Online courses: Five tips for succeeding at eLearning

Have you decided to embrace online learning this year? Here are five tips to help you succeed at eLearning.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic changed the world overnight, forcing much of the global population into self-isolating, staying at home, and altering the way we live, from education, employment, social interactions, and shopping.

In short, every aspect of the world as we knew it has irrevocably changed. 

Not only has the pandemic affected everyone, but according to a recent research study, that we are in the “middle of the nation’s first female recession.”  The article titled “Women are bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic, research shows,” reports that “at least a decade of women’s progress in the work force has been wiped out by the pandemic.” 

The statistics used to back up this statement show the following: 

  • 80% of moms are now doing almost all of the housework and homeschooling.
  • 34% of working moms in two-parent households report that they are single-handedly caring for their children. 
  • 57% of moms now report depression and anxiety compared to 34% of dads. 
  • 11.5 million women lost their jobs compared to 9 million men due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

While these numbers might paint a gloomy picture, there is hope, provided by the gig economy or freelance economy, gaining traction across the globe.

Investopedia.com defines this term as an environment where “flexible jobs are commonplace, and companies tend to hire independent contractors and freelancers instead of fulltime employees.” 

The connections between a company or client and freelancer are often made on an online platform. Lastly, the salient point here is that the gig economy benefits everyone involved by increasing the income generation function’s adaptability to meet the needs of the moment, including the demand for a flexible lifestyle. 

This definition in itself provides the answer for everyone who has been hard hit economically by the coronavirus pandemic, especially women and moms. 

The next point that deserves consideration is the possibility that, as a furloughed or laid off woman, you might not have the skills you need to join the gig economy. The solution to this challenge is to sign up for online learning courses to help you upskill. 

Five tips for succeeding at eLearning

By way of expanding on this statement, let’s look at five tips to help you succeed at eLearning.

1) Set goals at the beginning of the course

Setting realistic goals at the beginning of the course is integral to completing your studies on time. As an aside, the salient point is that it is essential to be realistic about the goals you set. Creating unrealistic goals will only set you up for failure.

Once you have completed these goals, it is essential to stick to these goals. And because unforeseen challenges do crop up, it is a good idea to regularly review these goals to ensure that you stay on track to finish the course on time.

2) Establish a daily routine 

The same discipline that is required to attend in-person training courses must be applied to online learning. In other words, you must have the self-discipline to sit down and say, “I’m going to work on this every day.” The best way to set aside time to complete the course material is to establish a daily routine and stick to it. 

3) Practice time management 

Being a stay-at-home mom in the pandemic adds unique time constraints in the form of home-schooling. It is easy to get sidetracked with other tasks running out of time to complete your daily studies. Fortunately, there is a solution to this challenge: Time management. By managing your time and allotting specific times for all your daily tasks, you will be able to fit in your daily study period. 

4) Create a study space 

Setting up a dedicated learning space or study space is a vital part of establishing a daily routine. It might be in the corner of the kitchen, living room, or even your bedroom. Or you might be fortunate enough to have a study or home office.

The location of your learning space is not significant. The salient point is that this study space is a specific area in your home conducive to learning.

5) Stay connected 

The impact of being isolated for weeks and months on end due to the social distancing regulations required to control and prevent the rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus can be severe. Research studies report adverse psychological effects like post-traumatic stress (PTSD) symptoms, depression, anxiety, confusion, and anger. 

One of the best ways to mitigate these effects is to stay connected with family and friends, even via digital communication channels like Zoom, WhatsApp video, Skype, and FaceTime. The same rule applies to completing your studies.

Online learning can feel as though you are isolated, especially if the course material appears challenging. Participating in the course’s online discussion forums will help you feel connected with your fellow students and help you get to grips with the coursework.

Are you ready to embrace online learning?

Home learning courses are a useful tool that you can leverage to learn new skills that will enable you to enter the gig economy and earn a living wage while needing to stay at home.

Though eLearning comes with its unique challenges, following the advice highlighted above can help you be successful even in the most turbulent of times.