Academic Insights – 6 top tips for... Going the distance

I'm Leigh-Anne Perriman.

I'm programme lead for

a masters in online

and distance education programme.

And prior to that, for many years,

I was a tutor in

online and distance learning

across the Arts.

While there's no typical

distance-learning course

the length can range from anything

from a few months to several years,

depending on the institution and

the subject being studied.

Students can stay motivated

when they're studying by

trying to apply their learning

to contexts

they find interesting —

perhaps something to do with work

or something to do with their

family setting —

and choosing a study pathway

that fits their own interests: that can be

a real motivating power.

When you're in your third or

fourth year of distance learning,

it can be both easy and

difficult to stay motivated.

By that time,

you may have what we call

'study lag': so

after several years,

you may be thinking,

“Ugh, yet another year of studying: yet

another year where I can't have that

social life that I wanted,

and where I have to be

continually making compromises

in terms of getting the time

needed to study.” However,

in the third or fourth year,

the end is also in sight,

so there could be incredible motivating

power in thinking,

“Ah, it's only another nine months

and then I'll have this qualification.”

So, it's a two-way thing really.

If a student gets a grade that’s

lower than they're expecting,

that can be a real de-motivator:

they can end up feeling really fed up

and sometimes wonder whether

it's worth carrying on.

At that stage, it's vital to talk

to your tutor.

They can help you to

understand whether

you've actually answered the question

that was set – often that

can be a problem — and

they can help you to plan

for getting a higher grade in future.

As a distance-learning tutor,

I'd be very surprised

if a student didn't encounter at

least one crisis during

their course of study.

Distance learning involves fitting in study

around other aspects of your life

and so there will be multiple points

of which there are challenges

and crises – so yeah, perfectly normal.

They should communicate with their tutor,

who will be best placed

to help them through this crisis —

help them manage their study strategies.

And they should also talk with

their peers.

Other students can be a huge

source of support.

Go the distance.