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?
There could be several reasons for this. Maybe you are busy and distracted with thoughts of other tasks that need doing. Maybe the course is poorly presented and you can’t engage with the material. Or perhaps you are simply not in the right frame of mind to be studying right now.
What is the Problem?
How do you tell if it is a problem with the course, or a lack of motivation on your part?
When does the problem occur? Do you find yourself putting off doing the course? Or do you lose concentration after starting?
What exactly is happening? Do you look forward to settling down to watch a few videos, or does the thought of it make you cringe? Are you so frustrated by many tasks competing for your time that you just want to give up?
Why are you studying? Because you have a passion for the subject, or because you have to do it? Perhaps it is a subject you need to learn to progress in your career, or to branch out into a new career. Perhaps someone suggested you try this particular course because they thought you would enjoy it, or find it useful.
How to Fix the Problem
Your answers to the above questions will help you decide what strategy will help. If you have trouble actually starting, even though you have been looking forward to really getting into the course, the Pomodoro Technique might help. You can read about it here. A useful resource is Coursera’s Learning How to Learn online course. Students are taught why the Pomodoro Technique is effective and how to make the most of it. Use a kitchen timer to work in 25-minute bursts. Can you work on your course for 25 minutes? If that is too long, try a shorter time.
Set your timer and tell yourself that this time is strictly for your course. After you’ve spent the solid time on the course, how do you feel? Buoyant or bored?
Find Your Own Strategy
If you’re buoyant after working on your course, perhaps you are having trouble with motivation. Actually starting is the biggest hurdle for many people. Once you’ve made a start, it’s easier to keep going, so make the most of the momentum and continue. Use that Pomodoro again if you need to. Some people can find the drive to continue without having to turn to the Pomodoro again, but others find they work best with it ticking away beside them. We’re all different, so find your ideal strategy and stick to it.
If you normally enjoy the course but today is not working, you need to work out what the problem is. Is it an issue with the course or is your brain overloaded or distracted by other life events?
Perhaps you just need to put the course aside for now and try again later or tomorrow. Be aware, though, that a delay like this can easily turn into longer and longer delays. What about spending 20 minutes mapping out a realistic timetable for your next week or two? What are the most pressing tasks? When can you fit in your online course? Again, stick to your strategy once you have worked it out.
Boring Presentation
If you are bored by the course, what can be done? Firstly, you need to decide whether you really need to do this course. Are you doing it because you need to, for your work or because you want to study a more advanced topic and must learn this one first? Is this particular course the only option? Is it too hard or too easy for you? Perhaps you could find an easier course on the same subject, or should you try a more challenging course?
Sometimes the problem is with the course itself. What exactly is the problem? An uninspiring lecturer or presentation style? A flat talking voice? Too many hesitations or ums and ahs during delivery? Not enough images or graphics to keep your brain engaged? Some courses appear to be “talking heads”, without making use of the many computer techniques available. A great advantage of MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) is that they are easy to drop if they are not right for you.
No other options
If you are required to do this particular course, sometimes you just have to slog through it. Set aside particular times of the day and start your Pomodoro to get through it bit by bit. Set yourself small targets and small rewards for reaching them. It may help to look at the big picture by imagining your life after finishing the course. What are your career or further education prospects? If you’re in the middle of a challenging long-term plan, those small rewards for completing small steps or spending a realistic amount of time can help you succeed.
When You are Too Busy
Maybe the problem is neither the wrong course nor lack of motivation. If you have too many things on your plate at the moment, you may need to take a hard look at your life and decide the top priorities. Maybe you just need to accept that you are not going to manage an online course at this stage of your life. Try making a calendar or diary reminder for a few months’ time to reassess your situation.
A Final Thought
There can be many reasons for difficulty finishing a course. Start by working out just why you are having trouble. Clarify the problem, then work on overcoming it.
By Pat Bowden, published May 29, 2018
