Online courses can be a wonderful way to learn almost anything—
Hold on - first consider some of the possible pitfalls before you click to enroll.
For many students, all they think they need is a computer and reliable access to the internet to be successful in an online course. In fact, my experience from teaching online for more than a decade is that some students think online courses will be easier than learning in a traditional classroom—that is, they will spend less time and exert less effort. But for most students, and especially for learners with Executive Function challenges, online learning actually requires extra bandwidth, in terms of the array of skills they need to be successful in this environment.
Ideally, before students enroll, they should be able to identify why an online format is a good fit for what they want to learn. Additionally, there should be some consideration for the skills needed to be a successful online student. I’ve outlined a framework below to help learners make an informed choice about online course options.
Most online learning options are asynchronous, which means students can log on anytime to read materials and complete assessments. Discussion boards and blogs can be useful to simulate classroom participation, but the dynamic is different as these conversations are not in real time. Synchronous courses require you to log on at a specific time, though these are less common.
Classroom learning has set beginning and end times. Teachers and peers notice absences, late arrivals, and early departures. These subtle social pressures help students stay motivated to attend class, be on time, and remain in class for the entire session.
In an online course, typically students set their own schedules for when and how to engage with the material, so time management is critical. For non-credit courses, hours required per week for success can vary. For college-level credit-based courses, a simple calculation can help determine how much time a student will need: Multiply the number of credits by 3. This is the low end of hours per week students should expect to spend on a course. Then multiply the number of credits by 4; this is the high end. So for a 3-credit course, 9 to 12 hours a week is what you need to spend for engaged learning. This calculation applies to standard 14/15-week semesters, so if it’s a 7-week summer session, consider doubling that time.
This estimate may be a bit high for some courses, but it’s better to set aside more time rather than be caught short, especially if the student is new to online learning or a beginner in the subject area.
Many online courses are writing intensive. Discussion boards and blogs are often used in the absence of real-time classroom interaction. For students with Executive Function challenges, writing can be very difficult because it relies heavily on multiple skills: consider how sustained attention, planning and prioritizing, and organization are needed for writing steps such as an outline, draft, revision, and citations.
An online course in many ways is a directed study. Students are given materials, access to the instructor’s expertise, and assessments. The instructor cannot read the expression of confusion on a student’s face as a new concept is introduced. It’s really up to each individual to evaluate their own progress and know when to reach out to the instructor. Some instructors hold virtual office hours, where they are available to chat online every week at a set time. Others will respond to questions via email, text, or phone.
Online courses generally run on a platform—a Learning Management System (LMS). In higher education, the common ones are Blackboard, Moodle, and Canvas. Most of these have online orientations to help new users understand how to access the course, navigate content, submit assessments, view feedback, etc. Students may need Microsoft Office (at least Word), Adobe, or other applications, so be sure to check course requirements.
Other online learning environments such as Lynda.com, Khan Academy, Coursera, and edX are straightforward and contain easy-to-load videos and/or PowerPoint slides.
In summary, online courses may be a great fit for some learners, and not a fit at all for others. What’s important is to find out if there’s a mismatch between a student’s current Executive Function skill set and the array of demands the online class presents. When there is a skill gap, online Executive Function coaching can be an effective way to develop those abilities to help students and adults become successful online learners.
Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash