Read these smart online learning tips for single parents. Overall, stay positive and focused.
If you're among the many students today who are returning to school in record numbers, you may be looking for online learning tips for single parents. Students are going back to school to complete their degrees or to receive continuing education to grow in their chosen careers.
There's an influx of single parents in physical classrooms at universities and colleges across the country as well as students who have chosen to learn from the comfort of their own homes, thanks to the growth of online education and online-learning tools.
Learning online is a good choice for many single parents since it allows the student to attend class at his or her leisure while raising a family and holding down a job. Online learning is usually self-paced. The student logs onto the online-learning portal and does the coursework at a speed that he or she is comfortable with, based on other commitments.
Take in these online learning tips for single parents. Then find your program of choice!
A few tips that are unique for the single mom or dad can make getting an online degree a bit simpler:
- One of the top online learning tips for single parents is a simple one: You must be willing to dedicate time to do the work. The nature of online learning makes it a bad choice for people who are easily distracted or who have trouble working without supervision. While not for everyone, online classes are perfect for those who are self-motivated, self-disciplined and driven. If you're none of these, then taking night classes or part-time coursework locally might better suit your learning style.
- Elicit a system of support for studying, taking tests, corresponding with other students on required discussion boards, and so on.
- Although the delivery is unconventional and you can literally have your children underfoot while you learn, having a quiet non-distracting environment in which to work is optimal to the learning process. Soliciting babysitting time from family and friends on a regular basis will allow you to devote your attention to your studies for a particular number of hours each week.
- In general, you should plan to spend five to 10 hours of time working on each online course each week, just like you would if you were attending a class that's taught face-to-face. Time management is very important to the successful outcome of online learning.
- When it comes to online-learning tips for single parents, perhaps none is more important than this: Take your program seriously. Online degree programs have come a long way in recent years, but still carry the stigma that an online degree is less prestigious than a traditional degree. The truth is that some online courses can require even more dedication and conviction to success for completion than those offered in an online setting, so it's important to take your program seriously and try hard.
- A final online learning tip for single parents is this: Explore your financial-aid possibilities. As long as the program you're attending is offered by a U.S. Department of Education-accredited school, you may be able to qualify for grants, loans, and scholarships to pay for your online classes. There's no guarantee that you'll receive any form of financial assistance, but you don't know till you apply.
Reply! is an excellent source for finding online degree programs for your chosen career path. Have additional online learning tips for single parents? Post your ideas to Facebook, tweet your tips to @ReplyCom, or share them with me on Google+.