While the past year has definitely made us all more accustomed to learning online, it doesn’t necessarily mean that we’re all successful online learners. We want to be sure you’re getting the most out of your education here at HbLive, so we put together this checklist that will help you get the most out of your virtual learning experience.
- Have a dedicated study space. Online learning isn’t like watching TV—you need to be committed and focused. Set up a quiet, organized space and consider logging out of social networks and even—gasp!—turning off your phone while you’re doing a course. After all, phones are great, but if you have the bigger screen that comes with a laptop or desktop, it can make all the difference to learning.
- Use all available assets and aids at your disposal. Most online courses come with downloadable head sheets. Print them out in advance so you can take notes as you’re taking the course. Some courses alert you to the tools you’ll need; have them nearby and ready to go. And if you need to stock up on tools, you can always check out hairbrained.pro!
- Practice effective time management. Each of the courses lists how long they are, but if you’re following along with a mannequin (which we strongly suggest you do!) then the time you invest in each course could be longer. In fact, HbLive has several courses that feature multiple lessons, such as The Comprehensive Cutting Program, which features 10+ hours of education. Setting up time limits so you don’t get burnt out is a good practice.
- Hold yourself accountable. In a traditional hands-on course, expectations and timing are clear. But with online learning, it’s up to you to make sure you take the entire course, do the mannequin work and really get the most out of each course. Consider taking a class with a fellow hairdresser, or enlist a friend or spouse as an accountability partner to help you achieve your goals.
- Review what you’ve already learned. Just because you’ve watched a course doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve retained all the information. We encourage you to go back and re-watch courses you’ve already taken to be sure you are getting everything out of them as possible.
- Stay motivated. It can be difficult to learn online, so rewarding your achievements will bolster success. Here are some suggestions:
- Never forget the reason why you took this course
- Accept that you’ll have good and bad learning days
- Have healthy snacks nearby to boost energy
- Reward yourself every time you complete a challenging task or course
- Celebrate your success by sharing the new techniques you’ve learned with fellow hairdressers
- Enjoy yourself and remember: the more you learn, the more you earn!
- Celebrate your success! Once you’ve completed the course, why not post a photo of your mannequin and tag the educator and @hairbrained_official? We’d love to see and share what you’ve accomplished. You can even reach out to the educator directly to ask any questions you may have. They’re eager and excited to help you on your journey to becoming an even greater #crafthairdresser than you already are!