Nowadays, a large number of people are turning towards online courses to fit learning into their busy schedules. Also, the Coronavirus pandemic has forced us all to adjust to this routine of working from home.
If you are also planning to take up some online courses, you must know that there are several differences between online and traditional classes. There are a lot of things that you need to consider to make studying from home a success for you.
If you have a reliable internet connection
The very first requirement for someone who has to work from home is a strong and robust internet connection. If your internet is slow, you can’t connect well in an online video class and thus can miss some critical points. To make your broadband connection work it’s best, you must consider the following points:
- Choose the right internet service provider. Try to connect with an ISP located closest to your house so that they can quickly reach up to you in case of an issue.
- As mentioned above, internet speed is crucial if you have to share files or make video calls regularly. Therefore, you must choose a plan that offers the highest speeds.
- Get the right router and do not place it in an area where too many objects surround it. Keep it in the open and at a height where it is almost equidistant from the floor and the ceiling.
If you can work with other smaller issues
Online courses and classes are not easy. You might imagine yourself working with those assignments smoothly while sipping through a cup of coffee, but online courses include just as much workload as traditional classes. And in some cases, it can be even more. You will not have access to your school or college library. You might have doubts about your lessons and rather than just raising your hand and clarifying it there, and then, you will have to write formal emails to your professors for each doubt or yours. And there’s no surety that you will receive a relevant and proper response in time.
If you have a dedicated work-space
One cannot stress enough on the importance of a proper workstation. You need to set-up your study desk in a quiet and sound-insulated room, away from things that can tempt you, like the television, refrigerator, and snacks drawer. Also, get the right furniture that is not only comfortable but also helps you to maintain proper body posture. This way, you will be able to avoid neck, back, and shoulder aches and postural issues or deformities.
If you can keep yourself disciplined and organized
Online classes require excellent time-management skills, and they are not made for procrastinators. They give you the advantage of studying whenever you want, but are you sure you are going to study as much as you would have in traditional classes? If you find it difficult to concentrate on your work and manage time for regular classes, online courses might not be the thing for you. Most teachers give weekly assignments that you have to submit regularly or, in some cases, all at once at the end of the course. You will have to manage your work so that it doesn’t get built up for the last few days.
If you can cope with social isolation
Loneliness is one of the significant issues that arise while working or studying from home. You will not be able to study in groups and discuss your lessons. There will be an entirely different school environment for you to adjust to. Manage your timetable so that you don’t rush around the whole day to get your assignments done and thus have plenty of time to spend with your family. Sit and talk with them, play games with them, help your parents in cooking, take the pets for a walk. Simple things like that can help to keep your mental space in peace and stability.
If you are thinking in working from now, I hope this article gave you some good tips.
