Finding Success as a Middle-aged, Online Student
Tips for Older Students for Tackling the Online Learning Challenge
More than 3.9 million students were taking at least one online course during the fall of 2007 according to the Sloane Consortium’s latest report (in PDF format). That translates to more than 4,000 colleges and universities now offer online courses, many of which target individuals who are middle-aged and signing up for college perhaps for the very first time in their lives.
The Sloane report notes that institutions are now openly competing to increase enrollment, which means that the focus is stronger than ever on reaching the non-traditional student.This competition can be seen in the growing number of ads depicting a busy professional or parent trying to accomplish eight different tasks at once.
Playing up on the idea of convenience, recruiters are quick to reassure people that, yes, education will fit into life after 35. However, the challenge comes when the student is no longer in the presence of the hyper-encouraging recruiter and instead seated at a kitchen table with television blaring loudly, the phone ringing incessantly, and fatigue rising quickly.
Why Universities Target Non-Traditional Students
More than 70% of institutions believe that online learning is vital for their future success (Sloane Report, 2008).This has led to a re-thinking of recruitment strategies and the discovery of higher education's "sweet spot" which is the over 35 student. Traditional colleges and universities have attempted for decades to reach the population of busy professionals, but their success has been limited (Carnevale and Olsen, 2003).
Online programs, however, can reach busy middle-aged professionals, who once thought they did not have the time to enroll in college. Driven by the current economy to complete or add to degrees, these middle-aged students are now ready to return to school.
Fitting Online Classes into a Busy Life
Unfortunately, the very thing that makes online learning appealing is the very thing that may trip up a middle-aged student. Middle-aged students are extremely busy people, and while online learning may offer flexibility, these students will still need to remember that there is a major time commitment involved no matter how convenient the course schedule appears.
How Family Support Leads to Online Learning Success
Before beginning an online course, non-traditional students need to first and foremost hold a family meeting about the new demands they will be facing. There will be a significant portion of time needed and that means that family life will by necessity change.
What Online Students Need to Know to Avoid Frustration
If a middle-aged student plans to be successful s/he needs to know the following:
- No matter how flexible the learning environment, time for assignments and course interaction should be scheduled on a regular basis.
- Sacrificing sleep is never a good idea
- There will always be interruptions and challenges so attempting to get an early start on assignment will lower stress and quite possibly raise grades.
- Courses in complex subject matter may not be ideal for the online experience. Students should consider taking some courses in traditional formats or at the very least take them later in the program.
- Within the first few days of class, students should plan to learn about the course and the instructor. Understanding professor expectations and late policies are vital to educational success.
- Staying active in the discussion forums, and thus connected to classmates and instructors, will not only enhance the amount of learning that takes place, but also will make the experience more enjoyable and less frustrating.
And finally, successful students are ones who have given reasonable consideration to what they can accomplish in a day already full of family and work. Taking things a bit slower, especially at first, will lead to successful degree completion more often than a quick lurch in which sleep and professional life are jeopardized.
Sources:
The Sloan Consortium Report
Carnevale, D. and Olson, F. "How to succeed in online learning". Chronicle of Higher Education, June 13, 2003.
Older Students = Success for Higher Ed
|
What do you think about this article?
More in Education & Career
Latest Articles