Points to remember while researching a university online
ua-networks.com, OCT 22 2020 at 12:22 PM
It's pretty easy to say sometimes if you're using a good source. You may be reasonably sure that it will not be accurate if the website or information you have accessed is full of errors or badly built. If you are forced to provide personal and sensitive information at any time, it is also a red flag. Universities can give you the option to sign up for newsletters or sign up for an account, but all of this should be done safely. It is probably secure to sign up if you have checked that the website is legitimate and can see a padlock appear in your browser. The padlock means that the communication is secured and that you are working in a protected mode.
Before you start your study, the first thing you can do is narrow down what you are looking for and are hoping to achieve. You can then build a trustworthy blueprint on which to work and this will provide you with a clear direction. It can be helpful to brainstorm and develop priorities when designing your research architecture. Starting with a list of questions is a good way to do so, as this will eliminate a lot of the superfluous information you will spend your time looking at and collecting. Creating a timeline for your research with a clear deadline can go a long way to improving your process. Set yourself regular or weekly objectives, which can then be used to build your schedule for online research activities. Ideally, how much time you should spend on each area or your studies should be included in the schedule. It will help you focus and motivate yourself by getting a dedicated time set aside.
A significant component of any online research is keeping track of what you have learned and being able to set up some order for it. You probably know the feeling of having a few too many browser tabs open at the same time, or trawling through your search history because you didn't bookmark a page. Try to find a filing system that suits best for you when you compile your data, maybe based on themes, subjects or dates. You can also find it easier to arrange what you've discovered by the type of source it comes from, such as a video or a podcast. Using different sources helps you create a better picture and begin to distinguish fact from fiction. You can also do things on social media, such as monitoring university student groups or a high-profile student on a social network to make sure you hold on to your critical thinking cap. A vast amount of user-created content is available and this will give you a greater understanding of what the student and learning experience of a particular university is like. You never know, maybe something you didn't think of would be revealed? It often helps to go into a research project with a set idea of what you're looking for, but allied to an open mind. The simplicity of online study makes it a great method to find your prospective academic home and can lead you to learn a bit about yourself along the way.
