{"id":39046,"date":"2017-04-27T22:40:14","date_gmt":"2017-04-27T22:40:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/abound.college\/finishcollege\/?post_type=advice&p=39046"},"modified":"2023-05-17T16:30:12","modified_gmt":"2023-05-17T21:30:12","slug":"seven-things-online-course","status":"publish","type":"advice","link":"https:\/\/abound.college\/finishcollege\/advice\/seven-things-online-course\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Things You Should Know Before Taking an Online Course"},"content":{"rendered":"

Online courses are becoming increasingly popular, and due to the COVID-19 pandemic,<\/a> quite necessary. While some students are heading back to the classroom, many are continuing to log on and learn. If you are thinking about finishing your degree , then you might be considering an online course. <\/span><\/p>\n

Today, <\/span>employers want an educated workforce<\/span><\/a>. In response, more people are turning to online education to fit school into their busy lives. Before you decide to take online classes, you should know that they\u2019re different than traditional classes in some key ways. These differences may cancel out the advantages of a flexible learning schedule for you. It all depends on your learning style and needs. Here are 7 things you should know before taking an online course:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

#1 Student Effort = Student Success<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Online classes are not for everyone. Success with this format takes a great deal of self-motivation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n Students should realize that they will work just as hard in an online class as they would in a traditional course. Click to tweet<\/span><\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/span><\/p>\n

Independent, disciplined, and productive students are often most successful with online classes.<\/span><\/p>\n

#2 Online Classes Demand Excellent Time-Management Skills<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Online classes may let you study whenever you want to, but don’t think you’ll spend any less time studying. Do you wait to the last minute to do your work? Are you easily distracted? Do you have trouble setting goals and reaching them<\/a>? If so, online classes might not be for you. <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

#3 Online Classes are as Difficult as Traditional Classes<\/strong><\/h3>\n

You might be able to take them on your own schedule, but that doesn\u2019t make the course any easier. Without strong time-management skills<\/a>, the advantages of online classes quickly become disadvantages. Add to that the challenges of learning through a computer, and it could quickly become a more difficult than a traditional class.<\/span><\/p>\n

#4 Real Professors Teach Online Classes<\/strong> <\/span><\/h3>\n

So long as the school you are attending is accredited, your class will be taught by a credentialed professor. Though you may never meet them in person, the lesson plans they give you will resemble the other courses they teach. They will know as much as any other professor in their field and may even teach on-campus courses too. The only real difference is that you’ll be in touch with them through <\/span>online discussion boards<\/span><\/a>, emails, and online lecture sessions.<\/span><\/p>\n

#5 Online Students Have Plenty of Opportunities to Interact with Their Peers<\/strong><\/h3>\n

You might worry that learning online will make interaction with other students difficult. Fortunately, that’s <\/span>not the case<\/span><\/a>. You might not share a classroom with them, but you can still chat and collaborate. Online classes have discussion boards, online chat, and video conferencing to help. This way, online students are still able to connect with each other, and have opportunities to work collaboratively.<\/span><\/p>\n

#6 Online Exams are Proctored<\/strong> <\/span><\/h3>\n

Online classes use <\/span>special tools<\/span><\/a> to track students during tests and help maintain academic integrity. The use of these tools sustains the quality and reputation of your online degree. Some courses even require proctored on-campus testing. If you live far from campus, you may want to check for such requirements before enrolling.<\/span><\/p>\n

#7 Not All Online Degrees are Equal<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This is really important to understand: while online degrees have become increasingly more common, some are viewed more favorably than others.\u00a0<\/span>

\n The primary concern for employers is the quality and consistency of the school that issues your degree. Click to tweet<\/span><\/a>\n <\/div>\n \u00a0In fact, <\/span>employer opinion often depends on three things: accreditation, campus, and school brand.<\/span> In general, the higher the school’s standing on these factors, the more favorably employers view the degree.<\/span><\/p>\n

Recent issues involving for-profit online schools have made this an important issue. For example, in April of 2015, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) <\/span>investigated<\/span><\/a> University of Phoenix. The FTC acted on complaints from students in the Bachelor of Science and Human Services online degree program. \u00a0Many students applied for jobs only to find that employers had rejected their applications, citing that the program was not properly accredited. While some students received settlements, others lost valuable time and money. <\/span><\/p>\n

The primary concern for employers is the quality and consistency of the school that issues your degree. Luckily, Abound is here to help you find online degrees that are worth your time, money, and effort! Situations like these illustrate why Abound does not include for-profit schools in our guide.<\/span><\/p>\n

More About Abound:<\/b> We\u2019re here to help.<\/span> Abound: Finish College<\/b><\/a> narrows down your options and gets you in touch with schools that we can confirm are<\/span> Accessible, Affordable, Accelerated, and Advanced<\/b><\/a>. Take a look at the<\/span> schools<\/b><\/a> we trust and find the program that works for you.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

More Helpful Resources:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Getting College Credit for Life Experience You Already Have<\/a><\/p>\n

Financial Aid: Funds for Adult Students<\/a><\/p>\n

Online Study Tips: Helpful Apps<\/a><\/p>\n

Online Study Tips: Making Schedules and Space<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Online courses differ from traditional ones in some important ways … and what they have in common with on-campus learning is just as important.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":39242,"template":"","class_list":["post-39046","advice","type-advice","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","abound_advice_topics-student-success","abound_advice_topics-flexible-scheduling","abound_advice_topics-finding-the-right-program","abound_advice_topics-study-tips","abound_advice_topics-online-programs","abound_advice_oc_categories-social-work","abound_advice_oc_categories-science-technology","abound_advice_oc_categories-psychology","abound_advice_oc_categories-nursing","abound_advice_oc_categories-healthcare","abound_advice_oc_categories-education","abound_advice_oc_categories-criminal-justice","abound_advice_oc_categories-business","abound_advice_oc_categories-arts-humanities"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n7 Things You Should Know Before Taking an Online Course - Abound: Finish College<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"More people are turning to online education to fit school into their busy lives. 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