5 Examples Of Online Learning: 5 Real-Life Ways To Study Smarter (Most People Only Use 1) – See Which Type Fits You Best And How To Make It Actually Stick

So, What Are 5 Examples Of Online Learning?

Alright, let’s talk about 5 examples of online learning, because it’s way more than just watching YouTube lectures. 5 examples of online learning would be things like live Zoom classes, self-paced video courses, mobile learning apps, interactive flashcards, and online tutoring platforms. Basically, it’s any way you learn using the internet instead of sitting in a physical classroom. This matters because each type fits a different learning style and schedule, and mixing them makes your studying way more effective. Apps like Flashrecall) take one of these types—interactive flashcards—and turn it into a super efficient way to remember what you actually learn online.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through 5 clear, practical examples of online learning, how they work in real life, and how to combine them with flashcards so you don’t forget everything a week later.

And yeah, we’ll use Flashrecall as the “glue” that ties it all together.

Quick Overview: The 5 Examples Of Online Learning

Here are 5 common (and super useful) types of online learning:

1. Live online classes (Zoom / Google Meet / Teams)

2. Self-paced video courses (Udemy, Coursera style)

3. Mobile learning apps (Duolingo, language apps, quiz apps)

4. Interactive flashcards & spaced repetition apps (like Flashrecall)

5. Online tutoring and coaching (1:1 or small group)

Let’s break each down with real-life examples and how to make them actually work for you.

1. Live Online Classes (Zoom, Google Meet, Teams)

So, you know how traditional classes work—teacher talks, you listen, maybe half-listen? Live online classes are just that, but through video calls.

• A university lecture streamed on Zoom
• A coding bootcamp running live daily classes
• A weekly language class with a teacher and group of students

• You can ask questions in real time
• There’s structure and accountability (you have to show up)
• Feels more “real” and social than just watching videos

You forget a lot of what was said unless you take good notes or review later.

Right after class, open Flashrecall) and:

• Snap a pic of the slides → Flashrecall can instantly turn images into flashcards
• Paste key points from the lecture notes → it makes cards from text automatically
• Turn definitions, formulas, or key concepts into Q&A style cards

Then Flashrecall’s built-in spaced repetition and study reminders will ping you to review at the right times, so that one Zoom class doesn’t just disappear from your brain by next week.

2. Self-Paced Video Courses (Udemy, Coursera, Skillshare, etc.)

You ever buy a course and then… never finish it? Yeah, same.

Self-paced video courses are one of the most popular examples of online learning:

• A Python course on Udemy
• A Google certification on Coursera
• A design class on Skillshare

• Learn whenever you want
• Pause, rewind, speed up
• Usually structured into modules and lessons

It’s super easy to “binge-watch” lessons like Netflix and then remember almost nothing.

While watching a course:

1. Pause after each lesson and ask:

• “What were the 3–5 key ideas here?”

2. Drop those into Flashrecall:

• Type them in manually, or
• Paste text from the course resources, or
• Use PDFs or slides → Flashrecall can create cards from those too

You can even:

• Add YouTube links (if your course uses YouTube videos) and make cards from them
• Use active recall: turn each lesson into questions like
• “What are the 4 pillars of OOP?”
• “How do you calculate X?”

Flashrecall then handles the spaced repetition automatically, so you review the most important stuff at the right times without planning anything.

3. Mobile Learning Apps (Languages, Quizzes, Microlearning)

Mobile learning apps are another classic example of online learning—you just learn directly on your phone in short bursts.

• Language apps (Duolingo, Babbel, etc.)
• Daily quiz apps
• Micro-courses with short lessons

• Easy to use on the bus, in bed, during breaks
• Lessons are short and not overwhelming
• Built-in streaks and gamification keep you coming back

You’re usually stuck inside their system. It’s hard to customize your own content deeply, and sometimes you want to learn something very specific (your exam notes, your textbook, your job stuff).

Flashrecall basically gives you that same “mobile learning app” feel, but with your own content:

• Make flashcards from anything:
• Images
• Text
• PDFs
• YouTube links
• Audio
• Or just type your own
• Works great for:
• Languages (vocab, grammar, example sentences)
• Exams (biology, medicine, law, anything)
• Business concepts, interview prep, coding syntax

Plus, Flashrecall works offline on iPhone and iPad, so you can review even with no internet—perfect for commuting or traveling.

Link again so you don’t have to scroll back:

👉 Flashrecall on the App Store)

4. Interactive Flashcards & Spaced Repetition Apps

This one is a bit meta, but it’s one of the most powerful examples of online learning: using flashcard apps with active recall and spaced repetition.

• You see a question or prompt
• You try to answer from memory (that’s active recall)
• The app shows the answer
• You rate how easy or hard it was
• The app schedules when to show that card again (spaced repetition)

• Active recall forces your brain to pull the info out, which strengthens memory
• Spaced repetition shows you cards right before you’re about to forget them
• You waste less time rereading stuff you already know

There are other flashcard apps, but Flashrecall is designed to be:

• Fast and modern – super clean, not clunky
• Easy to create cards from:
• Images (notes, slides, textbooks pages)
• Text and PDFs
• YouTube links
• Audio
• Or just manual input if you like full control
• Automatic spaced repetition – you don’t have to think about when to review
• Study reminders – gentle nudges so you actually open the app
• Chat with your flashcard – if you’re unsure about a concept, you can literally chat to dig deeper and clarify it

And it’s free to start, so you can test it with one subject or course.

5. Online Tutoring And Coaching

The last of the 5 examples of online learning: getting help from real humans over the internet.

• 1:1 math tutoring over Zoom
• A conversation partner for language practice
• An exam coach helping you plan and review
• Small group classes with a tutor

• You get personalized feedback
• You can ask very specific questions
• Someone can point out your weak spots

If you don’t review what you learned with your tutor, you’ll forget it quickly. And tutoring can be expensive, so you want to squeeze as much value out of each session as possible.

After each tutoring session:

1. Write down the key mistakes you made

2. Turn each into a flashcard:

• Front: “What mistake did I make with X?”
• Back: The correct method / rule / explanation

3. If your tutor sends you PDFs or screenshots, drop them into Flashrecall and make cards from them

Next time you meet your tutor, you’ll actually remember what you worked on last time—huge improvement.

How To Mix These 5 Types For Maximum Learning

The best part is you don’t have to pick just one of these 5 examples of online learning. You can stack them:

• Live class + Flashrecall
• Attend the Zoom lecture
• Turn slides/notes into flashcards
• Review with spaced repetition
• Video course + Flashrecall
• Watch a module
• Make cards from the key concepts
• Review daily for 5–10 minutes
• Mobile apps + Flashrecall
• Use a language app for practice
• Put tricky words/grammar into Flashrecall
• Review them until they’re automatic
• Tutoring + Flashrecall
• Learn with your tutor
• Convert mistakes into flashcards
• Come back next session way stronger

Flashrecall basically acts as your memory engine for everything you learn online.

Why Flashcards Are The Missing Piece In Online Learning

Online learning is amazing, but it has one big weakness: you consume a lot, remember a little.

Flashcards fix that by:

• Forcing you to recall instead of just reread
• Spacing reviews so your brain actually keeps the info
• Turning random notes into something you can train with

Flashrecall just makes that whole process smoother:

• Create cards instantly from images, text, PDFs, audio, YouTube links, or manual input
• Built-in active recall (Q&A style cards)
• Automatic spaced repetition with smart scheduling
• Study reminders so you don’t fall off
• Works offline on iPhone and iPad
• Great for languages, exams, school, uni, medicine, business—literally anything you need to remember

If you’re using any of those 5 examples of online learning already, pairing them with Flashrecall is honestly one of the easiest upgrades you can make.

You can grab it here and try it free:

👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

Use whatever online learning style you like—but don’t skip the part where you actually remember it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the fastest way to create flashcards?

Manually typing cards works but takes time. Many students now use AI generators that turn notes into flashcards instantly. Flashrecall does this automatically from text, images, or PDFs.

Is there a free flashcard app?

Yes. Flashrecall is free and lets you create flashcards from images, text, prompts, audio, PDFs, and YouTube videos.

How do I start spaced repetition?

You can manually schedule your reviews, but most people use apps that automate this. Flashrecall uses built-in spaced repetition so you review cards at the perfect time.

How can I study more effectively for exams?

Effective exam prep combines active recall, spaced repetition, and regular practice. Flashrecall helps by automatically generating flashcards from your study materials and using spaced repetition to ensure you remember everything when exam day arrives.

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