Keeping Motivated in a Distance Learning Program

Ann Mason, Contributing Writer

Updated: 3/14/2010

Distance learning programs allow college students an amazing amount of flexibility in scheduling while still providing the resources for a college education. These online degree programs can work for anyone, but are particularly useful for students juggling busy home and work schedules along with their coursework.

Distance learners typically are occupied with other aspects of their lives including work and family. Because they are usually physically separated from their professors and classmates, they may need to consider strategies to keep their motivation levels high and their participation in their classes consistent. If you are a college distance learner who, like most students, struggles with maintaining your motivation level, try a few of these ideas to keep you focused over the long haul as you pursue your college degree.

Know What’s Expected

Read and heed your syllabus. This document is your road map for your class, and your college professors will expect you to follow it. If it is posted on a website, bookmark that site so that you can easily refer to it. Add all important dates from your syllabus to the calendar you use. If you don’t have a calendar, get one immediately. A calendar is a great motivational and goal-setting tool. Once you know what’s expected of you, review your assignments regularly and be sure you mark them and any other school-related goals on your calendar. If it makes you feel good, be sure to mark things off as you complete them.

Create Structure

Since the flexibility of online education means that you can read your assignments, watch video lectures, and listen to podcasts at any time of the day or night, you might be tempted to put off your college assignments until another day. You can provide for yourself the structure you need to get through the coursework. Again, employ your calendar, and set aside time that you will commit to your class. Share your schedule with friends and family members and allow them to help you stay motivated.

Know How You Learn

Do you remember what you read, what you hear, or what you see, or do you need to use your hands to really grasp a concept? We all learn in different ways, and no one way is better than the others. What is important as a learner is that you recognize your learning strengths and weaknesses and steer your education tools toward your strengths. For example, if you need to write or read material to comprehend it, be sure to take lots of notes during video lectures or audio podcasts you use online. If you need to see images of concepts, use the Internet to hunt down websites and other resources that might help you bring your assigned reading to life. Your professor might also be able to help you with this, if you let him or her know what you need.

Connect with Classmates

Your online education classmates can be a source of inspiration, even if you never get to meet them face-to-face. By communicating with them online through email, chat rooms, message boards, or class-related discussion groups, you can share ideas and discuss questions. Staying interested and involved in the course materials through regular discussions with your classmates or with anyone else who might be interested, will help you stay on track.

Reward Yourself

Distance learning, like all learning, is a process, and you should reward yourself for your progress along the way. Set goals as big as earning a high grade on a test or a paper or as small as reading an assignment uninterrupted for an hour. When you achieve your goal, reward yourself, you deserve it! This process of setting goals, reaching them and then rewarding yourself for it might, in itself, be enough to keep you motivated through the duration of your course.

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