Have you taken an online class to learn new skills, sharpen existing ones, pick up a new hobby, or earn a credential to improve your career? Online learning has risen to prominence recently as the number of courses offered increased drastically, and more interactive and fun online learning formats have emerged. On top of this, you can share your certificates on most professional social media platforms like LinkedIn to showcase your skills. Many individuals choose to learn online because of the convenience and freedom of not having to leave the comfort of their home or office. Here are some benefits of online learning that you might not know.
- Why Online Learning is Popular?
- How to Get the Most Out of Your Education
- How To Study More Effectively
- Can I Use My Online Education in My CV/Job Applications?
- What is a Smart Certificate?
Why Online Learning is Popular?
- Learn Anything
By taking online courses, you can study any subject you want and learn effectively with interactive projects and one on one classes with your instructor. There are an unlimited number of talents and disciplines to teach and learn in a realm as broad and expansive as the internet. Numerous colleges and institutions of higher education now provide online versions of their programs at various levels and subjects. There are possibilities for every sort of learner, from cooking to coding. Online education is also an excellent way to get a diploma, certificate, or a new credential without ever setting foot on a university campus or classroom. Whether you want to develop a new hobby, or advance you career, online learning can help you.
- Flexible Learning
You can pick whatever subject interests you, and filter through the unnecessary courses or modules. Online learning also allows you and your instructor to set convenient meeting times for the both of you. Online education allows both the teacher and the student to establish their own pace of learning, as well as the additional flexibility of scheduling a time that works for everyone. As a consequence, taking classes through an online educational platform eliminates the need for any sacrifices. A solid work-study balance is simpler to achieve with the help of time management skills you learn while studying online. Being on the same page as your teacher might also encourage you to take additional duties and become more self-sufficient.
- Develop Both Soft and Hard Skills
Learning hard skills such as coding or data analysis, as well as soft skills like debating and presenting is possible thanks to the vast array of classes available online. Soft skills are extremely important in the business world and can take you far in your career. However, it has been widely assumed that soft skills could only be developed in the workplace or by taking in-person coaching. We all know that most of the online classes teach hard skills such as data analysis, computer programming, Microsoft Office, accounting, writing, and art. With the rise of online coaching however, you can have a professional virtually teach you essential soft skills such as effective communication, negotiation and business presentation. You will be able to practice with your instructor and get live feedback without leaving the comfort of your own home, and start you career one step ahead of your peers.
- Learn on Your Own Schedule
Whether you work 9 to 5 or are a college student, you can always fit online classes in your schedule since most of the online course offerings are self-paced. Because of the flexibility of online learning, you can do either studying or teaching from anywhere in the globe you choose. As a result, there’s no need to drive around town or stick to a specific timetable. Additionally, you save money that may be spent on other priorities, not to mention the time you save. Traveling is an excellent opportunity to take advantage of the virtual classroom, which is available everywhere there is an internet connection. It is a good option if you are studying abroad and want to acquire a career. There’s no need to stop working or studying just because you’re going on an adventure.
- Improve Career Prospects
Add your certificates to your LinkedIn profile or resume to showcase your new skills and improve your chances at a new job or a promotion. A CV that emphasizes your online education demonstrates to potential employers that you are computer literate, which is a critical skill for today’s workforce. Online education involves a lot of self-discipline and self-motivation, qualities that are highly sought after by employers. As a result, it is not only evident that you are motivated to study and advance your job, but it also shows that you have exceptional time management and organization abilities. These demonstrated skills will surely help you get recognition and advance in your career.
- Learn Without Breaking the Bank
The cost is perhaps the most evident advantage of online learning over formal education. There are many people who managed to change careers thanks to online education without going back to school and pay thousands of dollars per year just to get new credentials. Online education is less expensive than traditional classroom instruction. Paying as a subscription or by course is standard, as is paying with a variety of payment methods. As a result, better control over spending may be achieved. Discounts and scholarships might make the cost even lower for many of you. You can also save money on transportation and class supplies, which are sometimes offered at no cost. As a result, our spending is lower, but the returns might be superior.
- Broaden Your Network
Some online classes feature discussion forums and message groups so you can socialize with your classmates, build your network, and perhaps find new like-minded business partners for your ventures. Online courses are great tools to meet new people who are interested in the same subjects as you.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Education
Whether it is online or formal education, we usually pay with our cash and precious time to get educated, and it is crucial to use both of these resources efficiently. There are many strategies you can implement to increase your learning efficiency and get the most out of your online or in-person courses. These practices range from making an effective schedule to prioritizing crucial subjects to reaching out for help to clarify some aspects of the course. Here, we will review the most essential strategies to help you learn more efficiently.
- Set a Schedule for Yourself
You can’t set a good study Schedule without understanding the course content properly. So before enrolling, you need to do as much research as possible on the course. Contact the teacher if required to confirm your understanding of the material’s objectives. You can then decide if it’s a good fit for you. Once you’ve determined your goals and objectives, jot them down—preferably near where you’ll work. Each day, review them before sitting down to go over course content or study your notes. Maintain an awareness of them as you proceed through the curriculum.
If you believe you are falling short of the objectives, speak with your instructor or other students. Determine where you may have gone wrong and then design a strategy for getting back on track. However, avoid putting oneself under duress to fulfill objectives or goals by a deadline set by someone else. You are aware of how fast or slowly you learn; thus, plan your milestones accordingly.
There is no such thing as a “correct” or “incorrect” study strategy. The ideal one will fit into your schedule and allow you to continue fulfilling your other tasks and commitments. Nonetheless, do not be scared to challenge yourself. If you’re continuously aiming for better performance, you’ll finish the course faster and with a greater sense of accomplishment.
Allow for some margin of error in your timetable to account for unanticipated setbacks. For example, if you believe you can complete a module of a course in 8 days, allow yourself 10. You may reach your target in time, in which case congratulate yourself; however, if it takes more, you will avoid having to modify your future study plan.
- Seek Clarification and Ask Questions
You should contact your instructor when you get stuck or can’t quite grasp a concept. You must advocate for yourself if you wish to receive the full worth of your education. It’s okay to have difficulty with study materials on occasion, and depending on your chosen learning style, you may have more success with certain modules than others.
If you have any questions, speak with your instructor. Whether it’s by email, social media, or direct messaging, many instructors have their own preferred methods of communication. Try to receive answers to your queries using that method. You should always use a courteous tone when asking a question, and be sure to include all of the relevant information.
- Engage With Other Students
You should choose courses that encourage communication and discussion if you want to enhance your learning experience. Courses that feature discussion forums and message groups will allow you to discuss course-related subjects, voice concerns, and even compare your quiz results, which fosters a healthy competitive spirit which will help you push further to learn more. If your course requires you to engage with other students, make an effort to get to know them. Let each other know if you need support or advice. Most students will have difficulty with different aspects of the course, so you may assist one other out.
Teaching the material to others is also a great way to retain information. In these online forums or message boards, you will have a chance to teach other students about the parts of the course you understand well. Also, discussions with fellow classmates can be intellectually stimulating and help you understand the material better.
- Focus on Practicing
Practicing is the best way to retain information, so you should focus on using your newly learned skills as much as possible. Many students study through reading textbooks, attending lectures, or conducting research in the library or online. While it is critical to observe information and then write it down, putting new knowledge and abilities into practice can be one of the most effective strategies to increase learning.
You practice by finding relevant projects online and working on them as you learn about the subject from your online course. For example if you are learning coding, you can find a lot of projects on platforms such as GitHub, or if you are learning a new language, you can watch films or read books in that language.
- Take Breaks and Review the Material Often
Our brain’s attention span is short, so taking regular breaks after a period of intense learning combined with review sessions can be an effective strategy for better learning. To avoid eye fatigue, insomnia, concentration loss, and inadequate retention, you should take study breaks often.
If at all possible, remove yourself from your study location. Take a trip outdoors or exercise for a bit. Sudoku is an excellent approach to develop your brain in a new way. Grab a cool beverage and a snack, and then spend a half-hour vegging in front of the television. During these pauses, avoid gazing at a screen. Indeed, you should abstain from messaging on your phone as well. Concentrate on other aspects of your life that need the use of various regions of your brain. You’ll be grateful afterwards.
Spend at least 30 minutes checking through your notes from each lesson to make sure you haven’t missed anything. You’ll be able to recollect the information you’re attempting to acquire more quickly in the future if you study every day. Studying new content within 24 hours after hearing it has been proven to enhance the likelihood you will remember it by roughly 60 percent, according to research.
After class is the most excellent time to review the new content you learned. This not only helps you remember what you’ve learned, but it also helps you discover topics or information that may require further study time. Preparation for exams is much easier when you know where you stand and where you need to improve. If you feel the need to, set aside some time before each session to go over what you learned the previous day.
How To Study More Effectively
Finding the perfect study method is a never-ending effort. It’s not something that can be put off until the night before the exam. You should continually focus on improving your study abilities so that you can learn what works and what doesn’t.
Learning how to study better will help you avoid worry and frustration the next time you have a big test. After all, if you have had time to fully review and practice the content, you are more likely to perform well and be less anxious before an exam.
Mastering efficient study habits not only makes learning more accessible but will also help you get better results in high school and post-secondary school.
First, you need to create the conditions in your body and external environment-to successfully learn and retain information. Here are some study habits worth trying:
Get a good night’s sleep: A recent study found a positive relationship between students’ grades and how much sleep they’re getting. However, this doesn’t only mean getting a total of 8 hours of sleep before a big test. What matters even more is getting enough sleep for several nights before you do the bulk of your studying.
Switch up your study environment: This may not appear to be a promising study method, but studies have shown that changing up your study surroundings can improve memory performance. Instead of studying at home every day, try visiting a new coffee shop or going to your local library once a week. A change of location can help you boost your memory and concentration.
Stick with an environment that works: If you you have a good study space at home or a café that is reliably a productive place for you, it makes sense to stick with this when you are under pressure.
Listen to calming music: You can listen to any music you like, but many agree that classical, instrumental, and lo-fi beats make good background music for studying and can actually help you pay attention to the task at hand. Songs with lyrics can be distracting.
Eliminate distractions: Focus on yourself by turning off your phone and any distracting background noises, such as the TV or radio. Make a deal with yourself not to check social media until your study period is finished.
Snack on smart food: Coffee and candy will give you a temporary boost, but then you’ll have a blood sugar crash. For energy that is more focused and sustainable, try healthy snacks such as apples, or nuts.
These are the base of the effective studying but there are some methods we can mention to worth your time trying.
SQ3R Method
The SQ3R method is a reading comprehension technique that helps students identify important facts and retain information within their textbook. SQ3R (or SQRRR) is an acronym that stands for the five steps of the reading comprehension process. Try these steps for a more efficient and effective study session:
Survey: Instead of reading the entire book, start by skimming the first chapter and taking notes on any headings, subheadings, images, or other standout features like charts.
Question: Formulate questions around the chapter’s content, such as, What is this chapter about? What do I already know about this subject?
Read: Begin reading the full chapter and look for answers to the questions you formulated.
Recite: After reading a section, summarize in your own words what you just read. Try recalling and identifying major points and answering any questions from the second step.
Review: Once you have finished the chapter, it’s important to review the material to fully understand it. Quiz yourself on the questions you created and re-read any portions you need to.
You can try this study technique before taking your final exam.
Retrival Practice
Retrival Practice is based on the concept of remembering at a later time. Recalling an answer to a question improves learning more than looking for the answer in your textbook. And, remembering and writing down the answer to a flashcard is a lot more effective than thinking you know the answer and flipping the card over early.
If you practice retrieval, you are more likely to remember the information later on. Below are some ways you can implement the retrieval process into your study routine.
Utilize practice tests: Use practice tests or questions to quiz yourself, without looking at your book or notes.
Make your questions: Be your teacher and create questions you think would be on a test. If you’re in a study group, encourage others to do the same, and trade questions.
Use flashcards: Create flashcards, but make sure to practice your retrieval technique. Instead of flipping a card over prematurely, write the answer down and then check.
Spaced Practice
Instead of hurrying the night before, spaced practice (also known as distributed practice) encourages pupils to study over a longer period of time. When our brains are on the verge of forgetting something, they work harder to recall it. Spreading out your studies allows your mind to form connections between ideas and build knowledge that can be easily recalled later.
To try this technique, review your material in spaced intervals similar to the schedule below:
Day 1: Learn the material in class.
Day 2: Revisit and review.
Day 3: Revisit and review.
After one week: Revisit and review.
After two weeks: Revisit and review.
It’s important to start planning early. At the beginning of each semester, schedule some time each day just for studying and reviewing the material. Even if your exams are months away, this will help you hold yourself accountable.
Feynman Method
The Feynman Technique is a rapid way to learn an idea by explaining it in straightforward and simple words. It is founded on the premise that “if you want to comprehend something properly, express it simply.” If we try to express an idea in our own words, we will most likely grasp it much faster.
How it works:
Write the subject/concept you are studying at the top of a sheet of paper.
Then, explain it in your own words as if you were teaching someone else.
Review what you wrote and identify any areas where you were wrong. Once you have identified them, go back to your notes or reading material and figure out the correct answer.
Lastly, if there are any areas in your writing where you used technical terms or complex language, go back and rewrite these sections in simpler terms for someone who doesn’t have the educational background you have.
Leitner System
The Leitner System is a learning technique based on flashcards. Ideally, you keep your cards in several different boxes to track when you need to study each set. Every card starts in Box 1. If you get a card right, move it to the next box. If you get a card wrong, you either move it down a box or keep it in Box 1 (if it’s already there).
Each box determines how much you will study each set of cards, similar to the following schedule:
- Every day — Box 1
- Every two days — Box 2
- Every four days — Box 3
- Every nine days — Box 4
- Every 14 days — Box 5
To summarize of tips to work more effectively: It is up to you to learn new skills and to manage your time and energy right. You must set a daily routine for yourself and manage your time efficiently. You have to have a goal in your mind when you are taking online education. And you must know what you want to learn and where would you like to use these skills.
Can I Use My Online Education in My CV/Job Applications?
Different employers look for different things when looking for a new worker, but they’re all seeking to answer the same underlying question: will this individual add value to my business?
It’s your role as a strong potential candidate to guide them to the appropriate decision. Setting yourself apart from the crowd might be challenging, but demonstrating your completion of relevant online courses is an excellent place to start. With that in mind, consider the following three reasons why you should include online courses on your resume:
- It makes for a better interview
Employers utilize interviews to determine the value you can bring to their organization, therefore it’s critical to stand out from the crowd. It’s not every day that an interviewer comes across a résumé that includes an online course or program (though it is becoming more common). Including relevant online coursework can help you stand out. It’s one of a kind and sparks conversation.
- It displays relevant, standout skill sets
Applicants frequently struggle to articulate what they can contribute for a firm. Speaking confidently about a skill set you’ve built can assist interviewers in directing them in the appropriate direction. Online courses on your resume provide a clear example of what you know and what you can do.
Online courses are also a great way to showcase unique skills that set you apart from other qualified candidates, which is becoming increasingly important as more and more companies look for candidates with a diverse mix of experience (sometimes called “hybrid skills”).
For example, if you’re a marketing professional, it can be beneficial to highlight additional data analysis skills. These skills may even help you negotiate a higher salary. According to Burning Glass Technologies, often, the introduction of a single hybrid skill can increase salaries by up to 40%.
- It shows character
Enrolling in an online school program is fantastic in and of itself. It exhibits personal ambition and discipline, intellectual maturity, curiosity, and a strong desire to learn, all of which employers value.
It’s tough for interviewers to continually assess these characteristics, but that’s what they’re attempting to accomplish. They want to see that you’re willing to go above and beyond because it shows passion, and passion shows worth.
Keep in mind, though, that this only applies if you are able to talk about what you learned and how it’s relevant to the position.
But how should you go about adding online courses and programs to your resume?
One of the best ways to incorporate online courses into your resume is by Verified. It allows you to connect with a recruiter or hiring manager personally and is a great place to discuss the professional skills you’ve acquired and how they relate to the position. If you’re submitting your resume electronically, you can even link to the course profiles. Verified allows you to get your e-certificates verified by Verified is a mobile app developed by Sertifier. You can view, store, and verify your certificates and digital badges you get from Sertifier.
What is a Smart Certificate?
Smart Certificate provides educational organizations with a set of tools allowing to securely grant credentials to all their students/trainees while ensuring complete privacy of their personal data. The latter benefit from a secure digital version of their credentials that they can share with recruiters and future employers. Unique and secure, Smart Certificate protects the issuer brand by preventing fraud. Smart Certificate also drastically cuts down on administrative work. Producing duplicates and certificates and handling recruiters’ validation requests are minimal. In addition, Smart Certificate improves the process of creating and distributing credentials. It also offers valuable services to receivers by granting them access to their credentials anytime, anywhere.
Smart Certificate has been designed with security and privacy in mind at every level. Smart Certificate applies the highest data security standards to provide the most dependable digital credentials to educational organizations, graduates, and professional recruiters, from the validation of the academic account to the security outlined in the PDF form of the digital certificate.
You can always learn more about smart certificates and badges if interested. Whether you are a potential smart certificate issuer or receiver, check out Sertifier!
