The importance of time management in online learning

Sponsored content: created in partnership with Kaplan.

The advent of self-paced, online courses has revolutionised higher education and widened access for millions of learners worldwide. Students who previously might have been unable to attend university can now enrol in courses of their choice, while those who are time-poor can follow the curriculum at their own pace, organising their learning around existing commitments such as work or care responsibilities. 

Despite the ease of flexible learning, students require a level of discipline and time management when studying online. Without structure and accountability, the temptation to leave work until the last minute can be overwhelming. The very nature of self-paced courses may mean they lack rigid deadlines, so it’s up to learners to keep up with their milestones. There’s evidence that effective time management has a positive outcome; a 2023 study by researchers at the San Agustin Institute of Technology in the Philippines looked at distance learners and found that students who excel at organising schedules and prioritising tasks tend to achieve better grades. 

By breaking up online courses into manageable chunks, students can juggle the multiple commitments that may be the driver for them choosing an online programme in the first place. The course itself might provide obvious milestones – such as tackling one theme or topic at a time – or students can create a study schedule to dedicate specific times to modules or pieces of coursework and stick to them. There are a number of productivity tools available that can help students build to-do lists and assign tasks if they’re easily distracted. Goals don’t have to be set in stone and should be flexible for those times when life gets in the way. 

The risk of poor time management is that students might underestimate their workload, getting to a point where there is an overwhelming backlog of tasks or course content to work through. This can have an impact on engagement and retention, making it harder for learners to complete the tasks. On the other hand, effective time management can breed feelings of confidence and accomplishment, which is a cycle that perpetuates and helps learners stay on track. 

How can students manage their time effectively during self-paced courses? Here are a few pointers:

• Prioritise tasks: focus on assignments that carry high marks or would be of greatest benefit
• Use productivity tools: project management apps can help break down courses into manageable chunks
• Review regularly: adjust the daily schedule to fit in with other commitments 
• Set clear goals: create specific deadlines and define the goals to be achieved within that time frame

In addition to helping learners stay on track with their online learning, effective time management during an online course will set a strong foundation for learners’ future careers. If a student is working towards a professional qualification, setting small, achievable goals within a larger project is a highly sought-after skill by employers. On a personal level, students learn a valuable life skill that will help them manage multiple aspects of life at once, potentially benefiting their mental well-being. 

Find out more about online learning by Kaplan.