For many adult learners, reentering the academic world can be a bit intimidating. There have been quite a few changes to education over the last ten years, including the continued growth of distance learning. Edudemic recently published an infographic pinpointing some of the most important skills and attributes today’s learners need to be successful in their educational pursuits. If you’re thinking about going back to school and wondering what it takes to be successful in the new landscape of learning, the following six attributes are essential to your success:
Vision– This attribute has been essential to educational success since people first pursued an education. You have to see where you want to go in order to get there, so begin your educational journey with a vision for the future—a vision of what you hope to achieve. If you’re working third shift at a hospital, perhaps the vision for your future is one that involves day shifts as an RN or nurse practitioner. If you’ve been pushing papers for too long, perhaps the vision for your future is one that involves a corner office as supervising manager.
Hope and optimism– Again, these attributes have been around since the dawn of education. At the start of any educational endeavor, whether that endeavor is kindergarten or a degree, the learner must enter with a sense of hope and optimism if he or she is to begin at all. And then the key is to hold onto that hope and optimism to the end… This is not always an easy task (how many of us had the same gleam in our eyes and enthusiasm on the first day of high school that we did on that first day of elementary school?), but the more positivity and optimism we can have toward our endeavors, the more positive our experience will be.
Grit and resilience– On a similar note, you have to be able to push through frustrations and challenges on the path to your educational goal in order to be a successful learner. If you give up at the first sign of difficulty, you’re going to fall very short of your dreams. You have to be able to focus on the course you've set and press on. Completing an education is not easy (or everyone would be doing it!), but it’s worth it. On those tough days when you feel like giving up, remember your vision, your hope, and the optimism that got you started on the path. You’ll get past those days, and the payoff will be worth any challenge you faced along the way.
Self-regulation– This is definitely a crucial attribute for distance learners. You set your own study time, and you complete courses on your own schedule. As a result, you can finish a course as quickly (or as slowly) as you want. Distance education affords you the ability to work your education around your life, but it falls on you to make your learning a priority. Self-discipline is an important asset when you complete your degree or certificate online. No one is perfect, and you have to cut yourself some slack—but don’t let yourself fall short. As a customer of The College Network, you can take advantage of the tools our Academic Advisors have to help you stay on track!
Adult learners today have greater opportunity for education than ever before. The College Network recognizes the needs of these learners and has provided support and educational solutions that help them advance their education and training with college degrees and professional certificates from highly acclaimed universities since 1992. As one of the nation’s leading eLearning companies and a partner with some of the nation’s foremost institutions of higher learning, The College Network has helped hundreds of thousands of adults continue their education. If you’re ready to step into a new learning landscape, we’re ready to support you on the path and help you find success along the way. Learn what The College Network can do to help you by contacting us today. Call 1-800-395-3276 or complete this form and take the first step into your future.
Already a customer of The College Network and need a pep talk? Contact your Academic Advisor today for some tips to help you move closer to your goals.
