Every year, more and more Americans choose online learning to achieve their goals, satisfy their curiosity, and improve their job prospects. But what exactly is online learning? What happens in an online classroom?
There are many different online learning methods, and some are more effective than others. Before choosing an online course or school, it is important to think about what online learning methods work for you. Here are a few things to consider.
When the course begins?
Some online schools start courses at a specific time, so students will advance through the curriculum together. Other schools allow students to start a course at any time and move at their own pace.
Think about your learning style: do you like learning with others and exchanging ideas with your classmates, or do you like being free to work at your own pace?
How will you communicate with teachers or tutors?
Some teachers or tutors communicate with students by email, and others use live video conferencing technologies. The more access you have to teaching staff and the more interactive the contact method, the better. Live video or chat technology is always better than waiting for a response to your email, and the best online courses always offer it.
Before enrolling in an online course, ask the school how often the teacher or tutor will be available and how they will be contacted. Do teachers or tutors supervise online courses group discussion sessions? How often will they be online for individual consultations? How fast will they respond to email? It may sound obvious, but if you live in another time zone for the teacher or tutor, check to see that their office hours don't drop during the middle of your night!
What course material is required and how is it accessed?
Some schools that are new to online learning still use paper textbooks, but more advanced schools take advantage of technology in their course materials. Does the school use digital audio and video files or electronic textbooks? Do you have to pay extra for access to these materials? Are they produced by experts in the field? And will you have access to course materials after class ends?
Before enrolling in an online course or program, think about your learning style and decide if you want classmates online or if you want to work at your own pace. Ask how you will communicate with your teacher or tutor. If you can consult with them individually via video conferencing, you probably have a better online learning experience.
Finally, ask about class materials. Look for courses that provide free digital and interactive materials that you can keep as long as you need them.
With a little advance research, it's not difficult to find online programs with expert teachers and high-quality course materials. Sure, you have to be careful when you choose a school, but online learning is growing for a reason: it's a great way to learn.
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