Online college is becoming a more popular option in Canada
because people need more flexibility.
But that does not mean that it easier than attending a bricks and mortar
college where you physically have to go to class every day. Online Canadian colleges come with their own
challenges that students will have to adapt to.
Learning on Your Own is a Challenge
When getting a college diploma online in Canada, one of the biggest challenges that students may face is learning independently. You are the only person that is there to
motivate you from day to day. Although
you have an instructor, that person will not be there each day to make sure you
are keeping up with assignments and instruction. You will need to organize yourself so that
you have time to learn.
You will need to make sure that you go over lessons and
complete assignments in a timely manner.
You’ll need to schedule time to study and make sure that you take tests
when you should. And you need to do all
of this while still living your daily life.
Whether you have a full time job
or are the head of a household, you need to make sure that you have time to
dedicate to your studies.
5 Tips for Success in Completing an Online Canadian College Diploma
These tips will help you if you start implementing them when
you start an online diploma program in Canada:
1. Optimism
Did you know that there have been studies on optimism when
facing a challenge? These studies have found
that people that are optimistic are more likely to succeed. Believing that you can and will do well at
whatever challenges come before you can help you reach your goals. Each day,
take some time to go over your successes to reinforce the belief that you are
and can continue to do well. Are you the
type of person that has difficulty in seeing their successes? Then ask others – your friends, family
members, and co-workers. You may be surprised
at how successful they think you are!
Keep a list of your successes on your bulletin board or inside your work
binder to encourage you and remind you every day of how far you have come.
2. Concentration
It is hard to get work done when you can’t concentrate. One of the most important factors of having
good concentration is the environment in which you work. Some people need to leave the house and go to
a place where there is no Internet connection to concentrate while others just
need peace and quiet. Learn what kind of
environment suits your study habits best.
The time of the day can make a big difference, too. You might think you are a night owl but that
doesn’t mean that is the best time for you to work!
3. Avoid procrastination
It is so easy to fall into the habit of
procrastinating. Once you start it just
gets easier and easier to keep putting off tasks that you know you need to
do. Try to do what you are supposed to
do when you are supposed to do it and don’t put it off for another time. You
never know when you are going to have time to do it again.
4. Keep a schedule
Set times to work on your studies. Make sure that people in your life know that
it is important that when you have scheduled study time you are able to focus and that you need to be
able to work uninterrupted. The people
in your life must realize that your schedule helps you get things done and if
they stick to your schedule then you will have more time for them later.
It is also good for our brains to have a schedule. We get
used to doing certain things during certain times and if you brain knows that
you are supposed to be studying at 7 am it will fall into study mode that much
faster. Try a few different times to
find out when you study best.
5. Use your instructor
When you are taking online college courses, you will likely
find that there are more optimal times to get a hold of your instructor. Find out when those times are and be prepared
for them. Instead of writing 5 emails a
day to your instructor with questions, write them down on a piece of paper and
email your instructor once with all of
your questions. That makes it easier for your instructors to do their job,
too. If you contact your instructor
during the best times to get a hold of him or her, you will get faster
responses.
