Congratulations if you have decided to continue your education with online training! You may have chosen online training for one of the many benefits including schedule flexibility, working at your own pace, and accessibility from practically anywhere. However, it’s also important to keep in mind the pitfalls of online training so you can avoid them. Online training may require more time management and discipline skills than traditional education. Here are 5 useful tips to help keep you on track with your online training.
- Approach class time like it’s an in-person class
Prioritize attending online class, just like you would if you were physically attending. That includes setting a scheduled time (and showing up on time every day), focusing (silencing your cell phone, finding a space without distractions, and paying attention for the duration of the lesson), and participating (taking notes, asking questions, or working with classmates virtually). - Study time/Work on assignments
In addition to class time, it’s important to schedule time to study and work on assignments. This could include virtual study groups with classmates, reviewing notes on your own, reading questions and instructor responses on chat boards, doing additional research, and consistently working on upcoming assignments. As with class time, you should have a dedicated, quiet space to study. Build a routine that fits into your life and stick with it. - Plan ahead for deadlines
Distractions are all around and when something is not urgent, it may get pushed aside without much consideration. To help avoid this, specifically with large assignments, mark deadlines on a calendar. Additionally, mark or set alarms for reminder milestones in the weeks or days leading up to large deadlines. Create milestones specific to the assignment like: Research should be completed today, Assignment halfway point, Complete rough draft. These extra reminders will ensure you don’t fall far behind. - Get help if needed
Online training may require you to ask for help from your family and friends. Managing your time and having a quiet workspace can be difficult with the distractions of daily life. Having the support of loved ones, and asking them to help you reach your goals, can have a huge impact on your education. This could be your significant other making dinner a few nights a week, your neighbor watching the kids for a few hours in the mornings, or a friend covering a work shift when you need some extra time to study. The important thing is to ask for help when needed. - Long-term goal
There will be days that are harder than others. Maybe a particular class is difficult and requires extra study time or you have an important family obligation that disrupts your class time. Attending online classes is not easy and it’s important to keep your long-term goal in mind, specifically when times are extra challenging. Why did you decide to attend online classes? What is the job you plan to obtain? Stay motivated and excited about your work by reminding yourself exactly why you are doing it.
At Taylor College, the Professional Nursing, Practical Nursing, and Physical Therapist Assistant programs include several blended courses which are taken at the beginning of the program. These special blended courses combine a supportive, hands-on, campus-based education environment with the independence and flexibility of online learning.
If you are looking for a program that includes courses which combine the convenience of online learning with practical hands-on training, visit www.TaylorCollege.edu for more information on how you can get started on your healthcare career*.
*Not all courses include online learning. Please refer to the academic catalog for more details.
