What Kind Of Social Life Can You Get From Online Learning

Follow AverageJunkie on Twitter | Like AverageJunkie on Facebook

All over the world, people, especially millennials, are taking online education to the next level in order to boost their social lives. When young students enter the digital world, their friends — otherwise they’re easily cut off and unaware of the highs and lows of their instructors’ and classmates’ lives.

With the rise of online learning and the explosion of digital technology, the question is: what kind of educational experience can you get from online learning?

Almost everyone is more than willing to take a class online, with more than 80 percent of 20 to 34-year-olds taking online courses, according to Datamonitor’s World Online University Survey, 2017. But, if you have a level of interest that cannot be satisfied by a general education course, you’re not alone. Not every online course will adequately prepare you for life after your education. Is online learning just another way to share your personal life? Do you need to go to every level to maximize the learning experience?

HACKING A COURSE

I’ve been examining the things that make online courses effective. What can you do to minimize the learning curve and maximize the value of any online course? A few basic rules of thumb can help you prepare for college success:

Know your skill level. Keep in mind that there’s no such thing as a perfect place to teach everything, so start with the basics. While online courses may not cater to every skill set, people with basic computer knowledge should stay with fairly challenging courses.

Keep in mind that there’s no such thing as a perfect place to teach everything, so start with the basics. While online courses may not cater to every skill set, people with basic computer knowledge should stay with fairly challenging courses. Learn from the best. Online courses are designed for the individual, so always get the help you need. Ask your instructors if you can contact an expert in the subject you’re enrolled in.

Online courses are designed for the individual, so always get the help you need. Ask your instructors if you can contact an expert in the subject you’re enrolled in. Respect the culture. Be sensitive to the particular language employed and cultures in which online courses are taught.

BE RESPECTFUL TO THE CULTURE. Be sensitive to the particular language employed and cultures in which online courses are taught. Don’t expect everyone’s education at a certain level. Online learning may be the perfect opportunity for people with mild, non-college-level educations, but don’t expect to jump from an introductory course to a first-year computer science major right away. You may find yourself comfortable with a more advanced level of education, but it may take you a long time to develop an interest in the subject matter.

OH, THE HUMILITY

So what can an online instructor do to help you improve your skills? Regular check-ins are a good place to start. Show your instructor what you’re working on and ask for feedback. Often, instructors have been working on a course for the long haul, so it’s easy to get lost in the details. With all that time invested, an instructor is likely to provide helpful guidance and explanation.

Don’t be afraid to ask. You may even be surprised to see how many experts would love to help you, given a little nudging. Most online courses provide other ways to get teachers’ help, too. Email an instructor. Ask a friendly grad student if he or she would talk you through a coding problem. Fill out online surveys. Give your instructors some time to answer these questions, and they will be glad you did.

It takes some self-discipline to keep up with the 24/7 culture of online education. However, with a little research, you can learn the basics of online learning and adjust your schedules to meet the needs of your school.