What is the Time Commitment?
While an online study program can benefit some students, it may require extra time studying and researching the material. This increased investment in time means that students need a great deal of self-discipline and the ability to effectively manage their time in order to succeed in an online program. Here's a rule of thumb to estimate how much time an online course will take. Many academic faculty say you should study two hours for every credit hour of a class if the subject is easy, three for an average subject, and four for a hard one. If your course is normally considered to be 3 credits (standard) then you should allocate 6, 9, or 12 hours of study time per week. Now apply that to Avatar's online program. Assume you're going to have to take part in forum and do all module assignments for a subject that is usually considered to be 3 credits at a university, that gives you 9, 12, or 15 hours per each module. Finally, adjust for a different pace.
Now you have to fit those numbers into your schedule. If you intend to study one module a week you'll need to fit at least two hours of studying every day (2.5 for a medium class and 3 hours for a hard class) into your schedule. If you only study four days a week, that would require almost four hours of studying on those days to keep to the one module a week schedule. Now it is possible and even likely that you might be familiar with some of the material already in which case the time is reduced. Of course you could stretch the modules over two weeks and cut your study time in half. This will require careful planning on your part and a commitment to whatever scheduling goal you have set for completing each course subject.
Here's a few suggestions to improve your time management:
Know Your Learning Preferences - The fexability of online learning may appeal to you, but it’s important for students to really think about their learning needs and commitment level regarding virtual classroom environments. Some students may struggle with a lack of structure and routine that faculty and a tangible campus experience provides. Don't let the openness of online learning turn into an invitation to procrastinate. Very few people are natural self-learners, it's something you have to work at. Schedule Class and Manage Your Time - If you are working full time or have other commitments, working on multiple courses at the same time might be to much. It’s important to determine up front how much extra time you will need to devote to each course. Be Prepared to be flexible in your study - The primary form of lecture at Avatar is open source videos and presentations given by different people and organizations. Students should feel comfortable with the disparete sources and adaptable to the various presentations of thought and ideas. Designate a Work/Study Space - Without a classroom setting that involves sitting in front of a professor or whiteboard, online students must create their own learning environment circumstances. Experts recommend students set up a designated space to work and allow them to fully focus. If you are studying from home in the living room, you are more open to distraction. Assign a set time and place where you will study each week and make that place a distraction free zone.