INTRODUCTION
While some people find online education to be quite beneficial, you must be sure you are using it for the appropriate objectives. There are undoubtedly a variety of reasons why enrolling in an online programme might be the best choice for you, including the ability to combine your education with your various obligations, the chance to continue working while you study, and the opportunity to attend a programme at a school outside of your area. But not everyone is a good fit for this kind of learning, and enrolling for the wrong reasons could be very irritating, cost you money, and leave you with academic transcripts that make it impossible to register for another degree in the future.
The following are the top 9 reasons why online learning might not be the best option for you:
You imagine it will be simpler to learn online.
Many believe that earning a degree online will be more simple than earning one on-campus in a regular classroom. Contrary to popular belief, however, everything is false. All postsecondary degrees in New Zealand, including those earned online, are subject to a stringent national accreditation procedure and must meet high requirements for both the quality and rigor of the academic programme. To guarantee the continued high caliber of each qualification, any curriculum adjustments must also receive approval.
If you decide to enroll in a degree programme through Auckland Online, you can rest easy knowing that it has undergone thorough internal quality assurance checks at the university as well as the national accreditation process.
You believe that taking classes online will be less expensive.
Not all online degrees are less expensive than their on-campus equivalents. While online degrees do not have the same overhead costs as those associated with physical classrooms, the cost of course development and design can be high. While some reputable online programmes are more reasonable than others, some are much more expensive when compared to brick-and-mortar programmes.
While an online degree might not be more affordable, it should be noted that online students do have the benefit of not having to pay for travel expenses or housing fees near the university campus.
The costs for all of Auckland Online's programmes are the same as those for on-campus programmes.
You imagine it will be lonely studying online.
If you prefer speaking to people in person and worry that learning online can make you feel lonely, it is normal to feel anxious.
If this is a real worry for you, you'll be relieved to find that each course offers several possibilities for networking and connection-making with other students who are learning online. As an online learner, it's crucial that you take advantage of these chances to meet new people and establish relationships with your virtual classmates. If you're enrolled in an online programme, you'll actively need to collaborate with your classmates on projects using tools like Trello, Google Drive, Zoom, Canvas, and Zoom.Connecting with your peers is essential for all students' success, whether they are taking classes on campus or online.
A virtual support network and online community will be set up for you so you can always connect with others. The Auckland Online programmes have been created to maximize peer-to-peer engagement.
You want to stay away from others.
However, if you think that because you are studying online rather than in person, you won't need to interact with anyone, you are seriously mistaken.
While there is undoubtedly less face-to-face connection in an online course than in a traditional classroom, most online courses demand that students actively work, participate, and communicate with their peers and the teaching staff. As a result, you cannot just turn in an assignment and receive a grade. Instead, you will need to actively participate in forums, chats, discussion boards, and group projects.
As previously noted, the Auckland Online programmes have been created to promote networking, conversation, and connection. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the Canvas chat room or on the web forums. As you progress through your degree, making these kinds of online connections with your peers can help you develop working ties and friendships as well as a deeper understanding of the course material.
You believe it will move more quickly.
Even though many respected colleges offer expedited online programmes, you can be sure that any postgraduate degree you are granted in a matter of weeks or even months is not a real diploma.
You must be willing to choose to take on multiple courses at once or choose a programme that offers courses over the full calendar year, not just the traditional academic year, if you want to get your certificate as quickly as feasible. Enrolling full-time is the quickest method to finish a degree, whether you study on-campus or online.
But we recognise that not everyone has the financial means to pursue full-time education. As a result, Auckland Online only provides accelerated part-time programmes. We are able to do this because we switched to a trimester structure that makes the most of the entire year. As a result, you will be able to finish 90 points per year rather than 60 points per year while still enrolling part-time.
There is no drive in you.
Any postgraduate degree programme takes a substantial amount of self-motivation, concentration, focus, organizational, and time-management abilities. Any educational programme will be extremely difficult to finish if you lack motivation to study, whether it be online or in a classroom setting.
The motivation that keeps you working hard when the course becomes difficult or if you start to become bored is typically what keeps you engaged in the material. Lack of enthusiasm and ambition among students makes it likely that they won't finish their course of study. It may be wiser for you to postpone getting a second degree if you are not inspired to study and join later on when you are.
Do not be discouraged if you are enrolled in an online degree programme and are struggling to stay motivated but are unable or unable to drop out of the school. There are a number of things you may do to get back on track. Establishing and maintaining a study routine, allowing yourself to take regular breaks, encouraging yourself, and, most importantly, keeping in mind why you chose to pursue this degree are some of these strategies. Others include setting clear goals for yourself and taking specific actions to achieve them, trying to communicate with your classmates about course material, creating and adhering to a study routine, setting clear goals for yourself, and setting specific steps to achieve them.
You can speak with an Auckland Online Student Support Advisor to learn more about your alternatives if you choose to study one of the Auckland Online programmes but find yourself lacking motivation. You can also talk about pausing your studies or terminating your enrollment in the programme in more serious cases.
It's difficult for you to manage your time well.
Excellent time management is among the most important abilities you'll need as an online student. You'll find it a lot simpler to accomplish your goals if you have good time management skills. It is not a matter of how much time you have available to you—since everyone has 24 hours in a day—but rather how effectively you manage your time.
Since you will be balancing many life obligations and duties, such as family, career, and hobbies, while also pursuing your education, good time management is especially important for online students. Effective time management is essential to help you stay focused when you don't have classmates around to encourage you or specific times when you have to be at the campus for class.
There is good news for those of you who want to pursue an online degree but don't think you have the necessary time management abilities. Anyone can acquire effective time management techniques, but it takes dedication and constant practice. Here are some pointers to help you keep up with your coursework:
Think ahead: Schedule enough and frequent study sessions and time to complete your homework during the week.
Keep from multitasking: Focus just on one task at a time in order to maximize your productivity
Create a private study area: Be certain that you have access to lightning-fast internet, ample lighting, a cozy workspace, and all necessary supplies, including books and other reference materials.
Distractions should be avoided: When you need to concentrate, stay concentrated and stay away from social media and internet browsing.
Benefit from it: Reward yourself for a job well done by celebrating your accomplishments.
You will be able to discuss this with your Student Support Advisor who will be able to help you create a plan that will keep you on track if you are interested in studying with Auckland Online but are unsure about your time management skills.
It's no secret that you put things off.
Being a professional procrastinator might be a recipe for disaster when studying online, which necessitates a large amount of individual work and study. Setting deadlines for yourself may not be successful if you have a tendency to procrastinate because it is simple to ignore them because you are aware that they are arbitrary. Chronic procrastinators may also find it simple to excuse their occasional absence from some course activities on the grounds that they are short on time, but these absences can soon accumulate and negatively impact your learning as a whole and your course mark.
The slight probability that there might be technical issues makes procrastinating during an online course problematic. If you wait until the very last minute to turn in an assignment and something goes wrong, you risk losing significant points for turning it in late. You won't have time to ask the lecturer any questions and get a response before submitting your assignments if you wait until the last minute. In order to get the most out of the course and have enough time to ask questions and get clarifications on tasks, it is important that you start your assignments early and engage in the course activities if you plan to study online.
You already have too many obligations.
There are many more shorter courses that are accessible if you are unable or unwilling to dedicate yourself to a complete postgraduate online qualification. These courses range from continuing education courses to microcredentials and microdegrees. Short courses are a great initial step before thinking about a fully online postgraduate degree since they give you the chance to see whether studying online is suited for you or not. Short courses can still help you progress academically and professionally.
The only online degrees offered by Auckland Online for now are master's degrees, but keep an eye out!
In conclusion, there is less student response in this setting than in a classroom. In a classroom setting, students listen to the lecture while also asking the instructors for clarification on any topics they are unsure about.