delays caused by weak internet connections.

Your meeting will be listed in your online calendar so be sure to give yourself a 15-minute warning to make sure you are comfortable, prepared and have all the resources you need to enable the session to start on time. If you have an unavoidable delay, please let your trainer know as soon as you can. 

 

2. Get yourself comfy

The best location is one where you can fully participate in the webinar as well as have room for a notebook and a drink. Try to avoid being in the same room as another person for the duration of the webinar. Bedrooms are acceptable if you are working from home, but make sure the background is reasonable neutral. You may find a headset useful to help you concentrate on the content of the webinar and to save disturbing those around you. 

For the Continue to Learn: Conference your video will automatically be turned off and muted, but during the Continue to Learn: Classrooms you will need video and sound on at all times, apart from when the tutor chooses to use mute.

 

3. Dress for the occasion

If you are learning from the comfort of your own home, you might feel like dressing down. Being comfortable is important, just bear in mind you are engaging in a professional teaching session. You never know – you may be sharing the webinar with colleagues, clients or even a potential employer, so please dress with this in mind.

 

4. Protect your investment

Giving your undivided attention is one of the best things you can do to learn efficiently. Classes will progress quickly to help you succeed, but it means you need to plan your time carefully and focus on the content of the webinar to ensure you understand each topic.

 

5. Keep your eyes on the prize

Giving eye contact to the screen is an excellent way to show your tutor that you are participating (unless of course, you are taking notes). Remember to engage in the webinar just as you would if you were present in person. Participating fully may look different depending on what your tutor is expecting of you at any particular moment. At times, your trainer will be leading the class in a discussion and this is when it is most important to speak up and share your thoughts. 

 

6. Watch your language

Our trainers are all experienced and used to managing group debates. If you’re involved in a discussion during a classroom, be aware that everyone has something to contribute and learning from each other is an important part of the process. So please be courteous to others and participate in discussions. Everyone will be listening to what you have to say, so make sure you address the group as a whole.

 

7. Keep us up to date

Everyone’s circumstances are different and subject to change. Please keep us up to date of any changes so we can ensure you get the right study support for you. If necessary we can signpost you to more formal support if you need it.

 

8. Keep refreshed

We’d prefer if you did not treat training sessions as lunch breaks, but we do encourage you to keep hydrated and have snacks at hand as these will help you maintain your concentration levels.

 

9. Above all, enjoy yourself

In participating in Continue to Learn you are taking an important step in your greenkeeping career. We work as hard as we can to ensure you have the best resources, tutors, guidance and support to succeed in your professional development. However, if there are any problems, please let us know as soon as possible so we can work with you to sort them out.

For more information about Continue to Learn and the incredible savings you can make on group bookings, head to our dedicated web pages and get involved today!