One element that both online education and traditional education share is test-taking. You still have to pass tests, whether it be in a classroom or on your computer, in order for you to pass the course and be that much closer to earning your degree.

Here are 5 tips on how to study for tests so you can improve your performance on them:

1. Review the material right after class.

After you are finishing reading the material online, turn away from your computer and write out some of the ideas you’ve learned on a piece of paper – this way, you will refocus your mind on what you have learned, plus you will find out what parts of the material did not stay with you that you will need to refocus on.

2. Space out your studying; don’t wait until the night before the test to do all your studying.

Just like in traditional studying, it is better whenever possible to space out your studying – trying to cram for a test the night before can lead to more anxiety and stress than is necessary.

Instead, review your class materials a few times a week, focusing on one topic at a time. If possible, try to print out some of the materials so you can study away from your computer. If this isn’t possible, it would be wise for you to set some extra time aside to be at your computer without “attending class”; even a half-hour every day or two would greatly reduce the amount of studying you would have to do the night before the exam.

3. Start out by studying the most important information.

Also like traditional studying, you want to focus on the most important information first, especially what your professor stressed in your class sessions, because that information will likely be on the exam, and chances are, make up a large portion of the exam. Likewise, you should spend a considerable amount of time studying that material.

4. Learn the general concepts first before focusing on the details.

To understand the details about a topic, you have to understand the main concepts of a topic first; otherwise, you have little chance of understanding the details about that topic. Focus on the main ideas first before working on the sub-ideas related to those main ideas.

5. Take notes and write down a summary of the important ideas as you read through your study material.

Good note taking would include such useful information like the definitions of new vocabulary words, new concepts discussed in a chapter, and any new procedures that are explained in your reading of the material. In addition, writing out the questions you have about the material would also be a good idea so you can ask your professor and classmates about them in “class” – this can lead to further discussion about the material and better understanding of it.

In addition to better learning of the material, good note taking will also provide you with a note sheet away from your computer so that you can study the material even when you are away from your computer.

Utilizing these five tips should help you to perform better on your exams, and eventually, earn that degree!

As more and more people are becoming at ease using their computers at school, home or in the office it’s merely a matter of time before they meet a computer virus. Here are our top instructions to guard you from computer viruses.

Use a high quality anti-virus program. There are many diverse anti-virus computers programs on the market some of them are better than others. Look to trustworthy computer magazines or websites for ratings to aid you locate the one that matches your requirements.

Always use your anti-virus software.

Keep your antivirus programs up to date. Most programs come with a yearly subscription make sure you take benefit of the updates. More advanced programs allow you to schedule updates or complete system scans for “off hours” like 2AM when you aren’t expected to be using your computer.

Keep your computer up to date. From time to time operating systems fall victim to security holes or issue updates. Make sure you check occasionally to make sure you are running steady latest versions of your software.

If you use floppy disks or USB drives on public computers like your school computer lab, Kinko’s, or even digital photo printing store make sure you scan them for viruses. Public computers are notorious for not being up to date and properly protected.

Be wary of email attachments. Never open attachments from people you weren’t expecting. Also be careful of attachments from people you know but weren’t expecting. Many computer viruses replicate themselves by reading the contacts from an infected computer.

Use text email if possible.

Use downloaded freeware and shareware files or software with caution. Try to download them from popular reputable sources that scan the programs before they are uploaded. To make sure you are safe scan the program before you install it on your computer.

Be wary of links in IM or instant messaging software. Don’t accept invitations from people you don’t know and never click a link from someone you don’t trust, they can easily redirect you to another website that will try to install a virus on your computer system.

March 7, 2007 lecture by Phillip Zimmermann for the Stanford University Computer Systems Colloquium (EE 380). Phil talks about how the debate on the use of crypto has shifted since the 1990s, when it was a clash between civil liberties and law enforcement – in the 1990s, the crypto debate was about averting omniscience in governments, but today the encrypted VoIP debate may be about averting omniscience in criminals.

EE 380 | Computer Systems Colloquium:

http://www.stanford.edu/class/ee380/

Stanford Computer Systems Laboratory:

http://csl.stanford.edu/

Stanford Center for Professional Development:

http://scpd.stanford.edu/

Stanford University Channel on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/stanforduniversity/