Motivation of online Students

Hello:

I just joineed the forum and am attempting to get into the online teaching area after many years in business. One of the universities has sent me a questionaire with this as one of the questions. I have my ideas, but I welcome others.

 

What are your ideas?

 

What exactly is the question? The motivation of online students as it pertains to getting a degree, their choosing a distance learning method, their chosen degree plans, the school they choose, etc.? "The motivation of online students" can have all kinds of nuances...

 

I tell them - If you don't do the work you will fail and lose your money and turn out to be a big fat nothing in life What are your ideas?

 

The question did not specify what type of motivation-it was very generic.

 

Well let's see...motivation...well, my grades are reviewed by my manager and director. If I I don't work hard it would result in:

a) humiliation
b) wasting my time
c) not learning
d) not getting recompensed, as my company will only pay courses where I get A's or B's.

 

What Motivates Adult Learners to Participate in Distance Learning

The majority of the participants (66%) identified timeliness, dependability, and flexibility as the major factors that motivate them to participate in distance learning, while 25% identified efficiency as the major factor, and only 9% indicated that they attend because of its self-directed learning approach. The issues of transportation, childcare, and uninterrupted career path were widely mentioned by a majority of participants (98%). Again, flexibility was mentioned (89%) as the major motivating factors in participating in distance learning.

The reason adult learners preferred distance learning at both the undergraduate and graduate levels was to balance work and family demands with part-time degree completion. Because of the need to complete college course work to finish their education, keep their current jobs, and be promoted, distance education appeals to these groups primarily because of flexibility of time, convenience of working from home, less rigorous course work, the ability to take care of their families at the same time, or work from office, and the culturally diverse group interactions.

Adult students see online programs providing new opportunities and preventing a short or even long distance commutes to attend a class. At the same time, students can remain in their homes or workplaces; they can participate in learning activities, interact with most of the people in class, exchange information more frequently, and establish friendships with other students. Other factors that influence adult learners participating in online programs result from their common characteristics:

· They possess a variety of background experiences of prior learning and work experience.

· They can integrate new concepts with their prior knowledge while picking new ideas from their colleagues with similar work experience.

· They enjoy and desire practical applications because of the co-hoc nature of most of these programs that draw prospective students from similar backgrounds.

· They learn best by having control over their learning environment and having the opportunity to showcase their talents in group or special projects.

· They enjoy participating voluntarily in the learning experience and most of them think that they know more than their instructors; unfortunately, most of the instructors do not challenge those individuals.

http://www.scientificjournals.org/journals2007/articles/1041.htm

 

Motivation for online learning

Time flexibility is my big motivator for choosing online education. Not having to waste time commuting or being committed to a certain time or day is important if you have a family and/or are working full time.

Additionally, classes are shorter and therefore you accomplish short term goals quickly and that success keeps you going.

The final motivation is the idea that by getting a degree, you become more marketable and eventually able to earn more money.

 

My motivation is to finish what I started years ago. Back in the late 60's and early 70's, one could jump into a position and work his or her way up the ladder without having alot of competition from graduates.

Times have certainly changed. Some businesses will not even talk to you unless you have a degree. I found this to be true with my children. I have pushed the degree until they were tired of hearing it. My oldest daughter is back in school at the local college and is an "A" student. My youngest daughter is enrolled at Penn Foster and is an "A" student, also.

Why the difference between the two girls? They are completely different. My oldest likes the class room setting and the social atmosphere. My youngest is really independent and self motivated. She does not need the social atmosphere to complete her task.

Motivation is a personal thing. Look at what job you want to have. Look at the requirements for that job and if you are the type of person that needs to have the class room, try the local college or junior college. Take a couple of courses. After you have been exposed to the college scene, try an online course then decide on what is best for you.

Jim

 

It seems that our members are not in a real hurry to do your homework for you.

 

My motivations:
(1) Course availability: I have interest in a wide variety of topics but colleges and universities offering courses of interest to me are usually beyond commuting distance (with some courses only being offered outside the USA).
(2) Cost: Since I now have to pay for tuition cost, courses offered by distance learning are cost effective.
(3) Convenience: I can study at any time of the day or while traveling.