Challenges of being an Online Learner

What are the challenges of being an online learner?

To answer this question I will draw on my own experiences:

1.      Time:  This can be a major challenge in terms of reading modules, interacting with colleagues and doing activities. I have been recovering from an injury I sustained on the job and that together with health issues and other challenges faced along the way have not made things easier for me.

2.      Dealing with technology and accessing it:  Loss of internet connectivity, not knowing how to use technology, not being able to use it as well as issues such as to troubleshoot problems, navigate sites and/or pages can be very frustrating.

3.      Interaction with colleagues is more online based and sometimes that can be a limiting factor especially as the advantages of face to face discussion is lost and interaction is limited.

 

What can an online tutor do to minimize these challenges that online learners face?

 

 I think the following might be helpful:

 

1.      Keep lines of communication open and encourage dialogue from online learners and between online learners. This would help as online learners might be more comfortable doing online courses and be more confident of what they are doing.

2.      Online tutors can give online learners motivation as this may give them the much needed boost. Motivation can do wonders and give that extra needed push every though there may be a feeling of ‘nothing more to be done’.