Not only do universities, as organizations, have difficulties, but so do students personally. Most of the difficulties are based on false stereotypes. How do you deal with them?
Complicacy #1. Distance education is not a freebie
Unfortunately, distance education is much harder for a student than full-time education. It’s hard to maintain motivation away from the familiar study group, in the absence of eye contact with the instructor and the disciplining atmosphere of the university. Moreover, classes from home create a false sense of “simplicity” of what is going on, especially if you try to attend them directly from a “lying down” position.
So, any student needs to make more effort to achieve the effectiveness of the learning process, as if to overcome the cozy home atmosphere.
First, I advise you to observe the daily routine typical of regular full-time study. Secondly, I do not advise (sorry) to study remotely in your home clothes: on the one hand, the teacher and classmates see you, and on the other hand, the observance of standard rituals of full-time education forces the body to “tune in” to the essence of the process, ignoring the form. Also, don’t study lying down – sit down at the table. Thirdly, use online transcription services and do not interrupt classes by watching soap operas, movies or playing any computer games.
It is necessary to take the listening material more seriously. Good discipline is the key to successful distance learning even more than successful face-to-face learning. This is confirmed by many studies, which means that discipline should be respected.
Challenge #2. Video material doesn’t sit well in memory
In fact, going back to the discipline, you need to keep a record of the material (especially lectures), even if you don’t do it in your regular, everyday study. The traditional perception of video material is tightly bound up with the perception of soap operas or movies, which mostly require no effort to perceive and comprehend. After all, the fact that formulas are not written on a presentation (or chalk on the board) but on a video does not make them any clearer.
Moreover, rereading a recorded lecture will not help you better understand it, just as watching a movie will, but taking notes will. Take notes during the lecture or seminar. Ask any question you don’t understand right away in the chat, and then ask it in your voice. This is especially important because there is difficulty #3.
Complicacy #3. The instructor doesn’t have a sense of the audience
Many of our university professors have no experience teaching distance learning classes. So, they have absolutely no understanding of how to keep the audience’s attention in such a situation. They can’t see the reaction with their eyes, which means it’s hard for them to understand that their material isn’t being understood. Distance learning is not just an online course.
To support the instructor and better understand the material, ask questions as soon as they arise. Moreover, do not be afraid to ask them even more than usual, it will allow the teacher to quickly correct the material. Record the answers in the chat, if the teacher does not have time to enter them there himself.
In this aspect, the proverbial quality of the educational process literally depends on you as the student. Ask questions by mail and after the lecture or seminar. Without feedback, the process will fall apart.
Complication #4. The distance format requires self-study
Even if it’s not voiced, self-study is a necessary element of distance learning. Many of the materials the teacher will not have time to tell you even if he or she really wants to, and it will be extremely difficult to come to “extras”, especially if you have gone home and there is a difference in time zones. I do not advise you to go home if you live further than three time zones with a plus sign from the university. For example, from Moscow to Barnaul. Evening classes will end for you in the middle of the night.
Keep track of your gaps in your knowledge yourself. Remember that distance learning is more difficult than full-time education, which means you have to put more effort into the result. Online courses, practice where possible, repetition of tasks is a necessary element of distance learning. By the way, don’t forget to keep in touch with your group.
Challenge #5. You want to walk, not to learn, or, on the contrary, you only want to learn
It is obvious that distance learning saves time. You have at least two free hours a day, which you do not spend on your way to university. Many universities will reduce the number of classes, for example, by eliminating physical education. You want to spend it on walking or relaxing.
Don’t
It’s frustrating and discipline drops right away. Better try to study one of the online courses, which are now widely available for free. Focus on humanities and programming courses, because they have developed effective systems for testing skills. Distance is a great way to tighten up those skills that are sinking in. But you can also learn something new. The choice is very wide, especially since courses in Russian are now well represented on the Internet.
But do not go overboard. You do not need to take ten online courses at once. You simply do not have enough time to learn, you will fail the basic courses, and you will not master online. One or two courses at most. Choose wisely!
The conclusion is very simple – don’t relax. Despite the seemingly huge amount of free time in the midst of learning, if you relax, it will only get worse in the end. The current period is a chance for each individual student to gain a unique competitive advantage in the future job market. A real opportunity to build an individual trajectory.
Take advantage, but be careful.
Also read: Benefits of Using a Learning Management System in Your Organization
