by: Sophia Peters
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Globalization has made an enormous difference to the way we live and work, and I don't just mean the impact of petrol prices on our driving habits. Communicating with someone on the other side of the world is just as easy as communicating with someone next door. People change jobs more often than before, and jobs change just as frequently. And all these changes underscore the importance of education in this globalized, competitive, technology-driven, knowledge-based economy.

But education on-campus at university or college is not possible for many people because jobs or other commitments make it impossible for them to attend on-campus classes. Online learning provides a flexible solution for such people. Unfortunately, many learners enter an online program without realising the problems they need to face. Thus, all too often they are disappointed with their first experience of this new mode of learning. To avoid this, there are six things that the learner should watch out for.

Online education is a flexible form of education, but it doesn't mean that you can keep "putting off" your learning day after day. All too often, that is what often happens - and this results in failure to learn. So be organised - manage your time. Set aside a regular time in your diary for study of the material and completion of assignments.

With the world of work and our living environment constantly changing, you need to be constantly learning new ways of doing things. To be successful, you need a desire for life-long learning. And this is precisely what you should have or wish to develop in yourself - a desire to learn.

Unfortunately, many of us were taught to use "rote learning" at school. But other skills are needed to acquire meaningful knowledge. This means having well-developed critical reading and thinking skills. To be successful in learning online requires that you develop these skills. Many programs or colleges will provide a course to help you acquire such skills - it would be well worthwhile taking it so that you do know how to learn.

For many people, school taught them to be "passive learners" and such learning seemed to be a useful strategy for success. But it is not a useful strategy for success in today's world, or, indeed, in online learning. If you are learning online, the courseware often includes questions, exercises and further reading so that your learning can be active rather than passive. You must make sure that you complete all the exercises and that you thoroughly interact with the material so as to gain the most out of it. Do not be a passive learner.

In an online course, real learning takes place when you are interacting with others on the course. So try to find a learning group, either in your area or online - your e-Tutor may well facilitate this. You can then take part in "social learning" - and you will find that you only truly "know" something when you try to explain it to someone else. Make sure that you respond to all the e-Tutor's requests for feedback and do participate in the discussion forums.

I recently heard of a government official who had his position taken away from him on the grounds that he hadn't earned his qualifications because they were from a "diploma mill" - a business that simply prints diplomas and degrees. He protested that he had "earned" them because he paid good money for them. You must always make sure that the online qualification you receive is from an accredited institution and the form of accreditation is recognised in your country. Never "buy" a qualification from a "diploma mill".

About the Author

Sophia Peters writes for the Online and Distance Learning web site where you can find out more about online programs. Visit the web site for other relevant information about online learning and online programs.

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