Many online courses have social media groups that you can join if you have enrolled in the course.

Facebook Groups are Common

I have joined the Facebook groups of several courses and have found that participation varies widely from one group to another. It isn’t helped by Facebook’s apparent policy of deciding what posts I should see. I would prefer to see, in chronological order, ALL posts by my friends and groups. I would then have the choice of which comments to read and which to skim past.

Anyway, so much for Facebook’s policies. Back to the subject at hand.

Recently I saw a post in the Learning How to Learn Facebook group, linking to a blog about online courses (MOOCs). Written by John Philip, it was titled Online learning, what worked for me; and what did not.

Philip writes that he has been involved in distance learning for many years and was even involved in introducing international distance learning programs into India. But being involved in making them available and actually completing them were two different things. Philip has written an insightful analysis of what factors contributed to him finishing an online course.

Factors That Contribute to Finishing a Course

He has divided these factors into three groups: pre-enrollment, during the course, and post-certification. A course that ticks all or at least most of the boxes is a winner in Philip’s opinion.

He believes that the single most important factor is the instructors being animated and passionate about their subject. I agree! Some of my most enjoyable MOOCs are those where the instructor is fully immersed in their subject. Barbara Oakley in Learning How to Learn, Mike Brown in The Science of the Solar System, and Sue Alcock in Archaeology’s Dirty Little Secrets (sadly not currently available), just to name a few.

Philip concludes that e-learning is still evolving and “the best is yet to come.” More courses are constantly being released. Students can be quick to finish great courses and abandon those less well presented.

A Final Thought

Sometimes it can take years for the right learning match for each of us to come along.

By Pat Bowden, published November 7, 2018.