Online Learning

Thanks to the rapid advancement of technology, online learning is a part of many institutions’ course offerings around the world. From certificates, PhDs, impactful online language learning and everything in between, learning online has never been so easy! Offered by some of the UK’s top institutions, online learning offers you all the perks of attending your dream university, with the added convenience of a learning experience tailored to your schedule. With courses available in almost every subject and flexible timetables to suit almost every lifestyle, students are increasingly turning to online learning as a viable alternative to on-campus study. It can allow you to study at a top UK university while being abroad and studying remotely!

Advances in technology now allow students to study entirely online while still socialising with classmates, watching lectures and participating in subject-specific discussions. While some consider online learning to require a greater degree of self-motivation, institutions recognise that educational support is just as important as tutor feedback and take great care to ensure that their students receive the same levels of support that they would receive on campus. Online learning is the future of education; discover how it works and why it could be the perfect study abroad option for you!

In general, when taking an online degree program you might encounter resources like; EBooks, Journals, Videos, Recorded lectures, Quizzes, Discussion forums, Live Q&A sessions and Interviews.

The resources offered to you for learning online will depend on the institution where you take your online program here at LABM. Taking an online learning program, you’ll be an officially registered student at your institution and have access to the same resources as an on-campus student, like your institution’s digital library, learning management system, student union membership and more! An online degree is similar to taking a degree program on campus, but you have the freedom to direct your own study schedule.

Your course instructor will determine the format for each individual course and will select delivery methods that are best suited to your course or program. Online learning may be a completely new experience for you. If you’re coming from a more traditional learning background, read on to discover how to make the most of the resources you may encounter in your online learning journey!

eBooks and journals

These written materials are essential resources in almost every course you’ll take when learning online. Using the reading list for each course, or on the advice of your course instructor, you’ll need to dedicate the amount of time you need to reading and understanding the topics in the literature. The main advantage of using this medium (particularly eBooks) is the fact that they are completely portable, allowing you to study on the go from your computer, phone or tablet.

Recorded lectures

An essential way of absorbing a large amount of information in a relatively short amount of time, lectures are a staple of online and campus-based learning. With online learning, you can attend lectures from your bedroom!

Interactive sessions

The greatest challenge an online education provider faces is how to replicate the face-to-face interaction and in-person discussions that on-campus institutions can easily provide. The solution? Online degree programs often use a combination of discussion forums and interactive question-and-answer sessions to give you the interaction with other students and instructors you need.

Online students often think that their learning resources will be delivered via email, however most online institutions are moving away from this unreliable method of delivery.

The course or module’s learning resources will be delivered via the institution’s online learning environment or platform. The learning platform will vary depending on the software used, but it will usually consist of a central online platform that students can access from their personal PC, mobile or tablet.

One of the major benefits of utilizing resources that are hosted entirely online is unending flexibility!

As an online student, you can choose to access your course information and complete your assignments at any time. This allows you to fit study time in around your work, family and other commitments. This also means that students who wish to continue working while studying do not have to put their careers on hold. Get the best of both worlds!

Students taking a degree program or an individual course online will still be tested at regular intervals throughout their study period to assess their understanding of the course materials.

For those new to online education, this process can be intimidating. But there’s no need to worry! Online institutions are experienced professionals, they’ll ensure that your assessments are fair, comfortable, and designed to help you make the most of your learning experience.

Discover the assessment types you’re likely to encounter when taking an online degree program or course:

Individual Assignments

These are probably the method of assessment that students will have the most experience with. For each assignment, you’ll receive your topic, deadline and word count. You’ll be required to produce a structured, reasoned argument within the boundaries set out by your course instructor.

Discussion activities

Face-to-face discussions between friends and colleagues is something that we all do every day. However, an online academic discussion requires a different set of skills, and might not come as naturally when your first start your online learning journey. Not to worry, you’ll get the hang of it!

These activities will differ depending on the institution, but your course instructor will generally start each discussion off with a question or topic for debate. Students then need to research the topic and post their responses to the task demonstrating their own knowledge and understanding. Often, you’ll end up in a debate with the ideas and views posted by fellow students.

Journal activities

Like discussion boards, journal activities tend to be specific to online courses. A journal entry is an ongoing update giving you the opportunity to reflect back on what you’ve learned during the period under review, and how you’ll apply what you’ve learned in the future. Online learning doesn’t take place in classrooms, and journal entries are straightforward ways for course instructors to get a grasp of how you’re progressing through the course and if you’re gaining knowledge in the right areas. Unlike other assignments, it is acceptable to use a subjective, personal style of writing in journal entries and refer to yourself in the first person.

Exams

Although they can be nerve-wracking, exams are a key way to test your learning. Institutions may choose to allow students to complete their exams on their own personal computer, in a location of their choosing. Because tutors have no way to oversee a virtual exam or test, they are typically open-book and open-note. As a viable alternative, many institutions will offer the option of completing ‘take-home’ examinations in the form of an essay or final assignment. Some institutions may use exam software like virtual proctors, or tools to monitor if you visit new web pages.