12 Tips for Effective Learning from the QATestLab Training Center Team

Preparing for the course

1. Set the right goal

In order to complete any course successfully, you must understand your goal – «Why am I doing this?» or «What am I to learn at the end of the course?»

The impulsive whims of taking online courses to gain new skills work very well for marketing; however, not all students fully understand their own purpose of starting the course and the essence of the profession studied on the course.

The goal is unique for everyone, but its correct setting affects the result, as well as the learning process. There are two examples of goals with a tangible difference below. Choose the most productive one:

1. «I will take part in courses and become a tester»
2. «After completing the course, I will understand the profession of a software tester and learn how to write bug reports, test cases, test plans and checklists.»

The first option depicts a more generalized end goal, and moreover, there is a possibility that it has been invented spontaneously.

The clarity of the second goal is more precise, due to the fact that the person knows what they will do on the course, because they have already at least skimmed the essence of the profession and the course program. In addition, it helps you track your own progress and see what skills have already been mastered and what knowledge you have earned. 

Global goals are great, but do not forget about goals that are in-between, because they are like small steps with a great understanding of what is happening on the course. They will bring much more pleasure than grandiose ones, which take much longer to reach.

2. Adjust your time schedule

The problem of time management while taking part in any course remains much underestimated, as many people do not think  when exactly they will do their homework.

We recommend to plan  how much time you are ready to allocate for watching webinars and doing homework, and most importantly – from which daily activities you will take this time initially.

It is a common mistake for students to reduce the time of rest in order to study. The advice from the Training Center is to reduce time spent on the Internet and improve the quality of rest. With quality sleep, your body and brain will be ready to learn.

3. Create the studying environment

Although modern media claims that now it is possible to study anywhere, the issue of comfort always remains relevant. Make sure you are in a comfortable learning space at the time of the lecture – this can be anything from using a laptop stand to playing background music, snacks, and lighting. Comfort is quite a personal thing.

Apart from this, the technical side is also worth paying attention to. If you need to install additional programs for the course and familiarize yourself with them, do it before starting the training. You can learn on your own online how this or that program works. However, in some courses you can get detailed instructions for installing software and common mistakes/errors, if such information is available. This is also a chance to learn something new before starting the course.

During the course

4. Write down at least 80% of the new information.

Buy a notebook or use additional software to create your own notes. This helps you to memorize the information well and you will have something to refer to if you do not have access to the course materials.

5. Take part in discussions

Most courses have a chat with participants where they can communicate with each other and discuss tasks, help each other, and sometimes consult with the administrators. At first, it can seem inconvenient and even stressing, but over time, you realize that everyone is equal. Talk to other students and, perhaps, you will find some truly  interesting people. You will be able to create your own social circle in which you can improve your future professional skills.

It is important to follow the rules of etiquette while communicating with coursemates, as well as with administrators - communicate with them during the allotted working hours. A mentor and chat administrator is a person who deserves a rest just like you, so harassing chat admins with messages outside of office hours is at least a rude thing to do.

6. Learning as a daily routine

This advice is very close to the rule of good time management, but its essence is to make learning -  a part of the daily routine. The most common  example is learning five new words every day when learning a foreign language. For example, you can watch  your webinar in the morning along with a cup of coffee, twice a week, and do  homework for the mid-day or evening of the same or the following day.

The point of this advice is to reduce stress on emotional resources during the course. And it works.

7. Give yourself rewards

As it was mentioned above, it is important to set in-between goals. To do this, read the program of the course and each lesson, and write down separately what you learn after each lesson. Then arrange it yourself when you are ready to reward yourself with something, for example:

• After the first two lectures and homework, I will definitely go to the movies.
• At the end of the course I will go on vacation or go fishing out of town.

8. Ask for advice

Although there are enough free materials on the Internet, most people turn to teachers and sign up for courses in order to have high-quality feedback and an assessment of understanding of the materials.

Nowadays, almost every course provides students with feedback after completing their homework, or there is a support service (chat, for example) where you can go for an explanation. Chat or collaborative group administrators can have answers to students’ questions or even share useful course content, if available.

However, it is important to remember that support chat workers are people just like you, so you should respect their time and work.

9. Accept your mistakes

Those who are not mistaken do not learn anything new. Do not be afraid of not understanding something, because the process of passing the course is the process of gaining knowledge. You should not punish yourself for mistakes or give up when something does not work out. Give yourself more time to master the knowledge and seek advice from support, from your associates, or additional course materials.

In addition, you should not limit yourself to the materials of one course. Search for additional information, because there are a lot of materials online. Share them with like-minded people. However try not to break the rules of the course, because each course has its own program and specifics. The truth is that no course can provide complete knowledge, and it is the participant’s responsibility to plunge deeper into the topics that are considered and understand the intricacies of the profession being mastered. In the end, it will be a wonderful benefit in getting a job in a desired specialty.

At the end of the course

10. Look back for the retrospective

As there will be in-between goals during the course it is useful to have your own checklist. Write these down so as not only to see your own progress, but also to know exactly what awards you need for yourself.

11. Come back to materials

Review the course synopsis from time to time. This is especially important when you are taking a course to change the field of professional activity. This will help you to  remember the information on the course better and without losing your skills. Sometimes questions may appear after completing the course - so look for answers in your notes and additional materials. It will be especially helpful to look at all the course materials before interview for a desired job.

12. Head on the interview

After completing the courses and consolidating the certificate to your CV, the logical conclusion will be an interview for a dream job. Look for vacancies on job portals, get prepared, and go towards your dream boldly and confidently. 

Here is a selection of some useful programs for organizing you studying process and improving time management:

1. Trello - is a Kanban resource, where you can create boards and cards, thus tracking your learning progress.
2. Google Calendar - is Google’s basic time management resource.
3. Forest - is an application that will be of value to people who find it difficult to leave their phone alone for a while.
4. Meditopia - is an iOS and Android app with a large selection of background sounds for working.

In this article, the specialists of the Training Center shared tips for effective training in online courses, useful applications and sites for organizing training. The QATestLab team wishes you a successful studying!