In the past six years, online education for both professional adults and
new learners has grown as an increasingly popular and viable alternative to
gathering degrees and certifications previously only offered on-site via campus
or workplace training programs.
If you’re considering e-learning, there are some very good questions to
look at prior to tackling a distance learning program. One of the most important
items to consider in online learning vs. on-site educational options is if the
online courses and curriculum will match your learning style and your time
constraints.
To be successful in an online learning curriculum, you must be
independent and self-motivated and able to establish very practical and
determined study habits.You must also be focused on what you want to accomplish
via online study. For instance, if you’re not sure what you want to study, or
what you want to pursue, then an on-site learning program might be a better fit
for you then online studies.
If you’ve already been out in the work environment for some time and know
specifically what you want to accomplish to further your education, but need a
more flexible and independent way to further your educational goals, such as
garnering an online MBA, for instance, then e-learning might be your ticket for
further success. Keep in mind that e-learning does not imply a “time shortcut”.
There is still a substantial amount of time involved in any online class
offering, and you are the only one who is, in the case of online learning,
responsible for allotting the amount of time towards completing your course
requirements. The key to the “time” with an online as opposed to on-site
learning program is that there often exists more flexibility in scheduling time
to do the work. If your family, work and employer constraints don’t allow you
the opportunity or the extra time (for instance, time during the day to attend a
two hour class) to follow a more traditional learning based curriculum, then an
online program might be a better fit for you as well.
Is
Online Learning for You?
Keep in mind that at any time in our educational “lives”, our educational
needs can change. A great benefit to pursuing an e-learning program is found in
the present strength of many of the certifications or session hours, because
many of the hours or certifications you gather as an e-learner can be
transferred to a site based campus program as well. Here are some important
questions/items to consider in helping you decide if online learning is the best
option for you:
- What do you hope to gain from this course and
certification and why would it work well with your current
schedule?
- How much time can you devote to an online
course?
- How comfortable are you with your computer
skills, in regard to accessing the Internet, chat rooms, instant messaging,
e-mail, browsing and word processing programs?
- Are you an independent learner? Do you learn
better in a group, or individually?
- What is the learning method you are most
comfortable with? Do you plan, set and accomplish goals? Often online learning
is not the best option for someone who puts off things until the last minute.
- Are you comfortable with online faculty and
student feedback? Do you prefer your feedback to be on a written,
conversational, or e-mail basis? Do you feel anxiety if you cannot “talk” to
the instructor?
- Are you an independent reader? Are you a good
researcher and can you direct your research independently and comfortably
without intense and frequent guidance?
- Do you enjoy solitary learning?
If you don’t know the answer to all the questions listed above, don’t
give up. Instead, gather more information. There are so many learning
alternatives available you’ll find the right fit for you. A good resource to
start with is elearningpost.
