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Posted by David R. Wetzel Jul 31, 2008 |
The best way to approach distance education is to treat it as you would anything that you are interested in, such as a hobby or something you thoroughly enjoying doing. Distance education students must become very selective and focused in their learning so they can master the information being presented in the course.
To succeed and get the most out of a distance education course you must avoid:
- Quick memorization of facts just to pass a test
- Treat assignments as busy work established by the instructor
- Failure to make connections of new information with old information
- Focusing on the parts and not seeing the whole picture of what the course is about
So how do you avoid these pitfalls, which many fall in to? Do the following:
- Focus on the significant information, the big ideas of the course
- Make connections with past knowledge and experiences, when learning new information
- Make connections with what you are doing today in your job or what you observe
- Make arguments for or against the new information, instructors like discussion
This approach will help internalize the new information, so that you gain the most from the course. I have heard many students complain about courses regarding various aspects of the course. The common threads with all these complainers are:
- They approached the course as a required useless course in their eyes
- Not interested in the course information, so they make no effort
- Too busy and find the course annoying
Regardless of why you enrolled in the course, get the most out it because you are paying for it.
Visit Distance Learning: Online Education for Adults for addition information on how to succeed in distance education.
