Online Learning Tips for Adult Students

Online learning for adult students is increasing in popularity. As more professionals decide to upskill in their field or invest in a degree to change their careers, the need for accessible online degree completion programs for adults has grown. According to Forbes, more than 1 in 4 college students attended school online in Fall 2022. The online learning market is projected to grow by 20.5% by 2030, giving adult students plenty of company in their programs as they seek to further their academic and professional careers and experiences. 

Adult learners face unique challenges when pursuing education and managing other responsibilities, like balancing full-time jobs, financial responsibilities and family life. Online degree programs are not always designed with adult learners in mind, but some programs want to change that and cater more to their needs. 

Online learning has many benefits for adults, like the flexibility of online courses. It lets adults with busy schedules, commitments, children, and other responsibilities make time for their education, allowing students to balance life and education more effectively. 

We have compiled some advice and strategies for adult students who want to enhance their learning experience, including overcoming the challenges of online learning and making the most of their journey. 

Challenges of Online Learning as an Adult 

There are inherent challenges to going to school at any point in life, but these challenges can become more apparent when students return to school as adults. Now, these students must balance work, family, and studies, not to mention other obligations that did not take up their time during their traditional undergraduate years. 

Adult learners may face time management obstacles when pursuing an online degree, like juggling multiple responsibilities and commitments, both their own and their family’s. It is difficult to hold everything together and to seek to do everything well when there is so much to get done. 

Another obstacle adult learners may face is a need for more technical proficiency or to brush up on technical skills. There may be entirely new technology to learn, or adult students may need to get used to new online platforms for their courses and coursework. Learning to navigate these new tools may be especially difficult from afar, as students may enroll in an online program from an institution located far from them. 

Some adult students may also feel they need more peer interaction. Since some online programs do not require synchronous class time, students may feel isolated and disconnected from their classmates. However, peer interaction and support in the online learning environment are crucial to adult learners’ success, so students feeling discouraged should try to find people in their classes to connect with. 

How to Overcome Challenges in Online Learning: Tips for Success

Here are some strategies to help you succeed as an online adult learner: 

Set Realistic Goals and Prioritize Tasks

While it may feel ideal to get all your work for the week done in one study session, it may take you longer than you think to complete your coursework week-to-week. This can be especially true if you have children or other responsibilities that may interrupt the deeper work time you were used to during your undergraduate experience. One of the ways adult learners can make their work more manageable is by breaking down their larger tasks and projects into smaller steps. This can help them feel accomplished as they work. Even if students do not finish a project all in one session, they will know they have made some progress toward their larger goal. 

Some helpful time management tools and techniques include: 

Creating to-do lists: Sometimes, the most helpful first step in tackling a large amount of work is to get all the work you need to do out of your head and onto paper so that you can know what needs to be done and by when. 

Use time-blocking methods: Once you have rearranged your schedule to accommodate your schoolwork, set aside uninterrupted time for deep work toward your assignments. Letting your family and friends know about this schedule can help them block off the time and will help you have confidence that the other things in your life can get done in their own time. 

Utilize apps for scheduling: Whether you choose an app to help you focus on your work and not get distracted by your phone or one that enables you to keep track of your assignments, use the available productivity technology to your advantage. 

Establish a Dedicated Study Space and Schedule

A dedicated, distraction-free study space is essential when returning to school as an adult. Trying to keep outside noise to a minimum can help you focus on your lectures and assignments, and setting aside a particular location for studying can signal to your brain that it is time to focus on schoolwork. As you build the habit of studying from that location, getting into the groove of your schoolwork will get easier. Some schools also offer individuals to meet with you to help you learn good study habits and build your time management skills.

Creating a study schedule can only work if you align it with your learning preferences and daily routines. Consistent study habits set you up for success in your school journey, but sticking to a study schedule that does not align with your natural ebbs and flows of energy and free time can cause you to work harder than necessary to show up for yourself in study sessions. 

Leverage Your Work Experience and Skills 

Adult students have a unique advantage over traditional undergraduates: advanced life and work experience. Applying your professional skills and experiences to your academic pursuits can help you see your academic career as part of your holistic development, and it can give you insight into what you should study in school based on your existing interests and experience. 

You may find parallels between your coursework and real-world workplace experiences. These moments can be exciting as they emphasize the importance of your degree to enhance your work experience. 

Many programs also offer credit for prior learning, a way for adult students to leverage the work and life experience they have already obtained toward college credit. This helps students finish their degrees sooner, saving time and money. 

Stay Engaged and Participate in Online Discussions

Adult students must stay engaged in the online discussions for their courses. This can help them curb isolation and get to know their classmates better. It can help students learn about perspectives different from their own as they kindly and confidently engage with the opinions of others. 

Some ways that adult learners can actively engage in online discussions include: 

• Asking thorough, thought-provoking questions
• Provide insightful responses to discussion questions and peers’ posts
• Respectfully challenging ideas to learn more about their classmates and themselves

Connect with a Peer Support Network of Adult Learners

Often, adult learners do not benefit from the more organic communities that undergraduates can quickly join on campus. But that does not mean that it is impossible for them to stay connected to their fellow adult students. Adult students can build and maintain relationships with their peers in their online learning community by joining study groups, organizing or participating in virtual meetups, and working together on group projects for their courses. 

Support and Resources for Adult Learners

Just because support systems for traditional undergraduate students seem more prevalent, adult students still need support opportunities. Here are some examples of support services for adult students.

Mentorship Programs: These programs can help adults return to school by providing guidance, support, and career advice. Hearing from those who have been in your shoes is a helpful way to remind yourself that this busy season is not forever, and it can help you remember why you are working towards this goal in the first place. 

Professional Development Workshops: These groups allow adult students to enhance their career prospects and skill sets through resume-building help, mock interviews, and advice on career transitions. 

Tech Support: Online students need accessible and responsive tech support. This can help them with technical issues related to their online learning platforms and tools. One of the best ways to get technical help is to use your school’s dedicated IT helpdesk to troubleshoot barriers and enhance your overall learning experience. 

Assistance With Re-Entering College: There is a range of assistance available to those wondering how to go back to school as an adult. Academic advising helps students know which courses to take to reach their goals. Credit transfer assistance can assist students in learning how to transfer schools or start college again without losing too many credits. Plenty of programs with flexible options can be tailored to students’ unique schedules so students can confidently finish their degrees. Prior learning helps students finish school sooner and enter their academic program with confidence that their previous experiences and continued investment in their education will serve them well throughout their careers. 

Navigating the process of re-entering college should not be stressful. Most college applications are relatively straightforward and require the same prerequisites and application materials. Adult learners can also research their school’s financial aid guides to help them plan for the financial aspect of returning to school. 

Learn more about how to go back to school well.

Download the Southern Adult Degree Completion Guide 

Complete Your Bachelor’s Degree Online at Southern 

Online learning is an important resource for adult students. It allows them to pursue a flexible learning option to advance their education and career prospects, often without quitting their current jobs. Online learning is self-paced, convenient, and affordable. Adult degree completion programs work with students to help them balance their school with their work and family commitments. 

Setting and sticking to your goals is a great way to boost your self-esteem and prove to yourself that you can do more for yourself and your career, even if you do not take the traditional route to earning a bachelor’s degree. Going back to school as an adult can be made easier by establishing a study routine and leveraging your work experience. You can also get more out of your degree by staying engaged with your courses and online discussions and taking advantage of mentorship and support resources. 

Southern Adventist University offers several different majors for adult students to choose from in their Online Adult Completion Program. These programs are the ideal pathway for adult learners to complete their degrees online, as they take a tailored approach to meet adult learners’ needs and help them reach their goals. Dedicated faculty, advisors, enrollment coordinators and engaged admissions counselors help students make the most of their time in school and can help students feel at ease throughout the application process.

For more help and information on going back to school as an adult, access our new checklist guide.

You can also request more information, and we will contact you to answer any questions. You can also call our office directly at (423) 236-2563.  Or, if you are ready to start your degree completion journey, you can apply now.