As a virtual student of an online art history class, you will have a study experience that is different from what you would have experienced if you were in a regular history class. For instance, if this is your first time as an online student, you must develop strong skills for visual analysis so that you can really grasp the historical context of the historic art. You might as well create an efficient study plan so that you can stay focused.
Read on to learn more about how to study art history online.
Develop the Skill of Visual Literacy
To make the most of your online art history study, your first step is to develop visual literacy so that you can actively engage with various media forms and carefully analyze their various components. Simultaneously, you can practice creating your own visual media, too. To develop visual literacy, you must also practice “reading” images and comprehending how the images convey meaning.
Explore Online Art Galleries
Ideally, before enrolling in one of the best art history courses, you should “visit” online museums and galleries to explore art collections. Typically, the online exhibitions will enable you to examine artworks in great detail. While you are at it, you might as well analyze the context of the artwork in terms of its cultural and historical background that could potentially affect the meaning and interpretation of the artwork.
While exploring online art galleries, you can avail yourself of the opportunity to identify the various artworks by the artist, date, and title, among other details.
Engage with Your Peers
Another tip that can help you with studying art history online is to effectively engage with your peers and the course materials that you access during your online course. For instance, you might want to opt for active reading, which isn’t your typical reading activity, but you will analyze arguments, assess the basic themes, and relate the themes to the visual art.
The essential benefit of joining your peers in study groups is that you get to collaborate with other classmates and analyze the artworks that you are currently studying. However, you can also quiz each other and practice analyzing the course materials yourself.
Set Up A Dedicated Study Space
Since you will be taking online classes, there is a high chance that you will get distracted. With that said, the best bet is to set up a dedicated study space. When it comes to setting up a dedicated study space, you must make sure that the space is quiet and free of items that might distract you, such as your extra gadgets.
Also, to optimize your learning environment, you must learn effective time management, which is why you must be realistic when setting up your study schedule with breaks and other activities.
Final Thoughts
As an online student of art history, you must do your best to master the historical research of your art subjects. We recommend that you personalize your learning strategy, such as exploring themes and artists that you resonate with. This way, you can make your online learning experience so much more engaging.
