Self-Paced Learning | Why We Never Finish Our Extra Online Courses (even if we buy them)

COVID-19 made the self-paced learning industry BOOM, and pre-recorded courses became standard for many educational institutions. The demand for digital education is increasing as online learning becomes more widely available and inexpensive. The need for education continues to grow as the digital economy creates new roles that require changing, specific, and developed skills. 

That being said, fewer and fewer people actually complete the online courses they signed up for (free and paid), compared with traditional in-person coursework. This is especially true for people enrolled in self-paced learning which includes pre-recorded courses or complete to unlock more training modules. The success rates for self-paced education programs are surprisingly low compared to other course delivery methods. This is especially true for courses that are aimed at a general audience.

We’re not saying that Independent study isn’t helpful. We utilize self-paced learning at Uvaro all the time! But in this article, we'll look at why people struggle with completing pre-recorded online courses and go over some tips and tricks to help you reach the finish line. Whether your course is completely pre-recorded, or you’re trying to keep up with independent coursework, we’ve got you covered!

3 Reasons People Struggle to Complete a Pre-Recorded Course

1. Self-Doubt

You may feel like you're not smart enough to learn new skills or that you don't have what it takes to succeed in the course. If so, you're not alone. Many people feel this way, even though they're full of potential.

You don’t have to be the smartest person in the world to finish an online course! You just need to start. Work with a career coach, and come up with a plan that suits you, your schedule, and your learning style! You'll have more than everything you need to succeed in the long run. 

2. Lack of Motivation

You know you should be studying, but you just can’t find the motivation to do it. There are lots of reasons you may be struggling to follow through. Check-in with yourself and figure out why it’s so hard to stay engaged. Maybe this isn’t the course for you. Maybe you don’t click with the instructor or the content.

Explore your options and make sure these skills you’re learning are leading towards a fulfilling career. You’ll be much more motivated to complete your online course if you understand the context in which you are taking it. Find your why and let it fuel you through!

3. Self-Imposed Stress

Some people put too much pressure on themselves to succeed, even if they’ve enrolled in a  pre-recorded course to learn a new skill purely for fun. If you’re in this boat, start by taking 3 deep breaths. Stress can be detrimental to your health and lead to unpleasant physical side effects.

You’re taking this online course to better your life and work toward Career Success, with one small step at a time, not with giant leaps. With on-demand content, you can always go back and rewatch things. And one of the huge positives of self-regulated learning is that there is no harsh deadline to complete them. Take your time and use this to your advantage. No course in the world is worth sacrificing your health or happiness.

How to Create a Self-Paced Learning Plan That Actually Works for You

If you want to complete an online course, the first thing you need to do is to figure out what’s holding you back. What’s your main challenge? Once you’ve identified what’s keeping you from completing your course, follow these guidelines to create a self-paced learning plan that actually works for you. 

Define Your Goals and Find Your Why”

What do you hope to achieve by taking a pre-recorded course? Are you looking to improve your career prospects? Or are you looking to change career paths? Write down what you want to accomplish by taking an online course in the first place.

If you want a certification, then go into your daily coursework with their guidelines in mind. If you want to network and make connections, then take the knowledge you’re learning to the forums and groups you’re a part of and study through discussion! Finding your motivation will only help you stay motivated and greatly increase your odds of completing the course.

Identify Your Strengths and Weaknesses

What do you do well? And what could use some work? Understanding your strengths and weaknesses will help you plan your course in a way that lets you make the most efficient personal progress. This applies both to the course you’re taking and to online courses themselves. If you know that you struggle with a certain component of online learning, then make a plan to actively combat that issue and address the challenge head-on. This will help you overcome obstacles and reach the finish line. 

Meanwhile, if you’re struggling with one part of the curriculum, make sure you take care to gently work through it and seek out extra help as needed. Don’t be afraid to do additional research, ask more questions — both to a course instructor or, if your instructor doesn’t exist, to your peers — and take feedback as it comes. By taking steps to tackle the things which have held you back in the past, you’ll gain a new sense of freedom and independence. 

Break Your Course into Manageable Chunks

If your course is too long, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Many people think they can tackle a thirty-module course in record time, but quickly give up after the first few lessons because they don’t feel like they are making any progress.

Set realistic goals and timeframes for completing each module. Rather than trying to do a module every day, try to finish one every week or two weeks. By taking this pressure off yourself, you'll feel a sense of completion and satisfaction after completing each module, which will help you stay motivated and give you longevity.

Make Time for Yourself

Self-improvement is important, but it’s also important to make time for yourself. Burnout is all too real, even self-imposed burnout that comes with pre-recorded course learning. Remember to take plenty of breaks, have fun, and do the things you love.

If you take frequent breaks, you'll find that your study sessions are much more enjoyable and that it's much easier to complete your coursework. You may even find that pairing your modules with something fun — like having your favorite drink or meal while you transfer your notes each day — can up your productivity! This can help you complete more work and finish your course faster than if you tried to complete everything on a rushed and impractical timeline.

A Better Way to Learn

It’s important to understand why people have a hard time completing self-paced learning online. By following the tips and tricks outlined above, you should be able to create a study plan that helps you stay motivated throughout the entire process, which at the end of the day, is very often the difference between success and failure — especially if you are using these online courses to enable a career change.   

Many people struggle without completing online courses because they simply aren't well suited to this type of learning. And there is nothing wrong with that! After all, humans are social creatures, and we need to have support from our peers, friends and community along the way to help us stay motivated. An interactive, and cohort-based online program, like Uvaro, is the perfect solution. If you are ready to boost your odds of success and complete an online course or certification, then be sure to check out Uvaro today; it might just be the perfect solution for you. 

If you’ve tried to complete a self-paced, pre-recorded course before only to give up because you needed support, then check out our Career Success Catalog. It offers all the benefits of online learning, with that key human element throughout your entire career. So, if you want to have the best of both worlds, then you should look into Uvaro today.