Making the decision to do a degree program of any kind is both exciting and daunting, especially if you’ve been out of formal education for a while. This is true no matter what subject you’re studying, or what your reasons are for returning to college. If you’re choosing to take your degree course online, you might find the prospect even more intimidating because you’re not used to virtual learning. The good news is that there are lots of little steps you can take to prepare yourself for the challenge of doing a degree online and giving yourself the best chance of excelling academically. Read on to find out more about the online study and get so me top tips on how to succeed at it.
How
will I learn during an online degree?
When you take a degree program
online, you will normally come across many different methods of digital
teaching and learning. They will vary according to the institution you study
with and the specific course you enroll on, but could include some or all of
the following:
•
live or
prerecorded lectures by professors
•
live video
seminars with small groups of students
•
interactive
online quizzes
•
online
discussion boards and forums
•
audio and
visual resources
•
online reading
materials
•
group projects
•
case studies
•
individual
research projects
•
written
assignments and examinations
• oral examinations via video call
Some programs also include an element of in-person teaching and learning. For example, you might be required to attend a workshop on campus for a week if there are practical elements of your degree that can’t be replicated digitally. Other courses such as BSN accelerated programs involve completing clinical placements at a location near to where you live.
Whichever course you enroll on, you’ll have access to a range of online college support services to help you out if you need it. In addition, your professors and other staff members will only be an instant message, email, or video call away. Thanks to the recent developments in technology, you’re guaranteed to receive the same high standard of education during an online degree as you would on a traditional course held on campus.
What
are the benefits of doing a degree online?
There are many different
advantages to taking your degree online, which is one of the reasons why this
method of study has grown so popular in recent years. Some of the most notable
benefits include:
•
Flexibility –
you can study at a time and pace that suits you, enabling you to fit your
learning around any existing work or family commitments you may have. This
makes online study especially popular with mature students. Whether you want to
study in the early morning, on your lunch break, late at night or on weekends,
the choice is yours.
•
Convenience –
you can also choose to study at any location you like. This could be your home office, a local library, your favorite coffee shop, the break
room at work, or even your sofa! That way you can tailor your study environment
to suit your personal learning style, whether you need absolute silence to
concentrate or prefer some background noise.
•
Cost – taking a
degree online can often be cheaper than traditional campus courses. This is
partly because the tuition fees themselves are generally lower, but also
because it eliminates the need to cover other costs such as commuting to campus
or finding accommodation near college for the semester.
•
Tech skills –
in addition to the knowledge you gain in your chosen subject area, doing your
degree online also helps you to develop a broad range of useful IT skills in a
supportive environment. This is because you’ll be using lots of cutting-edge
software during your studies. Plus, many businesses are now incorporating this
same technology into the workplace, meaning you might have a head start when it
comes to using new technology in your job.
• Life skills – studying for an online degree means that you have totake responsibility for your own learning. As such, you’ll naturally develop certain key life skills such as organization, self-motivation and time management, which will be useful no matter what career you progress to.
How
can I prepare for an online degree?
If you’ve never undertaken
online learning before or it’s been a while since you were in formal education,
it’s understandable that you’re feeling a little bit nervous about doing an
online degree. Here are some top tips to help you prepare and set yourself up
for success:
•
Figure out a
study schedule that fits around your existing obligations and suits your
learning style. It’s best to set aside dedicated chunks of time for your
college work, whether that’s a little bit every day or longer periods a couple
of times a week. Then do your best to stick to them. This is much more
effective than simply trying to shoehorn your study in as and when you can.
•
Set up your
ideal study space at home where you can do your assignments. This could be an
entire home office, or just a desk in the corner of the dining room depending
on how much space you have. Make sure there’s enough room for your computer and
study materials, and try to set everything up
ergonomically to ensure you
have good posture when you study. Good lighting is also key for preventing eye strain. Having a dedicated study space helps to signal to
your brain that it’s time to knuckle down and work – and indicates to other
people that you’re not to be disturbed!
•
Sign up for a
free short online course to get used to virtual study (ideally in a topic
that’s relevant to your degree). This will help you to learn how to use
different digital teaching tools, and also work out how you personally learn
best. Then when it’s time to begin your degree, you’ll be able to hit the
ground running!
•
Don’t be shy
about asking for help. Your friends and family are sure to want you to succeed,
so won’t mind watching the kids for an evening while you work on an essay or
rearranging a hangout to fit around your classes. Your college will also have
plenty of support services available, so be sure to make use of them when you
need to – after all, it’s what they’re there for!
