• My biggest challenge as an online student has been staying focused and motivated. I am also challenged with a busy summer schedule.  

• I deal with my focus by diving in. I find that it takes me a little while to get going, but once I get started, I can keep going. I also like to give myself a time limit, then a small reward after, like a walk or tea. 

• The greatest benefit to me as a learner is the flexibility. I am able fit it around my schedule.   

• How are you going to deal with these challenges?

• What is the greatest benefit to you as a learner? 

• I find that reading large amounts of text (material) on the computer is draining on my body and eyes. I would prefer to read from a book where I can highlight the main points for review or to come back and review. Also, I miss the social aspect of meeting new people.

• Finding the books in libraries, printing small articles so I can highlight and if not possible, I would break the reading into smaller chunks with breaks in between to get through it. To address the social aspect, writing in the forums helps to see what others are thinking about the subjects.

• The flexibility of doing the work when it is convenient for me to do it. I work full time, so having the freedom to complete the assignments when it is convenient for me is a great benefit.

I tend to try and let my wife know what I intend my schedule to look like. This allows a reasonable set of expectations to be set for both of us around the house. I then set my own personal schedule that I need to follow. While I always appreciate when the Instructor has one ready for me at the beginning of the course, I tend want to move a different pace.

Which brings me to the greatest benefit. The flexibility of asynchronous learning. I am able to go into and out of the course as it suits me and my family. This flexible schedule allows me to complete the tasks when I have time without making home life harder. What more could I ask for?

On the subject of metacognition and self-learning, I'm really trying to find how I can help myself learn more effectively. One thing I really need to implement more is time management systems. Things like "pomodoro timers" have been increasingly helpful during my PIDP. They basically run in the background, usually for 25 minutes so you can get some deep work done, but then the timer will go off and give you a 5 minute break. I am also experimenting with white noise and "lofi" instrumental background music to increase concentration. Its just enough stimulation for me to stay very productive, and working simultaneously with pomodoro timers, I find myself a lot more efficient and productive.

The benefits of online learning are vast and plentiful. For me, the flexibility of online courses are beneficial as it allows me to still learn and grow my skills around a busy life. Classes can be in person in the evenings or on the weekends. Online classes can also be at the same times, or they can be self paced for the maximum flexibility. I also anecdotally find that evening classes with other adult professionals to have so much more valuable discussions, especially in this PIDP program. I have never learned so much from peer discussions before taking this program.

For me time management and the discipline to focus on assignments can be the most challenging  compared to a F2F course. 

• How are you going to deal with these challenges?

To keep myself accountable I need to schedule out time in my calendar to work on homework and course assignments. Though I find the material interesting and the work enjoyable to do its the sitting down and getting it done that is the most challenging. 

• What is the greatest benefit to you as a learner? 

The rewards of accomplishing this program course by course with grades that I am proud of is the greatest benefit. Alongside the ongoing list of improvements I have to make to the course I currently teach is also growing each course that I take, the ‘ah-ha’ moments that come to surface have been the most beneficial. 

Jess Chauhan

For myself, the greatest benefit of learning online is being able to see the full workload of the course. Being able to look at what all the assignments entail allows me to create a schedule to complete the course. Also being able to work at your own pace is very helpful, some weeks I am too busy to work on assignments, and some weeks I am able to complete multiple.

However, this level of flexibility can also be quite challenging. To succeed in online learning, I've had to develop strong self-discipline and excellent time management skills. It takes careful planning and adequate time allocation to navigate the landscape of online education. I've had to resist procrastination and maintain a structured study routine. Strengthening my self-discipline and sharpening my time management skills has been pivotal in ensuring that the flexibility of online learning doesn't become a double-edged sword, creating obstacles in my progress and engagement. With the right mindset and approach, I believe that everybody could successfully maintain consistent progress and engagement in online learning.

On the flip side, some of the challenges I have faced is time management and dividing up my time between school and my personal life. Sometimes it can be a struggle to find time in my day to sit down and read an article, or write an assignment when I have a job and a family, so I often try to schedule out my week. By doing this, I make sure I have enough time to dedicate to my studies.

Sometimes I try to be too self-directed.

You are thinking “Is this guy bragging? Wow, tone it down Mr. Self-Directed.”

I assure you I am not.

When I come across a challenging concept rather than asking a question to the online instructor I will search for the information on the internet.

The internet is vast, and there can be a huge amount of research online. Sometimes I find myself increasingly confused, lost down the rabbit-hole of knowledge, and suddenly I realize that I have been stuck in this hole for the last 4 hours and learned nothing helpful.

How are you going to deal with these challenges?

I can adapt CAT 13 One-sentence Summary from Angelo and Cross’ Classroom Assessment Techniques, A Handbook for College Teachers to help me study more efficiently and effectively.

For more information on how I would adapt CAT 13 feel free to reach out to me dclason3@gmail.com

What is the greatest benefit to you as a learner?

The greatest benefit of online learning is the flexibility.

I often work on my assignments in the middle of the night on weekends because there are less distractions, peace, and quiet.

The stillness helps me focus.

Couple that with my fear of seeming uneducated and out of place, I am reluctant to ask the instructor or classmates for guidance.

I need to focus more on being proud of myself for trying something new and challenging. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness and everyone is battling some challenge.

The greatest benefit to an online learning system is the ability to go at my own pace. I can read or reread something as many times as I need to in order to understand and not feel like I am missing other important information in a lecture type classroom. I am very much a self/hands on learner so I have found this a much more effective way for me to learn.

1. For me is definetly time manegement. With a full-time job and a family, it is complicated to develop a consistent study schedule. The time that I have for study/reading is late at night, when my brain is completely off, or early in the morning, which I realize is the best time. Sometimes I can not follow the course schedule and my assignments are submitted after the due date, so I don't get feedback from my instructor, which I understand.

2. What works for me is developing a consistent study schedule that I try to keep as much as my work-life balance allows, setting realistic goals, and prioritizing tasks to manage wisely and effectively my time.

3. The benefit for me is that I can get the professional development that I always wanted and learn anytime and anywhere. I had to quit College 25 years ago because I had to work full-time and there wasn't any kind of flexibility for in-person classes. I could complete my degree when online learning was a reality.

I have gotten a slightly late start on this course because of working long hours, but I am more or less off for the next two weeks, so I plan to hit it hard.

This is of course my first challenge with this course, the time commitment. For online learning there isn't the same pressure to be on at my desk at the same time every day, so that is something that I need to work on.

Another challenge is that when I do have time at home, I would like to spend it with my wife, but she is very understanding about the need to get this work done.

A huge benefit of taking this course online, and that it is self-paced, is that I can work around my other schedule and perform tasks on weekends or even after hours in smaller doses.

I look forward to putting in the effort now that I have a minute to catch up, and learn as much as I can.

Thank you,

Andrew.

I would like to begin by sharing that e-learning is something I am super comfortable with, since I have been an e-learner since 2009. With that said, I have learned a lot about myself as a learner, and how to learn and share knowledge through my experience in the network for learning.

Benefits:

1. Time - the learning can take place any time, any place (if asynchronous).

2. Location - there is no commute involved as learning can take place from a living room, an office, a bedroom, and even a Jacuzzi.

3. Connections - learners are able to build connections with folks from all over the world. I think this part rocks!

   
   

   Challenges:

   1. Lack of in person social interaction - one the most powerful tools of e-learning can also be a major challenge for some learners.

   2. Time management - learners must learn to manage their time. While they have deadlines, it is rarely wise to leave assignments to the last minute - I am speaking from experience.

   3. Focus - sometimes with e-learning, learners are focused on what they want to learn and take out of a course. Sometimes that is good, while other times, this might cause a great challenge because of the material that the learner chooses to discard because they don't have to write a paper of be tested on that material. Again, this is both a challenge and a benefits depending on the point of view and the subject.

   Challenges to me as an online learner -

   
   

   I love online learning. It is likely my favourite kind of learning, and discovering it after many years of traditional learning, it has made an great difference in the way I positively view learning in my life. I do sometime have lack of motivation because some guidance is more remote and not available the same way as f2f. That is something that I am now dealing with as a doctoral learner at the thesis stage.

   
   

   Addressing my challenges as an online learner -

   
   

   That has been a long term goal of mine - to finish my doctoral thesis. I have recently acquired a coach who is helping keep me on task. This is something I struggle with given the resources required. However, if I was to compare it with the cost of traditional education in addition to having to take time off work, it is definitely more efficient. This would work differently for different people - for me, I am happy I have found that having a coach has made a positive difference in my life.

   
   

Oh boy. The first week of EDUC 4250: Foundations of Online Teaching and Learning has actually been about five weeks for me. I had a work project that consumed my December so the whole online student time management struggle has been real.

My challenges include time management, balancing work/life/school, feeling intimidated to start something new and the stress of already feeling behind.

I'm currently setting aside weekend time to work on my projects and make a plan to complete the assignments. Also saying no to fun activities like snowshoeing has been a necessary, albeit sad, strategy for navigating these challenges.

A benefit for me is not being restricted to a place and time. Also the school had a grant which makes it financially viable for me.

The challenges as an online student:

1. At the beginning of my journey, I was incredibly overwhelmed with Moodle, after several days of clicking around and feeling terrified that I was not going to be able to figure out how Moodle worked. As an adult learner, I did not have all the technology skills I needed at the beginning. It all came together beautifully and I needed to trust that I would figure it out.

2. I have completed eight courses in a year and a half, and I am confident that is not breaking any world records, but I am burnt out. The words are not flowing out of me like they once did. My interest seems to be waning, and I am struggling to remain committed to completing the program.

3. Time management is more difficult for me now. I am not sure if it is burnout, but the deadline is coming for my first paper, and I am behind. Where did the first two weeks get to?

What to do with the challenges.

1. I am now comfortable with Moodle. So I am going to use this opportunity to give some sage advice to new students of online learning. Trust yourself and give yourself some grace. You have a long, rich history of succeeding when you begin something new. Don't beat yourself up.

2. I am currently accepting recommendations for overcoming burnout. I took part of November, and all of December off, and it did not help the way I had hoped.

3. I have printed an online calendar and got myself organized. I have set timelines and due dates.

The most significant benefit of online learning.

1. I have been able to work at my own pace. I like that I have the flexibility to set goals and complete them in ways that benefit me.

2. I believe that I write better papers in my pj's, and I like that no one cares or gives me a side-eye like they do when I go to the library. Just kidding. I have never gone to the library in my pj's. I was wondering if anyone reads these.

Good luck this semester to everyone.

Thank you,

Rhea

What I enjoy the most which benefits me is the flexibility. Being online learners I can be at home or quiet place in a library. I do enjoy self-paced learning where It allows me to completed things on my own pace.

Time management has been the greatest challenge for me in this course. Life happens, bringing challenging times to complicate an already demanding schedule. This feeling of mental and physical exhaustion brought the course to a halt for me.

Motivating myself and prioritizing the course by seeing the end result has been helpful. I reallly appreciate the guidance and information that Jacquie has provided.

Thank you.