On-line learning

On-line learning has become one of the most accessible forms of learning.  You can learn in the comfort of your own home, at your own pace and when you feel like it.  But who is going to instil the fun of learning and what happens to the attraction of going to a class to meet other people.

On-line learning requires disciple, but you can learn anything from setting your goals to learning how to write articles and books to gaining a university degree at Oxford.  One website http://www.worldwidelearn.com/index.html claims it can direct you to a choice of over 5000 on line courses.

To succeed with your on-line education requires discipline, motivation and a work routine.  You probably need to set aside an area in your home devoted to study.  Below is an example of a strategy used to support on-line learning

Example  of On-line Learning Strategy

Unlike other major study I have undertaken, this is not my key focus – there are currently many competing demands for me time. Therefore it becomes important to develop a strategy that enables me to get into an effective study frame of mind quickly and easy.  And have the motivation to do it in short bursts. I need a new part-time strategy.  This strategy involves breaking the major goal down into much small focuses, smaller even than each assignment or each question.  The process follows the following steps:

1.      have all necessary pieces of equipment and utensils at hand

-         paper, pens, highlighter – questions – text books

-         other reference books near by

2.      have dedicated study area:

-         select an appropriate piece of music and play at beginning of each study

-         glass of water

3.      read the question

4.      close eyes and visualise the answer to the question under various scenarios:

-         explaining to someone

-         applying any technique in the question

-         writing the answer to the question

5.      when I finish visualisation (or sometimes during the visualisation) write the answer

-         have some time dedicated just to getting quickly and thinking about the question I next needed to answer

What is your strategy for On-line learning?

• Have you made the space? Not only the physical space, but the space with your family and the space within your own time and activities. 

• Can you see yourself successfully completing your on-line learning project?

• Can you see the benefits of success?

• Do you know how to make it fun?

• Do you have a mentor or someone you can talk to when you fear you are drifting of track