Virtual classrooms, remote learning, elearning, and non-traditional education methods came to the forefront of media coverage roughly six months ago. From here on out distance learning, and remote workforce will continue to maintain a place in our society. Both students and teachers alike can find benefits and drawbacks to online learning. Some of the common challenges students and teachers face with remote learning include getting left behind, not receiving independent time between teacher and pupil, and fighting technology “features” along the way. This blog will discuss why these common negative perspectives are actually positive when using remote learning for technology related degrees.
1. Getting Left Behind = Time Management Skills for Life
Computer science, information technology, threat hunting, data scientists, developers, programming, and electrical engineering all require an attitude that requires time management and discipline. By completing remote learning courses online you'll gain practice for the real world. Most people waste time, and EVERYONE is guilty of it whether we realize it or admit it. Test yourself: are you wasting time or decompressing? Document your activities in a journal for a few days; if you lie remember you’re only lying to yourself. You might realize the difference between reaching your next life goal, or career platform is “Netflix and Chill”, tweeting, tic-tocking, snapping, face timing and/or gramming, or possibly even lost in another person’s fantasy world found through video games. Scheduling time for these activities instead of using them as time wasters is completely acceptable. Life that’s all work and no fun is dangerous for mental health.
2. No 1 on 1 = Real World Experience
With SaaS becoming more and more prevalent you may find yourself working via telecommute inside of a cloud service designed to help customers from anywhere. Being able to communicate without facial expressions, micro expressions, and body language can be challenging to comprehend the message. The skill of listening to the works people are saying, understanding what they mean by rephrasing what they’ve told you, and being able to speak eloquently are great skills to take with you into any job.
3. Lack of Motivation = Pushes Self Reliability
In a world before Google people had to go to library and hope that there was some literature on the topic that you’re looking for. If not, they had to know someone who knew someone to track down the answer. This shows initiative and motivation to find an answer; now we just ask the lady in the tube, type it up on our favorite search engine, or ask someone sitting next to us. Doing remote learning forces you to be able to use a computer the way people used to use a library.
Use technology to your advantage when elearning about technology.
By using remote learning, although it's a huge adjustment, you will succeed as long as you make enough time for it. We are all our own worst enemy, but overcoming these negative habits and emotions is how success is born.