The Learning Library Article

Do You Have What It Takes To Be A Distance Learning Student?

For many people, distance learning gives them the chance to earn a degree that they otherwise might not have been able to receive, thanks to work and family obligations. While it can be a great way to learn and take courses to advance your career, you should know that not everyone is able to succeed with these programs. If you are thinking about becoming a distance learning student, you should take some time to think about yourself, and see if you really think you could be a successful student with this type of program.

To be a successful distance learning student, you need to be motivated to succeed. This means that no matter what happens in your life, you are able to devote the time and effort needed into your courses, so that you will succeed. You will have work that has to be done and submitted everyday, and tests to be done just as you would in regular college courses. In distance learning, there won’t be someone standing over your shoulder pushing you to get these tasks done, you either do them or you don’t, it is completely up to you. If you think you have the motivation needed to keep up and get the work completed, even when there are other things you would rather do, then you should be okay with this type of course.

Another thing that often causes distance learning students to fail is procrastination. You can’t decide that there is something else you want to do, and that you will catch up tomorrow, because at some point, tomorrow either won’t come, or when it does you realize that you are so far behind you will never be able to get caught back up, and end up either dropping the course or failing. If you don’t make sure you have the time you need each day for your studies and assignments, then the odds are already against your succeeding.

Since you won’t really be sitting in a class listening to an instructor talk, you will be required to read and understand a lot of material, so you should have good reading and comprehension skills. You will need to read, understand, and recall what you have read, if you want to learn and do well.

You will need to be able to focus on your assignments, with as few interruptions as possible. You will need to find a suitable place in your home to work and study, or consider doing it somewhere else. It is very difficult to read and absorb information if you are constantly trying to block out the noise from the television, the phone, your kids, etc.

Whether you take a distance learning course or a course at a public college, you can expect your free time to greatly dwindle. You may not have time for your friends or family as you once did, and if you don’t think you can handle that right now, then now might not be a good time for you to go back to school. Classes take up a lot of your time, reading and studying, completing assignments and projects, etc., and if you can’t find the time you need to do those, then you won’t make it in the college world.