We don’t want to put you off studying online, but rather encourage you. When you understand what other students have mentioned as minor challenges and then follow some easy advice on how to overcome these challenges, you will be able to navigate your way to the most user-friendly and valuable courses online.
Presentation of course content
No more books, no more classes to attend, great stuff! Switch on a PC and get started. First question you need to ask when looking at an online course is, how the content is being presented to you, the student. Are you downloading .pdf’s and then being required to read them as the course content? Is there a level of interaction? Are you able to view videos, do quizzes online or partake in discussions with a lecturer? Is there a support person to assist you?
Solution: Ask these questions before you commit to an online course. Be aware of how the course is being presented, what is expected of you in terms of interaction and also what qualifications you will receive.
Time Management
Getting to grips with how long an online course is going to take you and how much time you need to dedicate to achieve your desired results, requires some planning. In a traditional classroom environment, you are requi
red to sit in lectures for a certain amount of time, and provided you put in the work during these times, you should be able to succeed. In the online environment, time management is in your own hands, your own planning will to a great extent impact your success.
Solution: Get a breakdown of the timing requirements from the online course provider before starting. Plan your own timing around this timeline and stick to these times. Discipline and self-motivation is the key to succeeding.
Feedback & Communication
In a classroom environment, asking the lecturer a question requires raising your hand. How would you do this in an online environment?
Solution: Getting your head around the efficient use of email or social media for support assistance makes for a much more convenient solution. Make sure the course provider you select has support backup. Pose a question and receive a response through various communication mediums – which should be catered for.
As an online course provider, Tuit has looked at these main flaws in current online learning solutions and is constantly striving to provide better solutions to students online learning needs, which address concerns
and provides real solutions.
Have a look at some of our Learning-on-Demand Workshops related to e-Learning!
Best Practise for eLearning Development
Introduction to e-Learning
