Blog

What type of degree do you want? Whether online education will lend itself well to your academic pursuits will depend heavily on the kind of program you're looking for. For example, if you would like to become a clinical psychologist or nurse practitioner, hands-on experiences are obviously integral to the learning process. As such, an online course of study may not be the best route. On the other hand, if you want a simple associate's degree, the online learning experience would probably be very comparable to what you would get from a brick-and-mortar institution.

How computer-savvy are you? No amount of online education tips advice will help you if you don't know the basics of how to work a computer and search the Web. Your success in the online classroom hinges on your ability to navigate various technologies, such as online message boards, word-processing software, email, chat rooms, etc. If you are unfamiliar with these technologies, you should either reconsider online learning or master them before you enroll.

How highly do you value face-to-face interaction? With distance learning, you will be separated from your instructors and classmates by time and space. In most classes, you will never interact with your peers or instructor face to face. Before you enroll in online classes, you should ask yourself whether online interaction would be an adequate substitute for face-to-face communication for you.

Are you self-motivated? An important piece of education tips advice is to avoid online learning if you are not self-motivated and organized. The temptation to put off assignments and participation is especially strong with online classes, so you have to be motivated and diligent about completing tasks. If you have trouble pacing yourself and sticking to deadlines, you may not do well with online learning.

Do you learn best from lectures? Online instructors are not there to lecture you or regurgitate the material you should be reading on your own. They will facilitate your learning, but the responsibility is largely your own. You learn from your readings, your classmates, discussions, and feedback from your instructor, but you will not have lectures to fall back on. For people who prefer the lecture format, a brick-and-mortar institution may be best.

Can you fulfill participation requirements most days of the week? Good education tips advice is to ensure that you can participate in the online classroom on most days of the week before you enroll in courses. Many online education schools require students to participate at least five out of the seven days in the week. On these five days, you will have to contribute to the classroom in a substantive way. You should make sure you have the time and resources available to do this consistently. Learn more about preparing for online learning before you start school.