Six Things Learners Need To Know To Be Successful When Learning Online
Globalization has made an enormous difference to the way we live and work, and I dont just mean the impact of petrol prices on our driving habits. Communicating with someone on the other side of the world is just as easy as communicating with someone next door. People change jobs more often than before, and jobs change just as frequently. And all these changes underscore the importance of education in this globalized, competitive, technology-driven, knowledge-based economy.
But education on-campus at university or college is not possible for many people because jobs or other commitments make it impossible for them to attend on-campus classes. Online learning provides a flexible solution for such people. Unfortunately, many learners enter an online program without realizing the problems they need to face. Thus, all too often they are disappointed with their first experience of this new mode of learning. To avoid this, there are six things that the learner should watch out for.
When you study on-campus, other people organize much of your study time. With online learning, you have to organize it yourself. So be organized " manage your time. Set aside a regular time in your diary for study of the material as if you were attending classes. And complete assignments well before the due dates. That way you have time to check them and also avoid those last minute things that go wrong when you are late. Do not be a poor time manager.
With the world of work and our living environment constantly changing, you need to be constantly learning new ways of doing things. To be successful, you need a desire for life-long learning. And this is precisely what you should have or wish to develop in yourself " a desire to learn.
Unfortunately, many of us were taught to use rote learning at school. But other skills are needed to acquire meaningful knowledge. This means having well-developed critical reading and thinking skills. To be successful in learning online requires that you develop these skills. Many programs or colleges will provide a course to help you acquire such skills " it would be well worthwhile taking it so that you do know how to learn.
If you are learning online, the materials replace the lectures that students get in a face-to-face course. But they usually does more than those lectures " the courseware often includes questions, exercises and further reading so that your learning can be active rather than passive. And that is the key - ACTIVE LEARNING. Make sure that you complete all the exercises and actively read the text.
One of the good things about learning on-campus is that you are surrounded by other people learning the same stuff and so lots of learning actually happens in informal discussions with those people. So, when learning online, try to find a learning group, either in your area or online. You can then take part in social learning " and you will find that you only truly know something when you try to explain it to someone else.
Don't be tempted to buy a qualification from a diploma mill - a business that simply prints diplomas and degrees. Such qualifications are worthless in the eyes of employers and genuine educational institutions, so will just be a waste of your money. Always take an accredited program from an accredited institution.
But education on-campus at university or college is not possible for many people because jobs or other commitments make it impossible for them to attend on-campus classes. Online learning provides a flexible solution for such people. Unfortunately, many learners enter an online program without realizing the problems they need to face. Thus, all too often they are disappointed with their first experience of this new mode of learning. To avoid this, there are six things that the learner should watch out for.
When you study on-campus, other people organize much of your study time. With online learning, you have to organize it yourself. So be organized " manage your time. Set aside a regular time in your diary for study of the material as if you were attending classes. And complete assignments well before the due dates. That way you have time to check them and also avoid those last minute things that go wrong when you are late. Do not be a poor time manager.
With the world of work and our living environment constantly changing, you need to be constantly learning new ways of doing things. To be successful, you need a desire for life-long learning. And this is precisely what you should have or wish to develop in yourself " a desire to learn.
Unfortunately, many of us were taught to use rote learning at school. But other skills are needed to acquire meaningful knowledge. This means having well-developed critical reading and thinking skills. To be successful in learning online requires that you develop these skills. Many programs or colleges will provide a course to help you acquire such skills " it would be well worthwhile taking it so that you do know how to learn.
If you are learning online, the materials replace the lectures that students get in a face-to-face course. But they usually does more than those lectures " the courseware often includes questions, exercises and further reading so that your learning can be active rather than passive. And that is the key - ACTIVE LEARNING. Make sure that you complete all the exercises and actively read the text.
One of the good things about learning on-campus is that you are surrounded by other people learning the same stuff and so lots of learning actually happens in informal discussions with those people. So, when learning online, try to find a learning group, either in your area or online. You can then take part in social learning " and you will find that you only truly know something when you try to explain it to someone else.
Don't be tempted to buy a qualification from a diploma mill - a business that simply prints diplomas and degrees. Such qualifications are worthless in the eyes of employers and genuine educational institutions, so will just be a waste of your money. Always take an accredited program from an accredited institution.
About the Author:
Sophia Peters writes for the DLDC website where you can find out more about online learning and related materials.
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