Is online learning really for me?

Abydos Academy Team






With COVID-19 forcing the world to adapt and move to online learning, it's probably wise to consider if it suits your learning style.

E-learning allows learners to learn wherever and whenever they want. However, there are some key things to consider before you embark on your e-learning journey, which sometimes creates roadblocks for the novice online learner.

Motivation: Learning requires motivation.

There are usually no teachers or instructors in the online environment to prompt you or encourage you to put in more effort. At school, you are often shepherded into completing assigned tasks and given clear timeframes to complete and submit assignments. When studying online, the onus is on you to motivate yourself using intrinsic and extrinsic motivators.

Intrinsic motivators rely on the value of the content of what you are learning. If you believe what you are learning is of value to you – I want/need to learn this information - then motivation levels increase. Extrinsic motivators rely on the value of reinforcers or perceived rewards - if you complete your university degree, you will get a better job. By combining intrinsic and extrinsic motivators, you will be highly motivated and succeed. Therefore, when studying online, you need to be motivated; otherwise, you could easily get distracted by other things.

Below is a list of things you can consider to help increase your levels of motivation when completing Abydos Academy's Academic Writing courses:
  • I will do better in my university classes.
  • I will be more prepared to take on university assessments.
  • I can focus on the class content and not be distracted by learning academic writing skills because I already have these skills.
  • I will significantly reduce my chances of failing classes because I will understand what is required in my university studies.
  • The cost of repeating classes will go down, saving me time and money.
  • I will not feel overwhelmed by university studies because I will be more prepared.

Learning Styles: Different people learn in different ways.

There is a continuous debate about whether learning styles exist (see The Myth of Learning Styles and ARE LEARNING STYLES INVALID? (HINT: NO!)) or whether they pigeonhole individual learners. The recognition of how you learn best is part of the process of metacognition, where you can reflect on what best suits your thought processes and how you take in information.

In Abydos Academy's free, What Kind of Learner Am I? course, we will look at ways you can examine your own learning style and what it could mean for you if you choose to learn online.

Equipment: The right tools for the job.

To study online means that you will have to have a reliable internet connection, a tablet, mobile device, PC or laptop. If you are involved in synchronous learning, like Abydos Academy's Master Classes, it might be worth investing in a webcam (if you don't already have one on your device) and a headset with a microphone. You will also need a quiet space to get in the right frame of mind and not get distracted.

If online learning is for you, enroll with Abydos Academy today and prepare to study abroad.

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