Whether you are fresh out of school or are planning a big comeback after years out of education, all new students are created equal and are presented with the same challenges and opportunities.
If you are about to embark on an exciting education journey, then here are five of the biggest mistakes online students are prone to making, and how you can be sure to avoid them.
- Procrastination: it takes a healthy degree of stamina to remain engaged and stay on top of your academic workload, especially if you are balancing other competing priorities like family or work. The mind has a tendency to wander when it feels overwhelmed so the best thing you can do is study in short, strategic bursts and don’t be afraid to take breaks. Try to turn off distractions that might occupy your attention while you’re learning – social media and phones are usually the biggest culprits.
- Not setting time aside: whether you are studying full or part time, it can be easy to let life get in the way of meeting your study requirements. Having a plan – even one that evolves each week – is a really useful way of making sure you don’t get behind and can ideally stay one step ahead. Study in an environment where you won’t be distracted by other life admin like bathing kids or cooking meals.
- Not exploring the portal: whether you consider yourself tech savvy or digitally challenged, finding your way around a new space can be a challenge. To that end, take time to learn all of the ins and outs of your study portal – these are always packed with lots of helpful tools which you should use to your advantage.
- Opting into a course without having the necessary technology: this one may seem like a no brainer, but it’s easier than you think to get caught out. Before you register for any qualification online, do your homework to ensure you have access to the key technology tools you need so you can thrive and capitalise on all of the opportunities online education affords.
- Hesitation in asking for help: sometimes it might feel that because you are out of sight you are out of mind with your facilitators, but that’s just not the case. They are there to guide and motivate you every step of the way. They want to hear from you and will enjoy offering you inspiration and helping you to find the answers to your questions.