The COVID-19 pandemic and consequent social isolation have changed the lives of billions of people around the world. As a work-from-home person with a low-key social life, I thought my situation would scarcely change by orders to stay home. How wrong I was! Firstly, my work answering Help and Support emails with Class Central took a leap into the stratosphere. Millions of people wanting to take up free online courses accessed the site in just a few months. Coupled with being confined to the house and not allowed to take any day trips or weekends away to relieve the monotony, I’ve had trouble managing to focus on writing for Online Learning Success. Despite my optimistic maintaining social interactions and exercising during the lockdown posts, the reality was not as easy as I expected.
Continue readingCategory Archives: Motivation
High Achiever Has Completed Over 400 MOOCs
I am pleased with my record of taking over 100 MOOCs, but I am nowhere near some people’s tally. Garuba Ojo Fredericks (Fred) from Nigeria has completed over 400 MOOCs in a wide range of subjects. His Coursera and edX accomplishments pages are impressive!
Continue readingHow a Book About Dance Relates to Online Learning
How does a book about dance relate to online learning? On the surface, it doesn’t. But dig a bit deeper and you will see that the author of Frou Frou to Fruition has never stopped learning, even though she has not taken any online courses.
Continue readingBe Inspired by Quotes About Learning
Several weeks ago, I read an inspirational quote from Mahatma Ghandi which set me thinking about how we can be inspired to improve ourselves by learning from each other’s words.
Continue readingTurn Your Dreams into Reality
We all have dreams. Dreams of a happier life, more money, more time to do the things we want to do rather than the things we have to do. Dreams can be like clouds Continue reading
Verified Certificates: Are They Worth the Money?
Many people see online learning as a free or low-cost way of increasing knowledge and skills. When Coursera was launched in 2012, Statements of Accomplishment were available at no cost. EdX had free Honor Code Certificates. Later, Coursera and edX both introduced a verification process Continue reading
How Exercise Can Help You Learn
This year, 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a global action plan on physical activity, which can be downloaded from this WHO page. According to the document, one in every four adults in the world does not exercise as much as they should. Continue reading
Why am I struggling with this course?
You open up your course and start watching the videos. Soon your mind is wandering and you realize you haven’t heard the last few minutes. What went wrong? Continue reading
Why do Many People Choose to Study Online?
A few months ago, I wrote an essay for A Beginner’s Guide to Writing English for University Study, a course I took through FutureLearn. Continue reading
6 Reasons for not Completing an Online Course
Have you started an online course (or perhaps more than one) but a few weeks later it has come to a complete halt?
There could be a number of reasons for this and also several strategies to overcome the block. You need to look at your individual situation before deciding the best way forward. Continue reading