In many locations, we now take reliable access to the internet for granted. We can take online courses and watch high-definition videos on a computer or even our mobile phone. If the connection drops out or there is a power blackout, it is an irritation.

What about regions or countries where reliable internet access or electricity is unavailable? Can people still learn online? Here are some ways that may help you manage in these difficult circumstances.

Different online learning platforms have slightly different setups. With all of them, though, watching the videos is likely to be the biggest problem if your internet is unreliable.

Watching Videos

First, I would recommend that you connect to the site and start watching the videos as soon as they are released. This will give you the maximum time to finish watching them each week. Some courses allow you to download the videos to your device for offline viewing. When I first started learning online, I preferred to download the videos so I could watch them (or parts of them) over again without using up our limited data usage. Now, we have a larger allocation so I stream most videos without downloading them.

You may need to rename each video as you download it, to avoid confusion when replaying. Place them into a folder on your device and label it with the course name. Remember where you have saved your folder so you can find it again. Some learning platforms, such as Coursera, allow the whole week’s work to be downloaded in one step. Most edX videos can also be downloaded for offline viewing. Some FutureLearn videos can also be downloaded. Other platforms have their own procedures and rules.

Whether you stream or download videos, if you have limited internet data, on some platforms you can open the video settings (it looks like a little gear icon near the bottom right of the video) and choose a small file size. Your videos will look fuzzy, but will use less internet bandwidth.

Often, you can also use the gear icon to play the videos at a faster speed such as 1.25 or 1.5, so the video will take less time. If your electricity supply is unreliable, perhaps you can watch more videos in this way before the power fails. Don’t do this, though, if you have trouble understanding the words at a faster speed. You will spend too much time feeling frustrated and replaying the videos.

Using Transcripts

Many platforms have a transcript link under each video. Click on this link to open or download a document with all the words of the video. Sometimes an interactive transcript is available, which can be helpful to re-watch parts of the video if needed. Just click on the relevant words and the video will skip to that section.

Discussions

Many students enjoy the social aspect of participating in course forums or discussion boards. Some courses require participation in the discussions and award marks accordingly. It’s annoying to have a wordy comment almost written, then the internet drops out before you can finalize and submit your post. What about composing it in a word processing document on your device, then copy and paste it into the discussion?

Managing Quizzes and Tests

Different platforms have different rules. Some allow many attempts at quizzes and tests, while others have only one or two. What happens if your internet drops out in the middle of a test?

Firstly, make sure you are well prepared for the test so you don’t spend unnecessary time trying to puzzle out or remember facts that should be at the forefront of your mind. Then, as soon as you open the test, look for a Save button, which may be down at the bottom of the page. Save each answer as you go, so if the connection is lost, you won’t have to repeat everything. If there is no Save option, jotting down your answers could be helpful.

Take care, though, because some courses ask different questions each time the test is opened. Particularly tricky are questions that are similar but not identical. For instance, one question might ask for the False statements and another might want the True ones. If your internet is more reliable at a certain time of day, or particular days such as the weekend, try to do your tests at those times.

If you have a limited number of attempts for a test or quiz and your unreliable internet has used up an attempt, contact the course provider. There is often a HELP, SUPPORT, or CONTACT US link on the page which can answer common questions or connect you to technical help.

Finding a More Reliable Connection

Is there anywhere you could go to access reliable electricity or a better internet connection? A coffee shop, train, or public library with wi-fi? Your workplace, with your employer’s permission? Some bosses may be happy for you to come in early or stay late, especially if the course you are doing might improve your value to the business.

Remember that shared public wi-fi may attract hackers who are keen to discover your identity or credit card details. Be aware of possible security risks and reduce your chances of being hacked by following security guidelines such as How to Avoid Public WiFi Security Risks.

Again, if load-shedding or blackouts are less likely at any particular time of day, can you do your course then?

A Final Thought

While unreliable internet or electricity can make completing a course more challenging, there are some ways to deal with the problem and succeed.

By Pat Bowden, published April 17, 2018.