Keeping your Motivation Online
By our very nature, humans are social beings. From our time as hunter gatherers on the plains of Africa to our current age of modernity, we have achieved so much through our ability to collaborate and act together towards a common goal. The theme of collaboration, while important in many aspects of life, is perhaps one of the most important of the education space. Nearly every day from the age of five until eighteen, we enter a classroom and learn together. If you needed a pen, you asked the person next to you; if you were not sure of an answer, you had a peek over their shoulder. When it was time for university, you certainly become more independent in your learning, but teamwork and cooperation were still just as prevalent. There were always the group assignments to take care of and the study sessions with fellow course mates. The other common theme here is that, at a certain point in time, these activities would be taking place face to face and at the same time and place. With the events of the last couple of years, it has been the exception rather than the rule that you would be learning in such a manner. Instead, learning online has become the primary medium for undertaking education. This has brought to light many challenges for students and providers alike, especially for those that have never had to do it that way. There is no denying the difficulties associated with online learning, but that is not to say that these cannot be overcome, nor is that to say that there are a multitude of positives that we as learners can benefit from in both our academic and personal lives.
Take time to self-reflect
When thinking about returning to study or doing so for the first time, one of the first questions you need to be asking yourself is, should I study online or attend campus? Once you have answered this question, it is time to ask another two. The first of these is why do I want to study and the second is, have I studied before? Having clear and concise answers for these initial questions are important because they let you demonstrate to yourself that you are motivated to begin study. Further to this, depending on the answers, they will let you decide what type of course you will settle on. If you are still reading this, we will assume that you have chose to study online. Fantastic! Answering if you have studied before or not is an easy yes or no response, but it is still important to answer as it will help you decide the length and type of qualification. Before that final choice, you will have to answer why you want to study. It could be that you are wishing to upskill for a current job, change career or you are fresh out of school and looking to make your start. Once you have decided on your “have” and “why”, you should be able to move forwards with confidence in picking a course. If your answers are that you have never studied online before and are doing so for professional development, an online short course could be the way to go. If you have never studied online before but are looking to change or start a career, starting small with an online certificate III or IV could be an ideal solution. If you have studied before then it could be that you will undertake a diploma level online course, and perhaps once that is done, move on to a bachelor level university degree. Now that you have hopefully decided on which online course you would like to undertake, the hard part starts- staying motivated!
Planning for success
With the dropout rate of students studying online being roughly 20% higher than that of on-campus students and the course completion rate being 2.5 times lower, undertaking an online course is no easy task. Although it has been shown that institutions have a responsibility to prevent dropouts, statistics show that around 25% of students were still liable to leave the course because of their approach to enrolment and their motivation to complete the course. The first step to staying motivated is to realise that the responsibility is on you as the student to set the agenda of study. This means that it is up to you to, when first beginning your chosen course, to sit down and make a study plan for yourself to follow and use as a guide. When designing a study plan it is important to ensure that, especially if you have never undertaken an online course before, you start small with your study goals. Segment your plan into 15-minute blocks, which will allow you to do some light reading of the course content and to make some initial notes. Use these initial stages to then plan the early stages of an assignment or project you are required to complete. It is overall most important not to go too hard too early and burn yourself out. After building some study stamina, you can then move forward with some more ambitious study goals, perhaps penciling in some extended evening stints in front of the laptop or some early morning writing before you start your day. Also be aware that setting your own timetable can become a double-edged sword, with the temptation to simply give yourself an extra afternoon off hovering over your shoulder, or you overestimate your abilities at the time and overload your schedule causing undue stress. Lastly, reaching and achieving a goal is meaningless without some sort of reward. So, remember, no matter how big or small the achievement during your studies, treat yourself in some way to remind yourself there is a reason you are doing it and to keep your motivation high.
The opportunities of online learning
The most difficult thing to come to terms with during online learning is developing new ways to create a connection with your teachers and fellow learners, as this would happen much more easily in a physical classroom environment. This apparent negative though, provides an opportunity to develop new technology skills to be able to communicate effectively while learning online. Online learning also gives you access to a far greater pool of potential collaborators with whom to work with on your course. To overcome this issue further, it could be that someone in your personal life is doing the same course as you and so you would be able to join with them and complete the course together. There might also come a time when you would have the opportunity to meet up with someone who you have become familiar with while studying online with them. Maintaining verbal as well as written contact with your teacher or trainer is also key to staying motivated and connected to your chosen course. Remember, you are spending your hard-earned money on this course to improve yourself, and so don’t be afraid to pester your chosen institution for support if you need it.
Keeping balance
Having a work-life balance is important. Many students studying online are doing so to able to continue to work, and so this balance can become a study-work-life balance, which some find quite difficult to handle. To make it easier, taking the time to meet up with friends and family on your weekends is a good way to relax and discuss your course and how it is making you feel. It also gives you a chance to discuss your motivations, which can assist in reaffirming those in your own mind. Another point of order is to keep up with any hobbies or sporting groups you are a part of. Getting out and about for some regular exercise is great for physical health and it has also been shown to improve your thinking and memory skills when it comes to learning. Being able to separate yourself from your online studies lets you keep perspective on life as a whole and to not become bogged down and drained by existing in an online study world.
Stay active, stay focussed
Staying motivated and on track with your studies in the hectic maelstrom of the modern world is no easy task. Keeping your motivation and trajectory on target starts with picking the right course for your work and life commitments. It depends on a solid study plan for your studies, while making sure that you start small and reward yourself when you reach one of your stepping stones. It means keeping in contact with your chosen education provider and reaching out for support when needed but also forming your own online community with fellow learners undertaking the same course. Finally, an active body maintains a sharp and alert mind, giving you the tools you need to build your motivation and get to where you want with your studies and in life.
