Strategies for Success, Essay Example

Strategies for Success in the Online Learning Environment and Barriers to Success

To be successful in the online learning environment, it is necessary to utilize effective communication skills and time management to ensure that all necessary tasks are completed in a professional and timely manner. Ultimately, it is important for online students to consider that internet-based learning differs significantly from traditional classroom learning in that a majority of interactions with professors and classmates will be experienced through an online learning interface. Therefore, it is important for communications to be transmitted in a meaningful manner and to reflect the same quality of thought and mechanics that would be implemented in a typical classroom discussion.

To enhance one’s communication skills in the online learning environment, it is important for each individual to recognize the permanence of their responses to question in addition to how these responses are expected to propagate discussion. As a consequence, it may require more time to formulate a response in an online discussion than it would in real life. Furthermore, there is a need to interpret the tone of the message to ensure that it effectively reflects the information that the individual wishes to convey. The writer should also think about how the response will contribute to the conversation and determine if it will invoke thought. In this manner, online discussions could be made to effectively help students achieve the necessary learning goals.

It is important to utilize the online classroom in a manner that will contribute to personal, intellectual, and professional growth. An effective way of doing so is implementing a time management plan that will allow online learners to set specialized time aside for their academic goals as well as their personal and professional goals. This is most important for individuals who wish to work while taking online coursework. While it appears that these three objectives are difficult to balance, this could be accomplished with careful thought and planning. To help accomplish academic and professional goals simultaneously, it is reasonable to apply the skills learned in academics to every day applications in the work force.

Personal barriers to success in the online learning environment arise when students do not sufficiently budget time for their daily needs and events. To bypass this barrier, it is therefore necessary to complete assignments ahead of time in case of sickness or unexpected emergency. In this manner, the student could be assured that all assignments will be completed by the required due date. A second barrier to success in the online learning environment is simply the need for the individual to become used to the online learning platform. It is therefore recommended that students familiarize themselves with the layout at the beginning of the course so they could be sure that they are able to find the proper areas for course access and paper submission.

Last, it is important to consider that the impact of self-motivation as it pertains to learning is significant. Individuals will succeed in the online learning environment if they are able to keep their work organized and remain motivated to complete it. Since online learners don’t need to physically enter a classroom, this becomes more challenging. However, online learners can enjoy many benefits related to the online classroom, such as personalized study and the advantage of learning at home, if they are able to remain on task and complete their work effectively.

References

Ryan, C. (2015). Strategies for Success [Word]. Retrieved from Chamberlain College of Nursing, Week 1 Lecture Notes Online Web site: http://frameset.next.ecollege.com

Muilenburg, L.Y., Berge, Z.L. (2005) Student barriers to online learning: A factor analytic study [Abstract]. Distance Education, 26(1). Retrieved from http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01587910500081269#abstract