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.