The idea of studying overseas is undoubtedly one of the most lucrative and exciting parts of a student’s life. However, many students find it hard to adapt to the culture and social life of a new country. But with time they gel in with their ambiance. As time changes, so do the pattern of education.
Online learning is being seen to usurp the traditional way of teaching. It is enjoying an insurgence of its own despite some issues faced by both students and lecturers.
The number of students who took at least some online courses grew 5.7% year-over-year from 2016 to 2017. The lecturer invests a large amount of their time in preparing the course material, and the students also need to enhance their technical prowess to comprehend the set of instructions. Even though using this way can enable an institution or university to reach a more geographically diverse student community in a cheaper way than the traditional classes. There are some problems with online courses that jeopardise their absolute success. But there also exists solutions to ease your troubles and to help you utilise the courses to its maximum extents.
Table of Contents:
1. STRUGGLING TO ADAPT
Transitioning from an in-person to virtual class is much harder than it sounds. It makes it difficult for some students to catch up. Even though many students tend to be tech-savvy, some might still struggle with the usage of applications related to the course.
They’re being designed to follow passive listening and to make notes in a traditional classroom, while this completely changes during online discussions.
Students inhibited to a traditional mindset find it challenging to adapt and may also find themselves slacking behind their peers.
How to overcome it.
- Students need to be more enthusiastic about new learning methods. Ask more questions; be it to their lecturer or their roommates in the accommodation that they share.
- Those who live by themselves can exchange mails with their peers while willing to learn with an open mind and heart.
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2. CONNECTIVITY ISSUES
Online courses serve you with the advantage of accessing them from anywhere possible. But many students are not equipped with a stable internet connection or a device with adequate storage or specs that online courses demand: low bandwidth and internal storage results in their inability to participate energetically in their class. As a result, they fail to catch up with their virtual classmates, and their learning experience becomes problematic.
How to overcome it:
- Students can change their service provider and acquire high-speed Internet.
- They can look for assistance from the administration of their student accommodation.
- Make a list of cafes and public libraries with a good wifi connection in your nearby area.
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3. TIME MANAGEMENT
According to a survey, students opt-out for online courses because of the flexibility and convenience they provide. It offers them great flexibility: they can take the courses anywhere they like, and at their own pace and with no physical limitations. However, too much flexibility often results in an inability to utilize the given time. Which makes balancing school, work, and personal responsibilities a challenge.
How to overcome it.
- Establish schedules that make time management more systematic and more comfortable to abide by.
- Make a list of things to do and set a deadline and daily reminders.
- Cancel out distractions; social media, internet browsing, gaming, etc. This would also result in focusing more on the given course.
- Break the handed tasks in parts and achieve faster results.
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4. LACK OF MOTIVATION
According to a survey, only 10% of students who register for a course complete it.
In the beginning, many students attend the classes with vigour, but it soon fades as the session progresses.
For those who’ve completed their primary or secondary education in traditional face-to-face system, online classes might seem lacklustre.
Some of these courses consist of long texts and horde of MCQ’s, which results in depriving the students of their interests as it fails to motivate or engage them. And the end up abandoning it.
How to overcome it.
- Students can engage themselves in positive talks. It’ll help them cleanse their psyche and to maintain their focus affirmably.
- Lectures can also instigate a competition between them. Like rankings, prizes, and certifications. It’ll help them strive to do better and learn more in the process.
- Learning can also be made more fun by the usage of creative videos, witty challenges, quizzes, and more such interactive style of teaching.
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5. PHYSICAL CONNECTION
E-learning comes with a lot of different advantages, but it also bags some particular limitations.
The lack of their fellow students to discuss a specific topic. Or the physical absence of a teacher can often make them disinterested or frustrated. It also devoids them of practically doing things as compared to a traditional classroom. Teachers spend years honing their skills as per the conventional way of teaching, and most of those skills are rendered useless in an online lecture.
How to overcome it.
- The instructor can organise forums, groups, or webinars for the students to exchange questions and information. Or tutors can promote classes via face time.
- Simulators can also be used to recreate real-life scenarios and practice in a safe environment. This will help in keeping the students engaged and excited to attend more lectures.
- Blended training is one of the methods used widely to enhance the experience of online learning.
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Author Bio:
Suvrahadip Ghosh is a civil engineer turned writer whose work has been published in many books including one with Durjoy Dutta.
He has worked with major web pages like Terribly Tiny Tales and The Scribbled Stories. He has also been named amongst the top 50 national windward poetry competition. He’s currently working with AmberStudent as a content writer