Beginning the process of applying to go back to school is a daunting one for many. It involves paperwork, documents, and many decisions. The first decision that must be made is to apply. Adult learners find that pursing an online degree will allow them the freedom and flexibility of going to school on their time and within their schedule. This is the case for most adult learners, but that doesn’t mean that it will be sitting in a lounge chair with margarita next to your laptop. It requires dedication, persistence, time-management, effective communication skills, and a good study environment. Students must decide to dedicate time to work on school work. Online programs present all the material at the beginning of the course. Dedicating time to work on the assignments will ensure that work gets completed and to a high standard. Time will slip away from a student that doesn’t plan to dedicate time to the online work. Dedicating time to studying and school work must be intentional. There are likely going to be struggles when it comes to online school programs. There may be technical problems that might pop up at the beginning of a course or challenges related to a professor who doesn’t have a readily available office or office hours. This may stress some students …show more content…
Students must try to look at the syllabus and make a schedule for the assignments. This will help the student to organize and prioritize their work throughout the course duration. A plan will keep the student on track and organized. If an unforeseen circumstance comes up for the student, the plan will help them get through the challenge without major ramifications. If the unforeseen circumstance becomes a major obstacle, the student should contact the instructor and their advisor of the situation, so a new plan can be
Now you might ask your self, “what goes into a planner besides, my homework assignments?’ And good answer would be your daily appointments, a list of all your test and quiz’s, even final dates. With every class there is always syllabus and on the syllabus is a list of project and papers and a number of test. If you read closely you will find the dates of ever paper, project and test. This information is very useful in planning out your week and monthly schedule. If you know that you have a test in your history class on Friday and a religion paper due the same day you can plan out time to prepare for both. The best type of planner to use is one that is well equipped with a small month calendar that you can write on and a large weekly and daily schedule that is easy to write on with lots of space. Another easy way to stay organized to keep a semester calendar in your dorm room over your desk with all the important dates on it such as test dates, due dates for papers and project due dates. The purpose to be organized is to make you life a lot easier, and more efficient, with the planner you can now be prepared for what lies ahead at Calvin College.
However, when a student takes an online class the student and professor are at a disadvantage of building an interpersonal relationship. For example, a professor is unable to read the nonverbal cues of a struggling student through a computer screen or is unable to tell if a student is experiencing a true emergency. Just as, a student is unable to read their professors nonverbal cues that a particular chapter or assignment is vital to passing the course. I have taken classes on campus and online classes for three semesters now and have learned that regardless of class format a student needs to be dedicated, structured, self-motivated and not afraid to ask questions. A disadvantage of taking an online class is if a web portal is not working properly.
Time management skills develop over time and not all methods work for everyone. For instance, some students may need visual methods such as schedules or calendars they can post on their walls or doors to keep track of their time. Others may use computer programs that alert them of tasks and events. The objective is to find a tool that works for students. “Time management includes setting goals, meeting deadlines, using time management aids such as list making, coping with change, making plans, and effectively organizing one's time ( Roberts and et al, 2006).” (Nadinloyi, 2013) When analyzing time spent on activities, students should start by writing down activities and dates. For example, writing down tests dates, homework assignments and project due dates is a great way to keep up on school work. Students who make plans to complete activities are more likely to stay
Many benefits are associated with enrolling in an online degree program. Flexibility, convenience, overall lower cost due to the savings of travel expenses and parking passes, and a higher degree of anonymity, are the most common benefits of enrolling in an online program. Moore and Kearsely(2005) indicated that most online students are adults between the ages of 25 and 50.(resource number 7) In 2003, 34 percent of 1000 representative higher education institutions offered a complete online degree program (Allen & Seaman, 2004)(Resource number 7).
Online enrollment is rapidly increasing every year. Even though there is a tremendous amount of positive feedback about online learning, there are others that see nothing but cons. I, on the other hand, see nothing but the postives. Online learning keeps students motivated to do their work because they are allowed to work at their own pace and can take classes most traditional high schools do not offer.
Online school and classes have major flexibility in many aspects. For example, a student can accomplish their classes from their own home. It also does not necessarily matter the time of day that the student feels to do their work, so the student can make their own schedule. Along with that schedule, the student can choose the pace of the class so they can learn the material to the best of their ability. Also, online schools such as Florida Virtual School (FLVS) may offer more
With online education, the instructor delivers the content, but students must take greater initiative to access, learn, and understand the material. In addition, students have to actively seek help. Online students may lack the motivation to learn independently. Students, especially those new to higher education, may become easily discouraged when faced with particular academic challenges and drop out. Online education makes it harder to maximize student learning outcomes because the resources that foster learning in face-to-face environments are substantially diminished. In other words, online instruction may not provide sufficient student support. In face-to-face classes, students have their classmates, learning centers on campus, professors ' office hours, tutors, and teaching assistants to support and help them with their various learning needs. These resources guide them, clarify and reinforce the material, and allow them to succeed in their
Not all students can adapt to virtual learning, as students have to be good readers and the online program may lack the auditory support found in traditional classes. They also must be self-motivated and organized so as to keep track of their work and assignment due dates. Students wishing to take classes that require direct instruction and use of materials not available at home, such as science classes requiring lab work or cooking classes, may have to enroll in classes elsewhere. There has also been some concern “that students who are enrolled full-time in online public schools may suffer from a lack of opportunities for socialization, and consequently may fail to develop important social skills” (Sivin-Kachala & Bialo, 2009, p. 2). There are both pros and cons to virtual learning.
One of the major advantages of an online degree program is the flexibility it provides to someone working a demanding job, living geographically removed from a college campus, or that simply finds it most convenient for a host of other reasons. These challenges of the modern workforce have in fact been the big driver behind the exponential rise in online degree programs over the past decade. Furthermore, the flexibility provided by an online degree program enables tailoring a program matched to personal learning style and pace.
Some students within society need to have online learning to complete college degrees due to their lifestyles. While it
The opportunity to obtain a degree through an online setting has provided some liberation to students who then take advantage of that opportunity. The problem, however, lies in employment upon successful completion of an online program. Having an online degree possibly means some bumps down the road of employment, being that the degree could perhaps be ranked lower, as opposed to the traditional degree. Studies show that employers are more prone to hire someone with a traditional degree versus an online degree. In the Chronicle of Online Education, Carnevale states that, “The reviews of individuals who assess qualified candidates for particular positions demonstrate an inclination against online degrees, although these programs are becoming more readily accessible through universities on the web (Carnevale 2007)”. It is clear that even with the qualifications that one may possess from online education, employers still remain inclined. Some employers may feel that the degrees can’t correlate with one another and that one receives a better understanding of the coursework at traditional colleges. In the article, Employer’s Perspective of Online Education, Linardopoulos finds apprehensions regarding employer’s views of online learning. He says, “Online learning does not provide adequate
When students are deciding on where to go to college, they have the option of choosing between online classes and the traditional classroom classes. Today, some students are finding it much easier to maintain a job, family and start a college career, all by taking online classes. Although some students still prefer to stick with the traditional classroom classes, they still have the option to take online classes. Both online and the traditional classes will provide the educational requirements needed to obtain a college degree and opportunities in the work field. Although the online classes offer just as much as the traditional classes, they are completely different when it comes to teaching methods, course material and time.
Staying organized is key to getting good grades in college because it helps with all of the other aspects that people have to do in order to achieve their goals. Using a planner can help a lot when it comes to staying organized, it helps to write down when all of the assignments that are due (Dartmouth). Mapping out the deadlines when the teacher hands out the syllabus will help student 's know what to expect and know how fast-paced the class is going to be (Rachel). People can also break down the assignments into smaller ones so that it will be easier to get the project done (Dartmouth). A three-ringed binder will help stay organized when someone misses a class and
Many students say online courses are convenient. Online courses allow students to plan according to their schedule, and the time and location that best works for them. Although online education may seem more “easier,” students should look at the cons of online education. In the feature article "Face-Face or Online Instruction? Face-Face is Better," the author, Arleen R. Bejerano, claims online courses take the students away from the college community and confines them to their home. The students no longer have interaction with the college community, which may cause them to miss out on some important opportunities. This may affect their possibility of succeeding to achieve a degree. The author suggests some students may become discouraged from learning independently, from facing challenges in academics, and fall behind or
Online learning, also known as distance learning or online learning, has become a new and successful means of receiving an education in a highly technologically enhanced environment (Regan, Evmenova, Baker, Jerome, Spencer, Lawson, & Werner, 2012). Kaymak and Horzum (2013) defined online learning as using Internet technology to gain knowledge and skills through the use of synchronous and asynchronous learning tools. Allen and Seaman (2013) stated that about 6.7 million students attending colleges and universities across the United States were successfully enrolled in at least one online course in 2011. There is an increased interest in online learning that continues to grow as a result of the amplified demands from the work place and the escalating availability of nontraditional educational options and providers (Allen & Seaman, 2008).