Have you been signing up for online courses but finding yourself struggling to finish them? What is hindering you? Let us quickly take a look at this problem, which plagues a lot of people all over the world, and then try to find solutions to it.
In today’s world, Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) enrollment has become a popular and accessible way to acquire new skills, advance your career, or simply expand your knowledge. This is due to the fact that they are flexible, mostly self-paced, and not overly expensive. They give students the means to obtain top-notch learning resources. These days, MOOC courses are becoming more and more diverse and well-liked by higher education instructors as well as students. More than 900 colleges worldwide launched 11,400 MOOCs in 2018, as noted by Aldowah et al (2019), and more than 75 percent of MOOC participants are self-directed adult learners.
Challenges
However, despite the freedom and ease that comes with online learning, several reports over the years indicate that the completion rate of MOOCs is very low compared to the number of those enrolled in these courses; therefore, a high dropout rate is observed (Feng et al. 2019). Completing online courses can be challenging for a lot of people due to various reasons, ranging from lack of discipline to technical issues. Before we get to the solutions, let us briefly discuss these challenges.
- Life Gets in the Way
This is perhaps one of the most common reasons for online course failure in today’s world. Daily life interferences, such as work commitments, family obligations, and unexpected events, can disrupt study schedules and force people to ultimately drop out from these courses.
- Technical Issues
Technological obstacles, such as issues with devices, platforms, or poor internet access, can discourage users and disrupt the learning process. In cases where an individual does not have a phone, tablet or laptop, or a strong internet connection, or cannot effectively navigate the learning platform, it is almost impossible to finish the course.
- Lack of Discipline
This is seen as the most common reason for not completing online courses, especially among youths. Online learning requires self-discipline, which can be challenging for some. To keep learning something over and over again no matter how you feel is something that needs to be encouraged among us youths. Without discipline and a structured environment, it is easy to procrastinate or get distracted.
- Perceived Value
If a course is perceived as being too inexpensive, it is possible that some students may doubt its quality and give up on the course. However, if the course is too expensive, they might feel it’s not worth the investment. Hence, it is important that course creators find just the right price that will draw commitment from students.
- Taking Multiple Courses at a Time
Today you are taking a course on web development, tomorrow it’s data analysis. Then it’s copywriting, marketing, and so on. It is nearly impossible to complete a course when you are taking too many other courses at the same time. Overloading yourself with multiple online courses can lead to burnout and decreased focus. It is important to take it easy and take one course at a time.
- Poor Course Presentation
A poorly designed or uninteresting course can disengage students. Some factors like boring lectures, inadequate resources, or a lack of interaction can contribute to dropout rates. Courses should be interactive and easy to navigate.
Strategies To Combat Challenges
Considering the challenges explained above, it is therefore important to develop a strategy to overcome these challenges. These strategies are easy to adopt and execute, and they have a high rate of success.
- Set Clear Goals and Expectations
Before taking an online course, you need to determine why you are taking the course and what you hope to achieve. Understand the time commitment required and the level of difficulty involved. With this knowledge, you can now create a learning plan; that is, outline your study schedule and allocate specific time slots for your coursework.
- Create a Conducive Learning Environment
It is important that you find a quiet space where you can focus without distractions. It could be a public library, room, or any other calm place. Keep all necessary textbooks, notes, and assignments within easy reach and turn off notifications on your phone, and limit internet access if needed. This will help you focus on your coursework.
- Seek Support
Trying to be a one-person army is not advisable. Rather, seek to build relationships with other students for support, collaboration, and assistance by exploring online forums or communities. You can get an accountability partner who will help keep you in check and ensure you are doing what needs to be done when it needs to be done. Do not hesitate to ask for help or clarification from your tutor or fellow students.
- Effective Time Management
You have to effectively manage your time to be able to complete courses online. Start by allocating a certain time of day for the online class. This should be a time you are totally in control of. Then break down this “learning time” into smaller time boxes, with each box allocated to watching a certain video, doing a certain assignment, or completing a certain task. Identify the most important assignments and deadlines and prioritize them. You also need to:
- Use a planner or calendar to keep track of your schedule and due dates;
- Break down tasks by dividing the larger assignments into smaller, more manageable steps; and
- Avoid procrastination by sticking to the time and doing what needs to be done when it needs to be done.
- Take Breaks When Necessary
Taking scheduled breaks when learning will help you relax, recharge your mind, and be ready to go again. It is no surprise that regular breaks are a norm in the traditional learning setup. Avoid burnout by scheduling regular breaks to rest and recharge. For instance, if you have two hours to take a class, you should introduce a five-minute break to help you rest. Be sure to get enough sleep, eat nutritious food, and exercise regularly to stay healthy and active.
While the above discussed methods are not the only strategies available, they are highly effective and proven strategies that can be implemented by anyone, anywhere, and will yield good results. By following these guidelines, you will increase your chances of successfully completing your online courses. Remember: consistency, dedication, and effective study techniques are keys to achieving your learning goals. So, go out there and smash it. I’m rooting for you, my friend.
Read more articles related to personal development on our Zealousness blog Personal Development – iN Education Inc. (ineducationonline.org).
References
- Aldowah H., Al‑Samarraie H, Alzahrani A., Alalwan N. (2019). Factors affecting student dropout in MOOCs: a cause and effect decision‐making model. Journal of Computing in Higher Education. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1007/s12528-019-09241-y
- Feng, W., Tang, J, & Liu, T. X. (2019). Understanding dropouts in MOOCs. PBC School of Finance of Tsinghua University and Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence. Retrieved from http://keg.cs.tsinghua.edu.cn/jietang/publications/AAAI19-Feng-dropout-moocs.pdf.
