Picking the Right Online Platform to Learn

As more online learning platforms continue to enter the education sector, the choice on which kind is the best for you, can become overwhelming. Here are some pointers that can help you decide.

Eye contact and body language are one of the important markers of attention in a class. Are you paying attention? Even if you are, is the session being understood? Is it too slow, or too fast? Is there anyone to clear your doubts? It is easier to address these issues when there is an instructor taking classes live.

Online education has reshaped the education industry in the last few years. It will continue to grow. The below forecast on the Online Education Market in India published by Technavio reveals trends from 2021 – 2025.

As market size increases, more and more players will come offering a myriad of options for learners. There are courses designed as self-paced learning or video-based learning where you learn by yourself, open source learning that provides mostly free material and several others.   

How do you choose the ideal one that is live, interactive, and fits your budget. Here are some factors to consider:

• Attention spans vary during a one-hour class. While for each person it is different, experiments have shown that most people get distracted after the first 20 minutes. It is important to have an engaging instructor who picks up on the cues and engages you. For this, you need classes that are taught live by instructors. Any environment that recreates the real classroom with teachers teaching live and other participants interacting in the same arena, is likely to be most effective. 
• It may be difficult to catch the instructor’s eye if you are one among 50 students. Check how many participants are likely to be in your course. By and large, the smaller the group, the better the attention. It doesn’t mean a private online class that offers you exclusive attention is the most ideal, either.
• One to one virtual private classes may be the recommended choice for some students and may suit some situations. Generally though, interacting with fellow students is important in retaining what you learn. You hear others’ perspectives, which helps you think of solutions and broadens your problem-solving skills. When ideas are shared and challenges discussed together, learning becomes motivating.
• An engaging instructor is very important. Obviously, flexibility without veering off the curriculum too far is also needed. Online education is open to all; teachers included. Its therefore important to go with companies who take responsibility for the instructors they offer. Check how their instructors are onboarded.
• Take a trial class once to see if the teaching style suits you. A demo is also an opportunity to explain your needs and ask what can be expected at the end of the course. This is where choosing your right learning partner becomes crucial.
• Are you left to fend for yourself in the class? Logging in remotely to a virtual class can have its own challenges. You may have misplaced the password or not able to login due to some technical issues with your internet or software. You may be a few minutes late and your teacher would have left the ‘virtual classroom’. If there is someone around to help you in these critical times, it makes it easier. Look for online companies that are known to offer assistance or a team member to support you.
• Once you have paid and started your classes, is there someone around to monitor the quality of these classes. Are the classes on schedule, are assignments given and regular assessments made to evaluate your progress. Make sure you choose an online course with companies known to follow regular quality control checks.
• Feedback forms are necessary. Even more important is speaking to a team member from the company about your class. Do they have dedicated personnel to monitor your learning? Be proactive and reach out with your comments and suggestions. If you are being encouraged to speak up, its probably a company that values their education system.
• Going by reference is also a good option. Speak to someone who has already taken a course on the same platform. Read reviews. Explore their website. See what instructors have to say, and others have commented on.
• If there is a person picking up the phone to speak to you about your course, its probably a good start. Ask all you want. How responsive they have been with your queries and challenges is another indication of their commitment to your learning.

In the end, learning is a mutually interactive experience. The above scenarios while not exactly being guidelines, can help you navigate through all the online courses and e-learning platforms announcing the best education. They can help you narrow down your choices. ~ Anjana Das

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