Category: Home Study

The Prime Minister has said that the future of British businesses will rely on a skilled workforce. So, if you want job security in these tough economic times, it’s hugely important to make sure you have the up-to-date skills that employers value.

You may be thinking, “How can I? I can’t afford to take time out from work to study.”

“Study at home with a home learning college,” is the answer. Distance learning courses offer a simple way to combine your existing commitments with flexible home learning, allowing you to study at home in comfort, in your own time and at your own pace.

Why study at home?

Distance learning is not only convenient – home learning students absorb and retain information from study at home far better than in a classroom environment. In a study conducted at California State University, students on distance learning courses achieved significantly higher test scores (Schutte, J. G., 1996).

With distance learning courses there are no barriers. You can study anywhere with access to the Internet. People all over the world of all ages have used home learning courses to help them achieve advancement in lucrative careers such as bookkeeping and IT.

Training with home learning courses can help you make a successful career change. Distance learning provides access to recognised qualifications in a great variety of industries; qualifications that open doors to interesting, well-paid careers.

Finding a home learning college

Your home study is an investment in yourself, so an important task is to choose a competent, industry recognised home learning college.

A good home learning college will provide:

• distance learning courses leading to industry accredited qualifications
• full support from experienced tutors on all home study courses
• assessment of your abilities and guidance on appropriate home study courses
• comprehensive and carefully structured course work.

The best colleges also give students access to the latest technologies, such as live Internet training.

IT training courses

A wide range of people have found taking IT courses to be a fascinating, life-changing experience.

Like to problem solve? Become a computer engineer through IT home study. Creative? Why not try a web design course and start your own small business?

Courses range from the basic, brushing up your MS Office skills before a return to work, to advanced IT courses in programming and networking skills.

Even with no previous experience, IT home study can help you move into this exciting field. And if you already work in IT, training courses on more advanced subjects can help you move up the ladder. As many employers are actively seeking out employees with up-to-date IT skills and qualifications, accredited IT training courses offer an ideal way to get ahead.

The wonderful advantage of taking IT courses through distance learning, which applies to all home learning courses, is that the time and length of your course fits your needs and not the needs of a college. When you study at home with a good home learning college, you learn as best suits you, and you succeed.

Click Here to find out more about Home Study Courses.

Distance learning has been around since the nineteenth century. Today, it’s more popular than ever before, especially in the UK. Over 200,000 students are currently taking courses at the Open University alone, for instance; and there are many other organisations offering ecommerce training and distance learning opportunities.

So what’s behind this growing popularity? For one thing, distance learning tends to be cheaper than conventional learning – considerably so in some cases.

That’s hardly surprising. Compare taking a degree at a conventional university to gaining the same qualification through home study. The former will typically require you to live three years on campus, and the cost has to include accommodation, food, study materials and the wages of the university staff. Home learning avoids these expenses.

The sheer flexibility of home study is another big plus. With home learning, you work at your own pace and in the times that suit you best. You could even study in the middle of the night if that matched your lifestyle!

Because home learning is modular, you can progress at your own speed. This is ideal if you have other commitments in your life, as many of us do – whether it be a job or caring for a family. This flexibility also means that, in particularly busy or hectic times, you can slow down your home study programme for a while.

Some studies have reported that people who do home learning get better results than those who attend an educational establishment. Certainly some people thrive in this atmosphere. One reason for this would be that you study in the comfort of your own home, in familiar surroundings. Some people may also feel more committed to home learning.

Distance learning today means exactly that; distance is no object. As long as your course provider is connected to the internet, you can literally study its programmes anywhere in the world. For instance, 20,000 of those Open University students live outside the UK.

Another reason for the popularity of home learning is that you’re not alone. A good course provider will assign qualified tutors to you, who will be on hand to answer questions as well as to regularly assess your progress. Some programmes also encourage you to meet up with other home learning students, and create opportunities for you to do so.

Home learning does require discipline on your part – more so than conventional learning. You need to commit to regular home study, and you should set yourself a goal to get the qualification or certification you want in a set number of months or years. Working from home can be more relaxing – and more distracting – than working in a conventional study environment, and you need to be able to rise above those things.

Providing you can discipline yourself, however, distance learning through home study can tick many boxes, making it a lot easier to get skills or improve on existing ones than would otherwise be possible. Why not give it a go?

Now that financial uncertainties are spreading across the globe, more and more people are looking to home learning courses for the most convenient and affordable route to a more secure and lucrative career.

And these days, with the increasing availability of distance learning courses, you’re as likely to be studying propped up in bed with your laptop as sat at a desk in a traditional classroom. So learning new skills and gaining better qualifications has never been more flexible.
Home study options
With distance learning courses available in a diverse range of topics from accounting to zoology, it’s important to make the right decisions about which home study courses to take.

When it comes to career decisions, your choice of distance learning courses will depend upon whether you’re looking to progress in your current area of work or looking for a fresh start in a new career.
IT training for career progress
Computer skills are always going to be highly valued by employers no matter what kind of work you do, so IT training courses you can study at home are always worth considering.

There are IT home study courses for learning the ins and outs of word processing, spreadsheets and databases as well as more complex courses in both hardware and software development.

So whether you’re working in a clerical position for a local authority or as a technician in an IT company, you could be using your free time to study at home and learn the skills you need to secure your current position and work towards promotion in your chosen field.

As well as IT courses, you can also find career specific home learning courses available in accounting, horticulture, languages, law, psychology and many more.

Just try a google search for “Distance learning courses in …” and add your area of work to see what the options are.
Distance learning for career progress – next steps…

• Research the skills and qualifications you might need for career progress
• Ask your human resources manager about possible financial support for training
• Search online for suitable home learning college courses
• Found the right course? Check the course provider is accredited and offering recognised qualifications

Home study courses for a fresh start
If you’re considering a new career, it’s important to make sure that it’s a viable option for you. Research job vacancies online and in work specific journals and consider talking with someone already employed in the area of work you’re considering.

Whatever career you’re considering, it’s likely that there is a home study course that can help you gain the knowledge, skills and qualifications you need to achieve a successful career change. Again, do your homework and research all the possibilities.

The advantages of home study are that you can organise your learning to fit in with other commitments, work at your own pace and you won’t be limited by courses only available near to where you live.
Careers and home study - next steps:

• Thoroughly research all your career options – make sure you have the motivation and potential to succeed and check that there are job opportunities available
• Talk to people who are already pursuing the career you’re most interested in
• Search for suitable distance learning courses
• Make sure they’re offering exactly what you need, including accredited qualifications

Remember you can take home study courses on offer from anywhere in the world but it’s vital that you check that any qualification based courses offered are accredited and recognised in the country where you work.

Home study – what’s in it for me?

Making time to learn through the flexibility of home study can mean new skills, increased confidence or even a new life. You’ll be surprised at what you can learn from the comfort of your own home.

Some people leave the world of work behind to have a family, some of us dream of a new start. Wherever you are in your career, study at home and you could open up a whole new world of opportunity. Not to mention a new salary. Here’s our guide to the questions most people ask when it comes to choosing whether home study courses are right for them.

How does home study work?

It’s pretty self-explanatory really. The idea is that you fit it around your life, not the other way around. Study at home means flexible learning – you work when you can, getting access to expert knowledge, trained tutors, support and materials, books and even live training but there are no classes or lectures to attend.

Why should I study at home?

Some people don’t always have the time for school or college because they already have a full-time job or family. Choosing to learn in this way means people of all ages and from all walks of life can benefit from home study. Courses are available in a massive variety of subjects, from degrees in dentistry to beauty therapy certificates to a recognised IT course, like Flash animation or website development.

Will I get a qualification?

Studying towards a recognised qualification always appeals to employers. Getting an actual qualification is pretty rewarding, too.

Can I earn more money?

If you are looking to boost your earning potential, taking an IT course for technology skills in short supply can be an excellent way to earn more money.

What course should I choose?

You’re much more likely to succeed if you do something you enjoy. Taking an IT course is a popular home study choice because of the added earnings potential. If in doubt, talk to a tutor or have a look at some job websites for inspiration.

How long does a course take?

It depends on the level of qualification or retraining. Some home study courses can take a few days, some a few months and some even a few years. It’s all about finding a course that you can do at your own pace, without adding any more pressure to the daily grind.

What are the disadvantages?

Well, let’s face it, study at home can be a little on the lonely side. You’re not going to a formal classroom to learn and no one is going to rap your knuckles or tell you what to do.

Visualising your goals is one of the keys to successful home study. If you can imagine yourself in front of a new employer with a new skill that you’ve acquired off your own back, in your own time, you’re well on the way to success.

Home study courses are about stretching yourself and learning new and valuable skills that employers are looking for. The quality of distance learning available is exceptionally high and developing all the time. Despite this, the myth persists that study at home is not as challenging or as ‘good’ as other forms of education. Here we examine the reality behind the most common home study myths.

Myths about home study courses

Myth: Home study courses aren’t as good as going to a ‘real’ college

Reality: Distance learning can easily offer training and education equal to that of any other educational establishment. However, you do have to choose the right home study course. The opportunities for learning via multimedia make IT courses particularly suitable for distance learning but all kinds of students can develop skills, gain qualifications and open their career options through study at home.

Myth: Employers won’t accept qualifications from study at home courses

Reality: Employers are crying out for skilled and qualified employees. In fact, lifelong learning has become a key EU priority and the Government are actively promoting skills based learning in the UK to meet the needs of employers. The number of vocational distance learning and IT courses are growing to meet this need.

Myth: Home study courses are faster and easier

Reality: Some students may purposefully choose home study courses that let them do their course over a long period of time or a course that allows them to work around a full time job or parenting commitments. Others may want to study at home on more intense schedule and take a more intense course. Study at home is all about flexibility, so if you want a less demanding course then that’s something you can discuss with your distance learning provider.

Myth: Online courses are really aimed at the unemployed

Reality: With more and more opportunities opening up for skilled employees especially in areas like IT, home study courses and online IT course are a fantastic way to improve your chances of finding a job if you’re unemployed. However plenty of people enjoy being able to work whilst studying at home in their free time, it can be a convenient way to reskill or improve your promotion prospects at work.

Myth: Home study courses are all about studying in pyjamas

Reality: Of course you will get experience the joy of studying at home - taking classes in pyjamas with your favourite comfort food to hand but do remember that there’s a flipside to this. The downsides are lots of distractions, the inability to shut off and working when you’d rather be sleeping! Getting and staying organised is the key to successful study at home.

The truth about study at home
There are a huge range of distance learning, online IT courses and home study courses that lead to different kinds of professional qualifications, all with varying degrees of difficulty, flexibility and support. It’s impossible to generalise about them all but rest assured, the perfect course is out there waiting for you.

Learning from home is an alternative study method with big advantages for students who need the freedom to study where and when they like, within a flexible personal timetable.

With distance learning you can “earn while you learn”. Below is a brief overview of some benefits from studying at home.
All of the advantages

• Learn what you want when you want
• Study from your own home
• Learn at your own pace
• Learn with support from experienced tutors
• Book-based, Interactive and Online training
• Manage your studies online
• An affordable way to gain valuable professionally recognised qualifications and certifications

None of the disadvantages

• No time pressure
• No mixed ability classes
• No classroom environment
• No peer pressure
• No travel to dreary college classes

Learning from home is a great way to get that promotion, finding a more rewarding career and achieving a better quality of life. You can learn at home, or at your workplace - as long as you’re learning in a place that suits you.
That means no college classes to attend, and no term times to stick to.