Online education has never been more more popular. In recent times, massive online open courses (MOOCs) have become the go-to for people looking to grow professionally, make a career pivot, learn a new skill or language or just acquire knowledge on a subject that interests them. The COVID-19 pandemic further boosted the industry, bringing the number of students for online courses (excluding China) from 120 million in 2019 to 180 million in 2020.
There are also now over 16,000 online courses available in the United States alone—making it even more difficult to decide which online course or education provider to choose. While platforms like MakeMeSmart provide much-needed guidance on course content and what to expect, and indispensable info on pricing and course providers, learning and getting the best out of your classes is still up to you.
The completion rate for online courses are abysmal, with a median of 12.6%. While many start out excited at the prospect of learning something new and getting a certificate at the end of their study, they still don’t follow through.
So what can you do?
Be Clear on What You Want to Achieve…and Write it Down
Before enrolling into a program, it helps to first define why you want to do it and what you want to achieve from it. Asking yourself questions such as “What are my immediate or long term academic or professional goals?”, “How does this course align with them?” “Why is this course important to me at this time?”, “What do I hope to get out of it?” and “Do I have better use for my time?” will not only help you define what you want to achieve but help you determine if taking the course is worth your time in that period.
Simply writing down a goal has been proven to make you more likely to achieve them. Writing down what you want to achieve from the course and keeping it where you can see it helps serve as a constant reminder of why taking the course and completing it is important to you. This is one of the most effective ways to stay motivated and focused on your goals.
Put in the Work
While online courses are designed to make learning convenient and available on demand, they could also be demanding. Modules are often designed to, after teaching you, determine your retention and understanding through tests, group work or assignments.
It is important that you put in the work required to successfully and excellently complete the tasks that you have been assigned. This would usually be in the form of readings, research, writing, discussions, reenactments and recreations. Whatever the case, be sure to do it to the best of your ability.
Practice Self-Discipline
Traditional education would usually demand that you meet an attendance quota, participate in group discussions, meet with and know your teachers, submit assignments within a stipulated time, be early to class and maintain a level of decorum. These are all activities that are sanctioned mostly by external disciplinary structures that compel discipline. What you do on or with online courses, on the other hand, are up to you.
There is also the tendency to become lax when you know that your actions or inactions are not with the degree of consequence that would be expected with traditional education. Other times, you might even have good reason to ignore your online coursework such as work, family or other things you find important. But you are not likely to learn what you need to achieve your goals this way.
In order to make the most out of your classes, you must create structures of discipline and accountability for yourself such as creating a timeline for your entire study, as well as deadlines to complete tests, assignments and readings and stick to them. Also, learn to manage your time better so that you can fit in your online study as seamlessly as possible.
If you are having problems developing self-discipline or you think you would require an additional layer of accountability to stay on track, ask a friend, family member or mentor to help you stay accountable with check-ins, reminders and questioning.
Develop Good Habits
This is perhaps one of the most underrated hacks that could change how you study and what you get out of it. Good habits have the potential to completely positively reconfigure your life, especially when they are tied to healthy keystone habits like exercising or meditating.
One of the ways to develop a habit is through routines. Simple routines such as working out in the morning, meditating, journaling and then settling down for 30 minutes to take a module in your course outline or read one of your recommended texts before going about your day will not only put you on track to achieve your goals, but become a better and healthier person while you’re at it.