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Friday, 7 February 2014

Online Education Vs. Traditional Classes

By Franklin Skribbit


The beginning of a new semester is a time where you get to analyze your experience in school so far and make changes that will help you become a better student. While a large portion of the learning you do in college has to do with your courses and major, there is also a great opportunity to learn how more effectively deal with the challenges you face every day. So if you want to have the best semester yet, then follow these tips in order to start it off the right way.

Not all students are alike. Some will do better in a regular class; some less motivated students will fail in an online class. It has to be a personal decision, so it's a good idea to consider the pros and cons.

Planner - Get a planner! It doesn't matter if it's paper or electronic, just make sure you have (and use) one. (And no, your brain doesn't count.) Plan out your days hour by hour. Write in everything you can possibly think of like classes, graphic arts club meetings, work shifts, dates, parties, study group sessions, and so on.

Study Time - Once you have all your scheduled activities/events written in, schedule in specific times to study. If there isn't enough room left for study, you'll have to cut out some of the less-important scheduled activities (parties, dates, club meetings).

While everyone has their own way they like to organize their life, not everybody does it. And in college, where life can often get hectic and crazy with projects and papers continuing to pile up, organization can be an extremely valuable quality. So promise yourself that this semester you'll take the challenge to be more organized in your life. Take the time to look through your class schedules and syllabuses in order to make sure that important due dates are recorded somewhere that you won't forget them.

The web allows quick access to countless resources to complement any course. It's as easy as adding a link to another website, or attaching as many documents or videos as you'd like.

Study Area - Another helpful strategy for homework is having a special "homework place." This could be a corner of the kitchen, a bedroom desk, a library cubical, or a deserted hallway. Make sure that that place is used only for homework and that nothing else will distract you there. This will help your mind get in the homework-mode. Don't contaminate the "environment of focus" with meals, Youtube, Facebook, or pleasure reading.

Reputation - An online degree draws skepticism from many employers, but that stigma is diminishing. In addition to these pros and cons, motivation plays a big role in whether students should consider online courses. Do you have the self-discipline to keep up on your assignments without any prodding from a teacher? If you are indeed mature, well-organized and driven, then an online degree or course would be a great idea. But if you need the level of order and accountability a traditional class offers, then you might not succeed as well online.

A new semester is a new start, so make sure you begin on the right foot. Good luck.




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