What is Online Learning?
Thanks to the spectacular evolution of the Internet, online learning is transforming how knowledge is consumed today. Yes! Online or web-based learning is at the forefront of education. Simply put, online education entails learning that students can access through home computers.
Contrary to what many believe, it’s not just a contemporary twist to distance learning. While distance learning was restricted to “non-traditional” students like full-time job holders, online learning also caters to regular students. While online degree courses and learning programs were pretty popular in the past decades, they became the “primary” mode of learning for students during the pandemic. Today, though the classes have started re-opening, web-based or Internet training continues to be significant.
Benefits of Online Learning
One of the most significant benefits of online learning is easy to access. You only need a computer backed by a proper internet system to access classes. All the lessons included in a particular course are taught through an integrated Learning Management System (also known as LMS). Besides taking classes, students can also view the course syllabus and academic progress and submit assignments on this LMS. On the other hand, mentors use the LMS to upload assignment worksheets, check them and even recorded lectures in a few cases.
Besides ease of access, other immediate benefits of web-based learning are:
- Lower costs- you can learn from home- No commute costs involved
- Lower carbon footprint
- Availability of more free time since you aren’t required to travel
Developing Strategies for Successful Online Learning
Despite the apparent benefits, online learning has its fair share of challenges too! To start, switching from traditional face-to-face learning with the instructor to a virtual classroom is an entirely different experience for learners. Students with a “traditional mindset” may find adapting to the new learning mode challenging. However, you can still beat the Online Class Challenges with the help of effective strategies.
Let’s delve into the details:
Establishing a Regular Schedule
That’s the first step towards advancement, and remember – first steps are always necessary! Make sure you have a learning schedule in place. One of the Biggest Problems Faced By Students In Online Classes is the lack of an “ambience of discipline”. Once you determine which course you select, creating a learning schedule is time. Are you a morning person? If yes, then make sure you’re dedicating a few hours in the morning to studying what you have learned in a particular session. Revisit the lectures through the notes you have taken during the class, go through your assignment sheet, and jot down queries, if any, for your Q&A session. Study during the night if you’re more comfortable doing that. Make sure you’re choosing the time frame that suits you. Don’t try to follow others’ schedules.
Creating a Dedicated Workspace
Set up a dedicated workspace to create the perfect study environment. We have already stated that students used to learning in traditional classrooms find it challenging to adapt to the “virtual learning ambience.” Setting up a dedicated workspace where you decide to take classes every day – can at least help you achieve a “semblance” of your offline classroom – a place where you sit down every day to study just like the same classroom you used to sit in.
Not all learners are alike – while some work best while listening to music, others prefer a peaceful ambience. Figure out what works best for you. Use apps like ColdTurkey to block social media sites from distracting you.
Investing in the Right Technology
Make sure you have the right technology to help you access your classes without hindrance. Remember, besides the regular lectures, you may need to access diverse learning materials like eBooks, course materials, software, etc. Do you have the right technical capabilities to support these needs? Set aside some time to practise navigating these tools to accelerate learning.
Setting SMART Goals
SMART goals are an extensively popular framework leveraged by many educators for success. SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound) goals are designed to make learners more productive.
To start with:
- Be as specific with your goal as possible.
- Ask yourself what you’re trying to achieve with an online learning program.
- Select monthly and quarterly metrics like personal achievements, progress, etc., to determine how close you’re to your goal.
Don’t expect to succeed if you’re setting unrealistic goals. What more? They should be relevant as well. For instance, there is no point in mugging up lessons and completing your assignments to complete them because all you want to do is beat the topper. A more relevant goal instead would be to understand the tasks properly and then implement your understanding to ace the assignments. Achieve your goals within a specific timeframe.
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Staying Organized
Setting up a workstation and getting the right technology in place is crucial. Make sure you’re logging in 15 minutes before the start of every lesson so you have enough time to connect to your Internet and get all learning materials in place before class starts.
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Taking Breaks
Take precise breaks while studying to rejuvenate your mind and resume learning with improved focus. However, make sure that these breaks aren’t too long. In that case, they will distract you instead of rejuvenating you.
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Utilizing Resources
Utilize all the learning materials that your mentor provides – even if they don’t help you complete your assignments. They will still promote your holistic advancement.
Conclusion
Winding up, it is not wrong to assume that virtual learning will be the future of global learning. Since it has only been 2-3 years since this form of learning has gained unprecedented momentum, trainers and trainees are still figuring out ways to navigate its challenges. However, with the strategies mentioned above in place, it won’t be long before we successfully beat all the problems faced by Students in Online Education.
In this regard, we cannot stop reiterating the importance of having the right tech capabilities simply because technology drives online education! At Hurix, we assist institutions across industries to maximize their learning goals with our customizable e-learning content solutions that meet all your needs.
You can Get in touch with us for a seamless Learning experience!
