The advent of the internet has quickly paved the way for e-learning. With the worldwide e-learning market projected to grow to $325 billion by 2025, remote learning is as popular as ever.
For stay-at-home moms, online learning provides them an opportunity to expand their skill set with a schedule that fits their extremely hectic routines. They can attend classes from the comfort of their homes and study when their kids are fast asleep at night.
With many options for online courses available, the possibilities are endless. One of the latest, and increasingly popular, platforms are MasterClass. MasterClass gives you the chance to learn from experts, such as Natalia Portman and Gordon Ramsey, at affordable rates. There are various reviews, such as this source, to help you determine which class would suit you best.
So, how can you make the most of your online courses? Here are six tips to succeed:
Start Slowly
While you may want to build all your skills at once and enroll in multiple courses, you don’t yet know how they’ll fit into your schedule. In this case, it’s best to start with one course part-time and find out how much time you can make for that.
Some courses are more demanding than others and will require more study time, especially if you need tutoring. Multiple classes at once might not fit your schedule due to your familial responsibilities, so it’s always better to add courses once you have a set routine.
Manage Your Time
It’s no secret that motherhood is considered the most demanding job ever. With kids in your life, it’s challenging to take time out for yourself and your personal development. When you’ve committed to an online course, though, it’s time to prioritize yourself.
If your kids are of school-going age, the most convenient way for you to take time out for yourself is when they’re at school. Apart from that, you should also figure out a schedule with your partner where they can watch the kids while you’re busy studying.
Mothers need to take time out for their goals. By considering various options, such as babysitters and daycare centers, you’re bound to find something that suits your needs and schedule.
Ensure A Stable Internet Connection
If you don’t have a steady internet connection, you’ll experience unnecessary lags and will end up wasting your time and resources. If the internet connection at your home isn’t too reliable, you can go to a public space, such as an internet cafe or a library where there’s a good chance you won’t get disconnected randomly.
Many online courses are also webinar-based, where instructors teach these courses to live to encourage participation. If you get disconnected, you won’t be able to interact with your classmates and your instructor, thus missing out on fruitful discussions.
To improve your internet connection, you can invest in technological fixes, such as modems and signal boosters. Moreover, a WLAN connection always works better than a wireless one.
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Build a Study Space
Online learning is, no doubt, challenging. Many people enroll in courses and end up dropping out since they lack discipline. Well, discipline doesn’t just come to you; you need to build it. One way to do this is by making space in your house to study.
This space should ideally be in a corner where you’re free from any distractions. From the basement to the attic, as long as the place is quiet, it’ll work. Once you’ve found your space, you need to ensure everyone in the house, whether it’s your partner or your children, knows that they’re not supposed to disturb you.
You should also put up a “Do Not Disturb” sign and switch your mobile phone off to enforce its seriousness. Your chances of succeeding will dramatically increase if you build discipline, not only within yourself but others, too.
Make a Study Plan and Stick to It
Once the registration process is complete, make a study schedule where you take out at least five hours of study every week. For starters, select two times during the week where you study for two hours, at least, such as Thursday nights 9-11 pm or Monday morning 10-12 pm.
Devote time slots to learning new material and reviewing it, both. Once you’ve built a study routine, you should inform your family members and tell them you won’t be available during those hours.
Whatever happens, don’t skip study time. Always go to your space during this slot, even if you have nothing urgent to complete since this will prevent procrastination. Don’t waste time by not doing anything, read something or the other.
Ask for Help When You Get Stuck
While online learning does present its challenges, you need to make the most of it. Sometimes, you’ll get confused about something, and it’s essential to resolve these issues to make the most of your online course.
When you need clarification on something, you should reach out to your instructors or your peers. Many instructors will provide a means for you to communicate, whether it’s through email, social media, or direct messaging. There’s always a channel for your questions, so you should never hesitate.
What’s even better is to interact with other students and ask them for help. During the course, you’ll undoubtedly face difficulty in some areas so other students can ease you through these areas and even offer different perspectives.
Conclusion
With the rate at which online learning is growing, it’s only expected to become more popular and versatile. There are plenty of options for you to explore and you’re bound to find something you’ll like.
Every course has its own take, so you can even benefit from different classes on the same topic. With enough experience, you can also create your online course and give people the chance to learn from you. With the right attitude, you’re bound to succeed.
Have you ever taken an online course? What tips can you offer? Let us know in the comments below!
