Last updated on Feb 5, 2024
- All
- Education
- Educational Technology
Powered by AI and the LinkedIn community
1
Choose the right platform
2
Prepare your devices and tools
3
Create a conducive learning environment
4
Explore the platform's features and functions
5
Apply your learning to real-life situations
6
Here’s what else to consider
Online learning platforms are becoming more popular and accessible for adult learners who want to pursue their education, career, or personal interests. However, some of them may face challenges or barriers in using these platforms, such as lack of digital skills, motivation, or support. In this article, we will share some tips and strategies on how to access online learning platforms with ease and make the most of your learning experience.
Top experts in this article
Selected by the community from 249 contributions. Learn more
Earn a Community Top Voice badge
Add to collaborative articles to get recognized for your expertise on your profile. Learn more
- Carlos Souza Academic Manager - Teacher Training
2
- Natalie Wischer OAM Chief Executive Officer at National Association of Diabetes Centres
4
- Pedro Simón Romero Cánovas Senior Executive | CIO | Corporate Director of Information Technology at Grupo Farma | Master in Human Resources…
3
1 Choose the right platform
When selecting an online learning platform, it's important to consider your learning style and preferences, budget and time, and learning objectives and outcomes. For example, do you prefer text, audio, video, or interactive media? Do you need feedback or guidance from instructors? Do you have a budget for the platform? How much time do you have to dedicate to online learning? What skills or knowledge do you want to acquire? To decide on the right platform for your needs and goals, you can research by browsing websites, reading reviews, asking for recommendations, or taking free trials or demos.
Help others by sharing more (125 characters min.)
- Carlos Souza Academic Manager - Teacher Training
- Report contribution
Thanks for letting us know! You'll no longer see this contribution
Adults can use online platform with ease by first getting acquainted with the platform. Every provider offering online training, be it synchronous or asynchronous, should have an introductory unit showing how learners can make the most of it.
LikeLike
Celebrate
Support
Love
Insightful
Funny
2
- Natalie Wischer OAM Chief Executive Officer at National Association of Diabetes Centres
- Report contribution
Thanks for letting us know! You'll no longer see this contribution
Online learning is great and accessible for most; however, it often lacks accountability. Retention and engagement with online learning material can be enhanced when you develop communities of practice that work through the content together at an agreed pace and offer a forum to discuss questions and apply case studies. Having learners undertake activities based on the content greatly aids retention, even gamifying this. Critical to all online courses is creating and maintaining a level of personal and professional accountability.
LikeLike
Celebrate
Support
Love
Insightful
Funny
4
- Janeth Mora PhD. In Education
- Report contribution
Thanks for letting us know! You'll no longer see this contribution
Adult learners must receive professional support given in short and specific steps. They need reminders of their learning process and regular auto evaluations that allow them to see their progress.
LikeLike
Celebrate
Support
Love
Insightful
Funny
10
- Revathi Srinivasan Director, Singhania Group of Schools and Principal, Smt. Sulochanadevi Singhania School, Thane
- Report contribution
Thanks for letting us know! You'll no longer see this contribution
The world has opened to various ways to learn . Adult learners including drop outs can pick up courses to learn . There are free courses from good universities from which they can pick up a course that interests them. Only for certification does one have to pay . They are myriad ways to learn - YouTube channels , learning though social media platforms like courses ,. Private institutes to runPrograms - for Sanskrit , yoga etc for those interested in courses that for interest . You get adults who dropped out of college too can pick up threads . In India the NEP will permit credits that you can accumulate
LikeLike
Celebrate
Support
Love
Insightful
Funny
4
Load more contributions
2 Prepare your devices and tools
To ensure a successful online learning experience, you need to have reliable and compatible devices and tools. Before starting your online learning, you should check the speed and stability of your internet connection, the memory, storage, and battery life of your device, the compatibility of any accessories you may need, and the software and applications required to access the platform's content and features. Additionally, you should make sure you have antivirus and firewall protection as well as a browser that supports the platform's requirements. You can test your devices and tools by accessing the platform's technical support page or contacting their customer service.
Help others by sharing more (125 characters min.)
- J. Richard Freese speaker, consultant, music composer - how can we collaborate?
- Report contribution
Thanks for letting us know! You'll no longer see this contribution
If students will be using these tools for assessments, make sure they have low-stakes opportunities to practice using them. If they have a high-stakes exam with proctoring, give them a required practice exam where they earn points simply for trying it, so that they'll be comfortable with the tool for the real exam. If they're using a tool to create something for a capstone project, make sure they have mini-deadlines throughout the course where they keep making progress using that tool; that way, when they get to the end of the class, they're focusing on making a polished final project, and not still learning how to use the tool.
LikeLike
Celebrate
Support
Love
Insightful
Funny
6
- Kristin Sherman Creating two more classed in ECE at UCLAex -physics and biology!
- Report contribution
Thanks for letting us know! You'll no longer see this contribution
Preparing your device to access online learning begins with your own comfort with technology. Take time to respond to reflective questions about your daily use of technology. Some things to consider are your comfort with and ability to sit at a desk with a desktop computer and its speaker and video capacities. Compare your feelings with that and your less traditional habits with technology like settling into lounge furniture with a laptop or iPad. Are you more of a mobile phone person? How do you feel about headphones, earphones, or subtitles? Some more things to consider are, what is your first or most fluent language? What time of day will you access the learning and what is hoo going on around you during that few hours? Make it personal.
LikeLike
Celebrate
Support
Love
Insightful
Funny
1
Load more contributions
3 Create a conducive learning environment
Creating a conducive learning environment that minimizes distractions and maximizes comfort and productivity is essential for accessing online learning platforms with ease. Aspects such as location, schedule, resources, and motivation and attitude should be taken into consideration when setting up your learning environment. For example, you should ensure that your learning space is quiet, well-lit, ventilated, and free from noise and clutter. Additionally, you should have a regular and realistic routine to fit your other commitments and responsibilities, as well as access to the necessary resources to support your online learning. Finally, it’s important to maintain a positive attitude with clear goals and expectations to stay motivated and engaged in your online learning. If needed, you can always make adjustments, ask for help, or seek feedback to improve your learning environment.
Help others by sharing more (125 characters min.)
- Revathi Srinivasan Director, Singhania Group of Schools and Principal, Smt. Sulochanadevi Singhania School, Thane
- Report contribution
Thanks for letting us know! You'll no longer see this contribution
It’s important to have a positive attitude towards learning . As adult learners , one should avoid giving excuses to oneself to avoid regular attendance . We must challenge ourselves by taking assessments seriously . Regular study habits help
LikeLike
Celebrate
Support
Love
Insightful
Funny
18
- Enilton Ferreira Rocha Avaliador ad hoc na Revista EXAMEN. Gerente do HUB Mestrado e Doutorado EaD. Gerente de Projetos EaD na WR3 EaD Consultoria. Palestrante e Consultor em EaD. Ex-Membro do Conselho de Qualidade da ABED.
- Report contribution
Thanks for letting us know! You'll no longer see this contribution
Nesse sentido, a experiência mostra que além do ambiente propício é preciso uma seleção contextualizada dos estudantes adultos para se sentirem confortáveis no ambiente digital de aprendizagem. Assim, mais que criar um ambiente propício é preciso um exercício de autocrítica e de responsabilidade compartilhada para obter bons resultados no ambiente digital de aprendizagem.
Translated
LikeLike
Celebrate
Support
Love
Insightful
Funny
4
Load more contributions
4 Explore the platform's features and functions
To access online learning platforms with ease, you need to explore the platform's features and functions that enhance your learning experience. Familiarizing yourself with the dashboard, courses, instructors and peers, as well as the support and feedback resources will help you use the platform more effectively. You can access and navigate the main page, view and manage your profile, settings, courses, progress, and notifications. Additionally, you can enroll, start, and complete your courses, as well as access and interact with the course content, activities, and assessments. Moreover, you can communicate and collaborate with your instructors and peers using the platform's tools such as chat, forums, email, video conferencing or social media. Furthermore, you can access and use the platform's support and feedback resources to contact technical, academic or administrative staff. Finally, you can submit and receive feedback on your work. Exploring the platform's features and functions by following the platform's tutorials, guides or FAQs is a great way to get started.
Help others by sharing more (125 characters min.)
- Motasem Alsmadi Senior IT Officer | Web Developer | Digital Marketing Senior Specialist | Arabic content SEO | A Specialist in Educational Technology, a Platform Developer, and a Webmaster | Certified Trainer (TOT)
- Report contribution
Thanks for letting us know! You'll no longer see this contribution
E-learning platforms facilitate course creation and management, allowing educators to design and organize lessons, assignments, and quizzes. Students can register, access courses, and interact with peers and instructors through features like profile management and user authentication. These platforms support multimedia formats such as text, images, videos, and interactive simulations, enhancing engagement and catering to diverse learning preferences.
LikeLike
Celebrate
Support
Love
Insightful
Funny
5
-
- Report contribution
Thanks for letting us know! You'll no longer see this contribution
In my experience, adult learners have often had various interactions with different educational platforms & tools and each one is *just* different enough to cause problems for people who don't do this all the time. As a result, one of my primary recommendations for the teacher or designer is to follow QM's guidelines, especially regarding a "Start Here" or "Do This First" type section for the course that (1) introduces the platform and demonstrates navigation (2) introduces the course and describes learning goals and sets expectations for assignments (3) lists requirements, especially concerning technology or connectivity, and expected time needed & (4) puts a "human" touch on it all (e.g. including a personalized video from the teacher).
LikeLike
Celebrate
Support
Love
Insightful
Funny
2
Load more contributions
5 Apply your learning to real-life situations
To access online learning platforms with ease, it is important to apply your learning to real-life situations, making it relevant and meaningful. To transfer your learning, you should review and reflect on your strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. Additionally, you should connect and relate your learning to your previous knowledge, experiences, or interests. Moreover, you should share and demonstrate your learning to others by creating portfolios, projects, or presentations. This will help you showcase your skills or knowledge in personal, professional, or social contexts and contribute to the community or society with your learning.
Help others by sharing more (125 characters min.)
-
- Report contribution
Thanks for letting us know! You'll no longer see this contribution
Los estudiantes adultos pueden acceder a plataformas de aprendizaje en línea de varias maneras. Algunas opciones incluyen:•Acceso gratuito o de bajo costo a través de instituciones educativas u organizaciones sin fines de lucro •Acceso a través de bibliotecas públicas que ofrecen acceso a computadoras y Wi-Fi.•Acceso a través de programas de ayuda financiera. Algunos consejos para ayudar a los estudiantes adultos a acceder a las plataformas de aprendizaje en línea:•Investigue sus opciones. •Lea las reseñas. •Pida ayuda. Los estudiantes adultos también pueden considerar adquirir un dispositivo electrónico, como una computadora portátil o una tableta, para facilitar el acceso a las plataformas de aprendizaje en línea.
Translated
LikeLike
Celebrate
Support
Love
Insightful
Funny
3
- Anil Mammen Professor of Practice, TISS | Digital Learning Consultant
- Report contribution
Thanks for letting us know! You'll no longer see this contribution
It's not just about applying your learning to real life. Learning starts with real life and therefore it's much more meaningful to apply your real life to learning. This means relating what you learn with your personal experiences, your prior knowledge, your existing biases, and so on. And being open to change when you figure out you were wrong. It also means you have the right to call out baloney in your learning content when you spot it. Remember, all knowledge has been built on life experiences, observations, intuitions, and trial and error. Formal learning is a consequence of real life, not the other way around. Both are shaped by each other.
LikeLike
Celebrate
Support
Love
Insightful
Funny
12
- Juan Ignacio Bueno G. Senior Consultant - Business Development - Smart and Sustainable Infrastructure - Speaker
(edited)
- Report contribution
Thanks for letting us know! You'll no longer see this contribution
In real life, at least on what I've seen, people want to learn but struggle to make some time for it. The key is to make it as simple as possible, both in the curriculum as in the content. It's moving when a technician uses its laptop before starting field work to learn a new skill or a language, or when a sales rep uses a mobile phone to make good use of commuting time to learn about new business tendencies or technologies for the customers.
LikeLike
Celebrate
Support
Love
Insightful
Funny
3
Load more contributions
6 Here’s what else to consider
This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?
Help others by sharing more (125 characters min.)
- JD Dillon Enabling the Frontline Workforce | CLO: Axonify | Founder: LearnGeek | Author | Speaker | Host
- Report contribution
Thanks for letting us know! You'll no longer see this contribution
Go where the work is done. Where do people spend their time? Which devices do they use on the job? Which software tools are embedded in the workflow? Leverage those tools as much as possible. It doesn't have to be called a "learning technology" to help people develop new skills and improve their performance. Leverage learning tech for what it adds to the existing productivity tech stack. Architect an experience that fits within the workflow - including device access, content design, authentication, network access, etc. Using your learning tech should be as easy as watching a video on YouTube. That's the bar we need to hit. If it takes 8 clicks to watch a video in your LMS, people aren't going to do it - even if it's a REALLY good video.
LikeLike
Celebrate
Support
Love
Insightful
Funny
12
-
- Report contribution
Thanks for letting us know! You'll no longer see this contribution
Top 3 ways adult students can easily access online learning platforms:1. User-Friendly Interface: Choose platforms with intuitive, easy-to-navigate interfaces. Clear layouts and straightforward instructions enhance user experience, especially for those less tech-savvy2. Flexible Access: Opt for platforms that offer flexible access across devices, including smartphones, tablets, and PCs. This ensures learning can occur anytime, anywhere, accommodating diverse schedules and lifestyles.3. Support and Resources: Ensure platforms provide comprehensive support and resources, such as tutorials and customer service. Access to help when needed increases confidence and reduces frustration for users unfamiliar with digital learning environments.
LikeLike
Celebrate
Support
Love
Insightful
Funny
3
Load more contributions
Educational Technology
Educational Technology
+ Follow
Rate this article
We created this article with the help of AI. What do you think of it?
It’s great It’s not so great
Thanks for your feedback
Your feedback is private. Like or react to bring the conversation to your network.
Tell us more
Tell us why you didn’t like this article.
If you think something in this article goes against our Professional Community Policies, please let us know.
We appreciate you letting us know. Though we’re unable to respond directly, your feedback helps us improve this experience for everyone.
If you think this goes against our Professional Community Policies, please let us know.
More articles on Educational Technology
No more previous content
- What are the most common gamification mistakes in continuing education? 1 contribution
- How can E-portfolios use reflection activities to improve student engagement?
- How can you use learning analytics to improve student performance in astronomy?
- You want to create a portfolio in Educational Technology. What are the most innovative ways to do it?
No more next content
Explore Other Skills
- Educational Leadership
- K-12 Education
- Higher Education
- Library Services
- Personal Development
- E-Learning
- Teaching
More relevant reading
- Higher Education How can higher education students adapt to online learning?
- Career Management What are the most effective ways to stay engaged while learning online?
- Lifelong Learning What are the best tools and platforms for building a personal learning network?
- E-Learning What's your best strategy for building an online learning community?
Help improve contributions
Mark contributions as unhelpful if you find them irrelevant or not valuable to the article. This feedback is private to you and won’t be shared publicly.
Contribution hidden for you
This feedback is never shared publicly, we’ll use it to show better contributions to everyone.