5 Critical Success Factors in Online Education
Beyond question, the Internet has become a leading technology booster that has drastically changed every aspect of human life in the few last decades.
Education is no exception when it comes to innovation. The physical presence of learners in a class, hard copies of essays, and lectures with no visual materials – all these, as well as many more things are considered old-fashioned by both students and professors.
Today, all you need to have at your disposal in order to learn anything is some kind of gadget – be it a laptop, tablet or even smartphone – and a good Internet connection.
This article is going to examine the core factors defining your success as a learner online.
1) Motivation
Before even subscribing to an online course, stop for a second and ask yourself: is it what I really want right now?
Keeping yourself motivated is crucial, as this is the only thing that keeps you from quitting a half-done study.
Do not waste your precious time forcing yourself to learn information related to the topic you are not genuinely interested in – it will not bring a successful outcome.
Instead, opt for deepening your knowledge in the field that you are passionate about. That way, problems of skipped classes or unwillingness to finish a course will not bother you.
2) Self-discipline
Even those who genuinely enjoy online learning might fail and leave their courses way before graduation. Why?
The answer is a lack of self-discipline. When studying online, you will not have a professor, tutor or group monitor to track your progress and force you to attend lectures or do homework.
Interacting with people through emails or social media is not that engaging comparing to actually speaking to anyone in person.
That is why the only person who could obligate you to keep studying is YOU. Being strict to yourself can be very effective when it comes to self-improvement.
Try to limit your time for entertainment and spend it on education – results will not take long to come.
3) Investments in online education
Splurging on higher education in a prestigious college or university is a normal thing that is even considered to be a very smart investment in one’s future.
But when it comes to education on the Internet – not all of us are ready to release the payment for such kind of study.
On the one hand, it is quite reasonable, as you never know what you are actually paying for and would that info be valuable for you at the end of the day.
Yet, on the other hand, spending half of an hour reading feedbacks of graduates of the course you’d like to take can deliver valuable insight and factorize online decision of you as a learner.
You should realize that spending money on a course is an investment in yourself that will sooner or later return to you.
Making a decision here is as easy as picking up an academic assistance company after reading these essay writing service reviews.
4) Experience with technology
Although web developers are working on simplification of user interface making it more friendly and intuitive, you still need to have at least some technical skills to become a web-based student.
We are not saying that being an advanced PC user is critical online, but lack of needed abilities could seriously affect the results of a whole learning process.
Before getting to it, make sure you know basic steps of using your device and operating on the Internet in general.
5) The choice of lecturer
The recent study conducted by Thierry Volery and Debora Loan (both professing at higher education institutions) has shown interesting results.
It’s been observed that a lecturer’s influence will determine whether students will take a course, finish it and implement their new found knowledge.
That’s is why it is critical to find a set of lectures or webinar hosted by a person who truly inspires you, thereby shaping you to become a best-of-breed professional in future.
The described above aspects appeared to be necessary for successful online learning regardless of subject area.
Taking them into consideration before engaging in a learning process will help you to complete a study successfully, and, what is way more important, actually turn new information into valuable skills differentiating you from other people of your profession.
Never stop improving yourself and grow professionally and personally!
About the Author:
Emma Rundle is a professional journalist with more than ten years of experience writing for magazines, newspapers, and online resources.
Two years ago, Emma started her own lifestyle blog that currently is having more than thirty thousands of subscribers.
Emma’s hobbies beyond writing include traveling, photography, and classical music.
She is a Master’s degree holder in the field of English literature and now is working as an associate lecturer at one of the US universities.