Distance education in the credit sector

Distance education offers a great opportunity for learners to experience a collaborative learning environment. Collaborative learning is an important way to help learners gain experience in interaction and develop important skills in critical thinking, selfreflection, and construction of knowledge which helps busy credit professionals.

In a collaborative learning environment, knowledge and understanding of the subject are shared and transmitted among leaners as they work toward common learning goals or a solution to a problem. Learners gain interactive experiences as they participate in discussions, search for information, and exchange opinions.

A high-quality collaborative learning environment provides learners with opportunities to engage in interactive and collaborative activities and to get better learning outcomes including the development of critical thinking skills.

This is the perfect time to take charge of your learning with these simple steps.

Ideas for fostering motivation and engagement to achieve that education goal in an distance education learning environment

One step at a time

Feeling overwhelmed at work is a common sentiment among AICMs existing students that can cause them to lose motivation, no matter how passionate they are about a credit topic. Keeping focused on one subject at a time is very important. It’s also a good way to motivate students to focus on one thing at a time, so they don’t feel overwhelmed.

Review progress and set realistic goals

Defining learning milestones based on what an individual has already achieved sets them up for success and helps to ensure motivation to learn remains strong. It can also make a huge difference in attitude and expectations for individuals when looking to complete a qualification. This helps them chart their progress and set goals for the future.

Self-directed learning and motivation

In an online learning environment students take an active vs. passive role in managing their time and assessing their own progress. This encourages intrinsic motivation, as there is no outside pressure to perform or meet deadlines. Students set the pace and decide how much material to cover in each section of the course. A self-directed approach set within the general guidelines of an online course can be extremely motivating, particularly for students who like to complete a set of assessments each week to maintain progress.

How much should I study?

This is a question which every student asks at some point in their studies. You must remember that it’s not the amount of time spent studying, but rather the quality of the study that counts. It’s also important to note that there is no single answer. Some students study more effectively than others and will not need to spend as long studying a particular subject. Each student will find some subjects more difficult than others and have to spend more time studying a particular subject. It is always best to focus on your own needs and abilities, rather than others in the group. Your goal should be to improve your study methods so that you maximise the results.

Before looking at the amount of time you need to spend studying, remember the following points: l Some subjects consume more of your time than others. This is natural and it will depend on how much work you need to do in each one. l It’s easy to focus on the subjects we are familiar with, so be careful not to neglect other subjects. l It can be difficult to keep on top of everything during the week, so the weekend can be a good time to catch up in some areas.

The decision is now up to you

The good news is that deciding to invest in your career/future is never a bad decision. If you are ready to study with AICM and obtain a nationally recognised qualification in 2023, contact us today for further information aicm@aicm.com.au we are here to help.

Once you develop a passion for learning, you will never stop growing!

AICM offers training courses which change according to the needs of the credit industry and with its high level of flexibility enables it to provide practical programs that will provide you with valuable knowledge and skills no matter at what stage you are with your career. 