More and more students are attracted by e-learning and online education these days. The reasons for this are many. First of all, online education allows the flexibility for students to study at their own pace wherever they are across the globe. In addition, many degrees transfer very well online and allow participants to obtain the exact same level of expertise they would get through an on-campus education. However, there are also many challenges facing online education and online students. In this article, we’re going to touch on a few of them and how they can be remedied.
Adaptability Issues
Going from a traditional classroom setting with an actual face to face interaction with students and instructors to a completely virtual classroom can completely change the learning experience for any students. Some just can’t adapt to change and may have difficulty adapting to this new model. In addition, while some programs such as a masters in health informatics are easily transferrable online, it isn’t the case for all classes.
Passive listening and learning are expected in a classroom setting, but online discussions demand interaction. One of the ways to remedy this situation is for students to discuss the benefits of online education with some of their peers to see if they are a fit for the student’s personality and learning style, and also to go for classes that are easily transferable online, such as an online master in health informatics degree.
Technical Difficulties
Online courses demand basic access to high speed internet and basic hardware requirements. However, for many reasons, students might be technologically limited and may not have access to the best hardware. This can make the learning experience difficult for some. For instance, you may have a great computer on your hands, but if you have a weak graphic card or your internet service is spotty, you might have difficulty dealing with live streaming. The only way to remedy this situation is to make sure that you are fully aware of what the hardware requirements will be for any course you choose to take and make sure that you’re properlyequipped.
Computer Literacy
Some students are just not very good with computers. For instance, some students might prefer taking notes by hand than through their computers. Some just aren’t good at typing. While computer literacy might seem like a natural skill for some, it is not required of all professions yet, and for someone seeking a more traditional degree that doesn’t demand computer literacy per se, this can be very frustrating. Any online student will need to at least be able to master basic programs such as Microsoft word or PowerPoint in order to manage their files.
The solution is to enroll in basic computer literacy courses or attend a local workshop if you want to learn the basic of hardware and a few essential pieces of software.
Online education is a great way to obtain a post graduate education. However, before you decide to enroll for online classes, it is important that you gain the proper computer knowledge, be prepared to accept change, and also make sure that you have the proper hardware requirements to enjoy all the benefits of your online course.