Staying motivated in a virtual classroom

We live in a digital society. Today's youngsters inhale and exhale technology like the air we breathe. Traditional classrooms have accepted and adopted smart classrooms with grace. Honestly, we would be lost without search engines and the sea of information we have access to, through them. Online courses have revolutionised contemporary learning. "The obvious big advantage is that you get to learn what you want to learn which may or may not be available in local colleges," says, Tarun, a second PUC student who has enrolled for saxophone lessons online.

For involved learning

Why choose an online course? A university programme in this country or abroad is too expensive and the temptation of avoiding travel, campus distractions and of course, the convenience and freedom to study in the comfort of your home tips the scale in favour of online studies, is the general consensus.

So, many universities have realised the advantage of virtual education. The traditional four-year curriculum and the various options are now available online. You choose. They provide. What is important here is how invested you are in the learning process. Involved learning happens when you are engaged in learning what you wish to learn. As Benjamin Franklin once said, "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." Online learning can be further enhanced with these:

Concise information: Sulekha, an online facilitator, insists that preparing course material for an online programme is far more challenging than for a traditional pedagogic situation. "Thoughtful and careful editing is required to re-sequence lesson components," she adds. Time is an important element in these short-term courses and time efficient lessons which are concise and absorbing are important. Web accessibility for all is crucial. Students do not appreciate study materials that pose barriers in the learning process.

Prompt feedback: In a virtual classroom, where you could well be the lone student, self-motivation is the key to stay on track. But external support and regular feedback on performance, badges and points, and finally the certificate, act as powerful reinforcements. "I have a course based e-portfolio, which is like a planner and progress chart," explains Subhash, who is very excited about his online lessons. He also points out that self assessment can be at once motivating and a humbling experience, when one has to assess ones own involvement and performance.

Experts agree that response to student queries should be immediate. While e-mails and discussion forums are the regular norm or standard procedures used, to keep communication open, universities and even private tutorials offering online programmes, have instant messaging, a live chat room, an interactive homepage or even a link to a social media platform. There are video and audio inputs to make the lesson much more interesting.

Use of innovative technology: Social media can be used to spice up a course homepage. Adding a Twitter account or a Facebook link is an exciting way to extend your virtual classroom. When used cleverly, creatively and sparingly, it can create
a sense of classroom among students, and between students and instructors too.

A popular technique is the screencast video, which is digital recording of computer screen output. This is often enhanced with a narration that explains the process. This is also known as video screen capture. Students and instructors use this extensively to record video, demonstrate solution to a problem, share and collaborate for group projects, and on a touch-friendly online interactive whiteboard.

Student engagement

Distance learning is all very well but the self-pacing aspect of the study modules calls for initiative and focus on the part of the student. There are three key factors to student engagement in an online programme:

* The length of time spent in front of your system.

* The type or quality of time you give to each session.

* The intensity of interest during the learning experience.

Here are a few tips that can help you stay firmly on the seat of learning:

* Remember that it would never do to become too comfortable in a home environment when it is study time. Have a uncluttered table, a straight-backed chair and good lighting while take the online class.

* Take regular breaks to avoid staring at your computer screen for long.

* Keep your goals realistic and achievable. Don't leap before you learn to walk. It is smart to start with the familiar and work steadily towards the unfamiliar. This helps play on your strengths first and seek support where you lack skills.  

* Create a master study plan for each module or unit of study for a specific length of time, maybe a week or month. Set deadlines to keep as close to the schedule as possible.

* Zoom out of the lessons and assignments when they threaten to overwhelm you. Sit back, remind yourself of the positive outcomes in the future. The big picture will relieve the mind of the immediate clutter of work.

* Often, one may get distracted and go off-track while learning online. To avoid this and ensure productivity, all possible distractions need to be minimised. This can be easily done through a variety of ways. For instance, one can consider installing a productivity app.

* Reward yourself after you meet each short-term goal, like completion of a task, or reaching a level of competency in your learning. You can celebrate your achievement too, by treating yourself to something which makes you happy. "I allow myself to text my friends and just chill for a while," a youngster reveals.  

* Turn a deaf ear to demotivating comments. You are the best judge as to why you picked the course and you know where you are going with it. Stay positive and you will have the last laugh when you earn the credentials at the end of it all.

Online courses are the perfect options for students and working adults who have multiple demands on their time. It is for self-driven individuals who want to learn something new, despite busy schedules. So, stay positive and follow these tips to ensure a successful completion of your course!