6 Common Challenges of Online Learning & How to Solve Them

Online learning offers the opportunity to take high-quality courses without the need to enter a physical classroom.

Students can engage with content, communicate with instructors and peers, and complete coursework remotely (through tools like online discussion boards, video lectures, and conferencing) and a variety of assignment types. While this format offers valuable flexibility, it also requires learners to develop a new mindset and habits for success.

Let’s explore six areas where strategic habits make a big difference:

1. Time management
2. Communication
3. Technical requirements
4. Social interaction
5. Balancing responsibilities
6. Maintaining motivation

Managing time effectively is one of the best ways you can set yourself up for success in online learning. With in-person courses, the weekly schedule of classes builds some of that structure for students automatically. When learning online, you have both the benefits and challenges of building your own study schedule.

Helpful Habits: Start early! Review your course syllabi and schedule at the beginning of each term. Note key due dates and review instructions for major assignments in advance. Estimate the time involved and plan ahead.

Time management tools like Microsoft Planner and the calendars in Outlook and Canvas can help you allocate your time, accounting for personal, professional, and academic commitments.  

Good time management also aids in communication in online courses, which lack the immediacy of face-to-face interactions. Most of this communication happens through email, the learning management system (like Canvas), class discussion boards, and virtual office hours on Zoom or Teams.  

Helpful Habits: Check the syllabus for your instructor’s communication policy at the beginning of the semester. If you need help in the course, attend virtual office hours—your instructor is there to support you and wants you to succeed!

In addition, stay engaged by being proactive in class discussion boards. Active engagement with your peers and instructors multiplies the benefits of your learning. 

Online programs usually come with more technical requirements than traditional, in-person classes. Ensure you have stable Internet access and an updated computer system from the start.

Helpful Habits: It’s highly recommended you use a computer to work on course assignments. A smartphone is great for checking in on a class discussion board or looking up a due date, but it will not offer the full functionality for an optimal learning experience.

Regularly update the software on your devices and take advantage of available resources like the UC IT team and Canvas 24/7 support when needed. When working on assignments, save your work often—preferably to the cloud through applications like Microsoft OneDrive, and not just to your computer or a flash drive you can lose. Have a backup plan for poor Internet connection, such as access to a public library or hotspot.

Finally, don’t push assignments to the last minute; leave room for an Internet emergency! 

Developing meaningful relationships and a sense of community takes intentionality online. Instructors may build opportunities to connect with peers into their course design; in other cases, you may need to create them yourself. 

Helpful Habits: Seek out virtual study groups or student communities to create connections. In some programs, students create their own cohort group chats to maintain regular communication. You can also use email or the messaging feature in Canvas to connect with individual classmates.

Proactively building a sense of community can help you persevere in your learning journey. 

While a physical classroom offers a space for dedicated learning and focus, online learning often takes place in a home environment full of other responsibilities and distractions. Being mindful of this difference and creating a plan to address it can improve your focus and maximize your study efforts.

Helpful Habits: Establish a dedicated study space free from distractions, silence your devices, and set clear boundaries with family members during study time. Consider using methods like the Pomodoro Technique, in which you follow a repeating cycle of timed work followed by a short break (such as 25 minutes on, 5 minutes off).

Minimizing distractions and setting boundaries can enhance your performance in online learning environments. 

Online learning lacks some of the extrinsic motivators of in-person learning, such as the social energy of the classroom or face-to-face feedback from an instructor. But it also brings unique opportunities to focus on the factors that are most intrinsically motivating to you. 

Helpful Habits: As you begin your online learning journey, identify your “why,” and consider how each course you take contributes to your main goal. If you have freedom to choose the topic or format of a given assignment, link it to something applicable to your career or daily life.

Break down long-term goals into smaller, manageable milestones, and celebrate small victories in a way that feels truly rewarding. 

Online learning may be a new experience, but you can feel confident in your ability to succeed by applying effective strategies:

• Establish a routine. Manage your time and space to make room for study.
• Stay organized. Keep on top of coursework and deadlines.
• Seek support. Make use of UC’s online resources for academics, technical support, mental health, advising, and more. Reach out to instructors and classmates for questions and community-building. 

At the University of Cincinnati, we understand that the needs of online learners are unique, and we are here to support you. Our programs are designed with flexibility, offering a range of resources to help you thrive, including academic advising, student success coaches, virtual tutoring, and career services.

Contact an enrollment services advisor to learn more about how our online programs can work for you.