For many of us, the idea of trying to take up a new course while engaged in a full-time job can be intimidating. But handling your workload as well as trying to upgrade your skills is not as difficult as it sounds, thanks to the numerous learning paths that are available to you.
Choosing a learning path that works for you should be easy if you know what works for you. Your learning style depends on the way you absorb, process, understand and retain information.
Which type of Learner are you?
Knowing which type of learner you are can help you study and learn better. Here are five of the most common learning paths available today. Go through the list to find out which one could be the best for you.
1. Microlearning
Microlearning basically means bite-sized learning. The lessons are broken down into tiny pieces of information. It follows a just-in-time approach to learning and provides fast, efficient learning on-the-go. Due to its small-scale nature, microlearning is best suited for people who prefer learning on their mobile devices. Microlearning is ideal for you if you:
prefer short lectures over long ones
want to learn something new quickly
are always on your phone
2. Asynchronous e-learning
Asynchronous e-learning, or simply e-learning involves coursework that is posted online. It is based on the use of a learning management system (LMS) and comes with a set number of functions and structure designed for each course. Quizzes, puzzles, online examinations and other self-assessment methods are used at the end of each course. Asynchronous e-learning is ideal for you if you:
want a professional course
can spend extra money (e-learning is usually expensive)
want to learn at your own pace
3. Synchronous e-learning
Synchronous e-learning happens in real-time. In other words, a learner gets the classroom-type of feel with other learners and the teacher online at the same time as they are. Think whiteboards, virtual classrooms and scheduled online examinations! Rather than learning on their own, it allows them to interact with the teacher and other learners during the lesson. Synchronous e-learning is ideal for you if you:
don’t want to study on your own
want your doubts cleared instantly
have lots of time
4. MOOCs
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are online courses available for anyone to enrol and participate in. Unlike e-learning, MOOCs do not use an LMS and are available on multiple platforms. It follows a more casual way of learning and involves massive participation from anyone, anywhere in the world. MOOCs focus on collaborations and building connections rather than accreditation and evaluations.MOOCs are ideal for you if you:
require an affordable or free course
want to network with an online community
prefer casual learning
5. Flipped Classroom
Flipped classrooms are “blended learning” classrooms which involve both traditional and online methods. The idea is to learn from video lectures, Internet resources, web 2.0 tools and collaborate in online discussions. Learners would then go to their flipped classroom’s universities to appear for their examinations offline. Flipped classrooms are ideal for you if you:
want a university degree
prefer to appear for examinations offline
have time on your hands
No matter what stage you are in life, learning is easy when you know what to expect and explore the various types of learning paths available. While looking at an option, keep in mind your time, resources and money as well as your strengths and weaknesses. Knowing exactly what you need can help guide you towards the right choice. In the next article, we show you how to do a SWOT analysis- on yourself! After all, learning to identify yourself better is the first step towards better learning outcomes.
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