Introduction

This article gives eLearning study tips and advice on how to approach studying while on an eLearning course.

Learning online can feel easy enough—you hit play on a lecture or scroll through an article, thinking the information is sinking in. But the truth is, just passively watching or reading doesn’t help much with remembering things long-term. The key is active engagement: turning the material into something your brain has to work with.

A simple way to do this is to pause regularly. After every ten or fifteen minutes of a video, or a section of reading, stop and put what you’ve just learned into your own words. Don’t just repeat it—explain it aloud as if you were teaching someone, or jot down a quick note. This forces your brain to process the information, which helps it stick much better than just letting it wash over you.

You can also turn the material into questions. Ask yourself what the main idea is, why it matters, or how it links to something you already know. Then answer the questions without looking at the text. Self-testing like this is one of the best ways to really learn.

Another trick is to make connections. Relate new concepts to real-life examples, past lessons, or even personal experiences. The more your brain can link new information to things it already knows, the easier it is to remember and put into practice.

Finally, manage your attention with short, focused sessions. Something like the Pomodoro method—25 minutes of study followed by a five-minute break—keeps your mind from wandering. During the break, do something completely different: stretch, take a walk, or just relax. Then come back and actively work through the next chunk of material.

By the end of your study session, if you’ve paused, summarised, questioned, and connected the content, you haven’t just watched a video or read an article—you’ve actually learned it. Making this small change in approach turns online learning from a passive exercise into a proper, memory-boosting experience.

Here are six eLearning study tips to set you on the right track.

• Go to a quiet place: The first step is to designate a quiet area to study in peace and quiet. It is essential that you are undisturbed while trying to study, as any distraction can cause the mind to lose its trail of thought, reducing the overall effectiveness of your study efforts.

• Plan in advance: It is very important to have a designated slot and space for study. Students who decide to study at random times, more often than not, fail to do so. Those who are organised, and manage to allocate time will succeed far more often than those who do not.

• Decide what you are studying, and for how long: Deciding what to study and for how long is vital for a successful study plan. Identify areas of the course which may take more time than other areas, and allow a sufficient amount of time for these. You can now focus on whatever you have set yourself to study, as opposed to becoming frustrated by picking up random parts of the course.

• Take hand-written notes and highlight: You should take hand-written notes of what you are learning, as opposed to just reading straight from the manual. It is proven that taking notes increases the information you memorise, keeps you active on the task at hand, and reduces the likelihood of distraction. Highlighting key points can also help certain bits of information stand out in the manual.

• Learn the important facts: Cramming your brain with notes that are irrelevant to what you are studying, is not a beneficial study method. You should be able to locate the areas that are more important than others and study these in detail. Otherwise, material that you do not need may block the information which is more important.

• Take breaks: It is important to take deserved breaks while studying, otherwise your brain will simply stop taking in information. Students, who do not allow time for rest in their plans, can find themselves studying for periods which are too long. Students who allocate time in their study plan to rest are able to take in what they have learned while giving their brain a chance to take in the ideas learned. Aim for 50 minutes of study then take 10 minutes to do whatever you want.

Next Steps in Your Learning Journey

Now that you’ve uncovered smart ways to study smarter—pause and reflect, quiz yourself, connect learning to real life, and manage study time with focused sessions—you’re ready to turn passive reading into active understanding.

At CMIT, you’re not just consuming content—you’re building retention, confidence, and tangible progress. Explore our range of flexible online courses and discover the support, structure, and expertise that will help you learn more effectively and reach your goals.

With the right study strategies, online learning can transform your career. At CMIT, our flexible, accredited courses give you the tools and support to succeed.

👉 Enrol on a CMIT course today and put these tips into practice.