Overcoming the Challenges of Online Learning
The key for online learning success may be in first understanding what educator and author John Holt said: “Learning is not the product of teaching. Learning is the product of the activity of learners.”
Online learning is a completely different experience than being on campus and in a classroom, and it has a copious amount of advantages. That is why so many online technical college programs are available today. The schools recognize that they can offer enrollment opportunities to many students who might not otherwise be able to attend classes.
This is where I go to school!
A few advantages of online technical college programs
- Flexibility. Students can schedule their own hours for class time.
- Pace. Students can learn at their own pace, having neither to catch up nor wait for slower learners in a class to “get it.”
- Focus. Students don’t have to waste time reviewing what they have already learned, giving them time to focus on what they need to learn.
- Mobility. Students are not limited to learning at home. Mobile devices allow students to take their class at Starbucks, in a park, at the beach, or over the river and through the woods at grandmother’s house.
A few tips to learn how to deal online technical college programs
Frankly, most of the issues with online learning reflect John Holt’s quote in the opening paragraph. Successful learning ultimately depends upon the student. Here are a few tips on how to deal with them.
- Making a plan. Like anything else in life, a student has got to have a plan for an online learning experience. Students must know their objective and how each course brings them closer to achieving that objective.
- Learning skills. This is a particular problem for people who have not been in school for a while. Whether it stems from an original lack of good study habits or just mental atrophy from lack of recent use, the problem is the same. Spend time honing these skills before enrolling.
- handling the workload. Students should be certain that they actually have adequate time available to meet course requirements. Know how much you are capable of biting off and chewing.
Out of time?
- Time management skills. Going hand-in-hand with the previous point, everyone has only a limited amount of time to attend to all their responsibilities. Sometimes it is not a question of how much time one has, but how one manages the time that they do have.
- Self-discipline. Sure, a student can take a laptop or tablet to the park or the beach or grandmother’s house, but the real question is, does he have the self-discipline to focus on the task at hand when he is there?
One of the very best things a prospective or current online student can do is to create a personal advisory board. Choose three wise, mature, successful people who are easily accessible who can offer their input and direction from their own experience to help you address each of these issues. (Grandmother might be a good choice.) Become accountable to them. Let them help manage your success. Why do it alone?
To learn more about how to benefit from online programs at Florida Technical College, please contact us.
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