There are a multitude of amazing rewards available for those who take and successfully complete an online course, and these courses can be particularly helpful for those who are already having to juggle a variety of responsibilities such as work and family and need to squeeze in learning between them.
There are many people who can benefit from online courses, such as professionals looking to acquire new skills in order to advance their careers by taking a course such as an online MSBA, parents wanting to increase the standard of living for their families, students wanting to gain supporting skills or anyone who just wants to develop new skills.
Online courses may not provide precisely the same experience that is offered by an on-campus course, because they have different outlooks and designs, and there can also be different motivations for taking both depending on the people involved.
There are several things that students should be aware of before they decide to take an online course.
Online courses are not necessarily the easier option
Many potential students often wonder if online courses are easier than traditional on-campus courses, but the answer to this is a definite “no”. Taking an online course might seem like the easier choice from the outside, but online courses have their own particular, and not necessarily immediately obvious, challenges.
Online courses still require students to put in a lot of concentration, effort and time.
Technology is required to take online courses
Online courses can involve the use of a wide array of technological items, including items such as personal computers, smartphones and tablets. It is impossible to take an online course without the use of technology, and that technology needs to be able to access the internet and to be reliable as you will not be able to learn if you cannot stay connected.
Students need to take the time to learn how to navigate their way through the entire online course before classes actually begin, as every single one will be designed in a different format and there will also be different ways of accessing them depending on the particular course involved. It will also be important to determine whether your school is in possession of reliable resources that will be required for distance learning.
Group projects are compulsory
Many people choose online courses thinking they will not have to participate in group projects and if they do need to then it will be a chore, but this is not the case. In fact, it is even easier to handle online group projects thanks to collaborative tools such as video conferencing, which allow multiple students to get together and do their assignment. This also enables more social interaction between students.
Greater comfort
One of the big advantages of taking an online course is that students will not be rushing to catch buses or trains to attend their classes. Instead, online students can learn from the comfort of their own home or office, or even from a relaxing coffee shop somewhere, which can lead to a massive reduction in stress while saving a lot of time.
You will need excellent time management skills
Procrastination can be an issue with online learning as many students can feel they have all the time in the world, but this can be a dangerous trap to fall into. It is up to you and you alone to manage your time and ensure you have set aside enough time to complete each project. You should not allow yourself to be distracted.
Some assignments will have strict deadlines and some classes will provide specific time schedules, so you should never put off doing your work until the last moment. Online students must learn and make use of proper time management skills.
Effort equals success
A tremendous amount of motivation is needed by online students to stay on top of their game. Hard work is required in online classes as with offline classes, and the grades you receive will reflect the amount of effort you have put into your studies. Students that are disciplined, productive and serious will receive the reward of success at the end of their online course.
Online courses are coordinated by real professors
Professors that have grounding in the courses will be teaching the online classes. This is one of the reasons why it is vital to make sure the school you choose to take your online course from is properly accredited. Check the school website for this information. Professors that teach online courses also tend to teach traditional classes, with the only difference being that the class is being taught through an electronic device.
It is impossible to cheat on online exams
Special tools are used for the monitoring of the examination process in order to ensure that the school’s integrity is maintained. Many people wonder if is easier for students to cheat when taking an online exam, but it is not.
Sometimes students may even have to be on campus during exams, but there is also an internet tool known as proctor that online platforms use to gain access to a computer’s webcam or track all clicks made during an exam, which is ultimately the equivalent of having a monitor watching over a class.
There are various types of online degrees
There are different qualifications available from different degrees. There will also be different grades that are dependent on the school that is responsible for issuing the certificate. Schools must be accredited in order to make a determination about the value of the certificate they provide.
The school’s overall brand will also have to be taken into consideration. A certificate from a school with a high-quality reputation will be more valuable than one from a school with a poor reputation.
Online courses can cost less
Online courses can be considered as a way to lower the cost of education. It is relatively cheaper to run an online course than it is to attend a traditional school. Students can also reduce their reliance on student loans by taking online courses at a lower cost.
Check the cost of online courses
A price check should be made by students on the online course they want to take as different courses can have varying price tags, making it important to know precisely what is involved prior to making any applications.
Try to build a rapport with your teacher
There is no excuse to not trying to build a rapport with your teacher just because you do not see each other face to face. Reach out and get to know them, which will make it easier to reach out in the event that you encounter difficulties in your course. Send an email introducing yourself when lectures begin and use their formal title. By the time classes end, you will likely be glad that you made the effort.
Make notes during class
Do not make the mistake of thinking that you do not have to take notes during an online course because you can always go back to the slides or video. Notes can be extremely helpful and useful preparing for exams, as well as reducing the time and stress involved in having to go back through an entire session just to retrieve a small piece of information.
Taking notes is a good way of reinforcing knowledge. With discipline, you will be able to put down some good points during sessions.
Transferring credit
It is possible to transfer online credits that you receive doing an online course to a more traditional degree program. If you have taken the right online course then this can be a big help to you in traditional degree programs, even allowing a few semesters or courses to be skipped to make the program easier to complete.
Learn about the possibilities of this option from the school’s official website or from your academic advisor prior to making a decision.
Improve your writing skills
Online classes can be a lot easier when you have good writing skills. Poor writing can result in poor marks or even completely invalidate work that you may have spent hours on.
Students also use the written word to share their ideas and thoughts on discussion boards, but when the text is poorly written, it can cause others to question your intelligence and character. On the other hand, your confidence will be boosted when you create well-written responses that also demonstrate your knowledge of the subject matter.
What types of online courses are there?
Online courses can be approached differently by different schools. Some schools may try to standardize online courses with the use of a content management system (CMS), while others will offer Open University courses as well as massive open online courses (MOOCs). Other schools may attempt to replicate the classroom virtually or offer a mix of various strategies in a combination of environments.
In the social media age, there are as many or possibly even more diverse approaches to online education as there are in the classroom. However, online courses are usually split into two distinct categories.
Completely online
As the name implies, these courses are run completely online and involve no face-to-face interaction at all. Greater commitment will be required of students in these courses as they are completely self-paced and will be dependent on the ability of students to finish lessons without the presence of a teacher.
Students will need to be extremely comfortable with technology and have an up-to-date computer. Students should also review the syllabus of the course and take note of all the requirements involved before they try to take a course that is completely online.
Hybrid online
Hybrid courses will meet for the purpose of orientation and will likely have other assigned days for face-to-face interaction depending on the needs of the class. The first meeting will be compulsory, and your grade will suffer if you fail to show. Missing that first meeting will also make it very difficult to begin the course on your own.
Getting the most from an online course
There are several tips that can help students to get the most from their online course.
One good tip is to hold yourself accountable by setting goals. Set goals for what you need to achieve and the strategies you intend to employ in order to achieve them at the start of the course. Time should be allocated to all of these goals, and their status should be checked regularly. A specific time in your schedule needs to be assigned to do this.
Keeping to that time is essential and procrastination should be avoided. If it becomes difficult to keep to that time, then you might want to get an accountability partner in the form of a fellow student or a disciplined friend who will be able to assist you.
Make sure you have a dedicated study space. If you are learning from home, it is a good idea to create a particular space that you use for study. It should be set up in the manner of an office or workspace, and a high-speed internet connection will be essential. Get all the required textbooks or digital materials to have on hand. Use an earpiece or headphones to listen to discussions or lectures to avoid distractions.
Students need to be aware of the type of environment that best serves their productivity. Some may prefer to study in a corner in a quiet coffee shop, while others may want quiet music on in the background or complete silence.
Work out the ways in which you learn best, such as during the morning, afternoon or evening. Morning people should study first thing, but night owls might be better off waiting until after dark to begin their study, while others may work best just after lunch. Take your schedule into consideration and make a decision as to the best time to be assigned to lectures if you have an option.
Those who prefer text-to-video or audio learning may also consider transcribing video and audio notes to text, while those who prefer to listen should take the time to replay all audio-visual content to properly assimilate all the information.
It is not possible to actively participate when learning online. The most active participation you will be able to undertake is asking questions when something is not clear, making comments on the work of a classmate or answering questions asked of you. Check in on your class discussion thread every so often, and if you are not getting the most from your class speak up so that you do not fall behind.
If you feel you need to meet your teacher in person, send them an email immediately.
Another good tip is to network with your fellow students. Many students who take an online course feel as if they are learning on their own but there is a way to remedy this problem. The majority of online courses are designed to promote collaboration with fellow students and teachers, so introduce yourself to everyone and take an active part in discussions. You may also wish to help create a virtual study group and then learn in a group, something that could come in handy in preparing for exams.
Is an online course a guaranteed success?
An online course will be successful, depending on the way you define success. Someone wanting a better life will have an excellent chance to find just that with the use of their own computer and home internet. There are now many accredited online programs that are recognized and accepted by employers and will help students to be taken seriously when they submit their resume.
People who have tight work schedules and dependents also now have a method of meeting their academic demands without having to disrupt their other responsibilities, and online archives keep lectures accessible from anywhere.
Online courses save on the costs of more than just transportation. There is no longer any need for fees for classrooms, books and other learning materials or alternative housing. The cost of tuition is also usually considerably less than it is in the case of a traditional school.
Those with no experience with online learning may be best served beginning with the hybrid model to begin with and then trying fully online learning later if they succeed at that. Subject matter can also play a role, with some subjects being more difficult to learn online.
If you are still uncertain about the type of online course you would prefer to study, talk to the teachers offering the course and ask about expectations and their approach prior to signing up. If you do choose to take a course, you should begin as soon as you can.
