A popular way to earn a university degree is through online study. While this mode of learning offers significant advantages, you also face challenges in getting things done by yourself. Here are some tips on how to succeed at online study.
Advantages of Online Courses
The flexibility of online courses helps you save money and time. On the financial side, you avoid paying for things like parking fees, traveling expenses and even books. Some online courses have digital books that are less costly than the actual books.
Online courses save time because a person can attend class anywhere and at any time that is convenient. They are becoming extremely flexible too. Accelerated online degrees allow students to complete the course faster than if they were attending a campus, mainly by allowing year-round study.
And the variety of subjects available online is vast. Since you can access courses from anywhere, you can study anything which doesn’t require a large amount of hands-on work.
Challenges of Studying Online
Doing university study online seems like a smart thing to do. However, you do face motivational and organisational challenges.
Students have to show their mastery of time management, project completion and goal setting. Above all, the maturity level of the student is challenged each study period.
It is not uncommon for online students to miss assignments, forget important dates, and to be overwhelmed by work that they put off till the last minute. The transition to university study is harder if you are doing it online.
To prosper with online study, take the following tips seriously. See here for even more suggestions on how to succeed.
Tip 1: Before signing up, plan
One of the biggest mistakes that new online students make is they fail to review the online program before they commit to it. Before signing up, a new student should answer the following questions.
- How long in time is the course(s)?
- How are the course(s) structured?
- Is there a good study area for me where I can complete the course(s)?
- Are the courses nationally accredited?
- Does my work schedule conflict with important dates and times?
- Is the course workload too much for me to handle?
Before becoming a new student at an online university, you should take a proper look at the length of the courses, including the potential workload. Be professional and gain awareness of the learning schedule and assessment processes.
And consider how study will fit into you weekly schedule. Sometimes an online program will not work for you in practical terms. Discovering this before enrolling is a good idea.
Tip 2: Find a quiet place to study
A common problem with online study is there are too many distractions at home. Common distractions include access to the television, access to social media and telephone calls.
A successful student normally sets aside a place in the house that is quiet for online study. And you should turn off the phone, the television, and eliminate any other distractions.
Tip 3: Manage time by planning tasks and assignments
Each online course has a syllabus that outlines significant assignments and tests to be completed during the semester or study period. This information is crucial to online study success because it allows you to manage time effectively.
You should plan out the semester in advance and work out details such as whether or not you can complete coursework earlier than the syllabus timeline. Assignments and major tasks are the foundation for getting a good passing grade for the course. Planning these activities with proper time management is necessary for online study success.
Tip 4: Communicate and participate
Online courses can be convenient but, like any class, they are not always exciting. To keep from getting bored, try to interact with instructors and students.
Set up online study groups and even invite students to social media accounts. Try to network and build potential work relationships in the future. Connecting to classmates is one of the most powerful ways to staying enthusiastic about a course.
Communicate with instructors appropriately. Make sure to read the syllabus because the study guide could give clues on when and how to gain access to help – from instructors or other students. Too many students go through courses without making proper uses of the services available to them.
Final Thoughts About Online Learning
Online programs and courses are becoming a popular way to complete an accredited degree in less time than a typical university. Online courses may not save money when it comes to tuition but can save money on other costs such as transportation, books, and parking costs.
But be aware that online programs can take away a critical element to students learning. Brick and mortar classrooms provide a group environment that encourages learning. This environment may not be replicable at home and you could struggle to separate study from other activities.
Watching instructional videos — which is a form of passive learning — and interacting with other students digitally are not the same as physically visiting the university. Online students must show their maturity level by implementing sound planning, time management and communication skills.