The expanse of the internet has encapsulated every field now. It’s not just about online banking, shopping, or entertainment; even education can be acquired online. This has allowed many people to branch out and explore academic fields that they wouldn’t have done otherwise.
According to an IBIS World report, Australia’s online education industry has had a growth of 4.5% from 2015-2020.
No matter how old you are, it’s possible to find an online course that promises to introduce you to new ideas and ways of doing things. For many, a business course is it.
Online business courses Australia are perfect for people who otherwise won’t be able to pursue MBAs or similar higher education programs. Sure, the MBA offers some amazing payoffs, but everyone can’t leave their careers to go off to university instead.
Thankfully, people no longer have to lose out on knowledge because they lack the time, money, or resources to pay for it. They can learn new skills, master exciting areas of interest, and earn certificates while doing it all.
Additionally, taking an online business course may also be a gateway to higher education, as you get to ascertain if a business school is a good idea for you.
If you are looking for quality online business courses, keep the following pointers in mind when making the selection:
1. Make Sure It Facilitates Your Time Constraints
When you sign up for an online course, you may feel like you have all the time in the world to complete the classes and do the assignments. Even if you are careful about your progress, you may end up procrastinating at times.
Interactive content can only help you so much, and it is up to you to manage your time and submit the classwork by the deadlines.
However, it would be nice to enrol in an online business course that conforms to your timetable instead of forcing you to do things their way. This is especially important for those working full-time jobs and need online education to further their careers.
A research found that when an online lecture is more than 15 minutes, the percentage of video watched by the students decreases compared to shorter videos even if you add interactive elements.
If you face a similar problem, it might be a good idea to pick the course with its content divided into short videos to maintain your interest and attention span. At the same time, you also get to manage your time more effectively.
2. Look For Expertise
You’ll find hundreds of online education providers with a quick Google search. But, you can’t trust all of them to provide you with quality and value for money.
So make sure you enrol in a nationally recognized course. Take, for example, the Diploma and Certificate courses available at the MCI Institute. These training and education programmes lead to qualifications and credentials that are recognized across Australia.
The right business course also meets the established learning needs of your industry, enterprise, or community. Additionally, it also offers guidance on suitable competency outcomes and an adequate basis for assessment.
Look for course content that can help you professionally, especially if that is your end goal. It should have recognition in the industry and help you secure a job or get you a promotion if you are already in the field.
You can also check social media platforms and testimonials on the website to see what others have to say about the course. Reach out to enrolled students and get their feedback to help you decide whether it’d be a good idea to start a small business course online.
3. It Should Offer Networking Opportunities
Taking an online business course should not mean that you have to give up on other important aspects of a good education. Look for classes that require you to reach out and make contacts, which is an extremely valuable asset of a business degree.
Studying online should help you connect with a community with similar industry or professional interests. Online business courses with peer to peer interactions are extremely important, and building a network could be valuable in your professional development.
Typically networking opportunities include group work, online group sessions, and discussion forums. Such groups can open your mind towards the world of business and give a practical outlook from those already part of the field.
4. Decide What You Are Willing To Pay
Think of why you decided to take an online course. People usually take online business courses to invest in their future. They are either hoping that it will help them bag a promotion or that they’ll gain the necessary skills to start their own business.
Make sure you know why you want to enroll and what it’s worth to you.
In fact, you may not even need to take out a loan to pay for one. However, make sure it gives you the knowledge you seek.
It would be best to do ample research, especially if you have a tight budget.
Make sure the price you pay is in line with the quality of content you are being promised. Suppose you decide to pay for a certificate or diploma course. In that case, it should be a valuable addition to your knowledge base.
5. Choose The Right Platform
With a rise in online education, you can find countless websites that offer business courses. These differ from one another as they provide different interfaces and features according to their goals.
Don’t just settle for any business course that you can find. Check the credentials of the instructor and the credibility of the platform you are considering. Rasmussen University’s business degree programs offer a wide variety of great online curriculum that are both flexible and affordable.
Your attention span and interest are also factors you should focus on when you select the course. According to research, online video lectures with interactive elements improve student performance and engagement (Cherrett et al., 2009; Dror et al., 2011).
It can help if you opt for a business course with great visuals and interesting material in the content to retain your attention. These can include quizzes, slideshows, colourful templates, and worksheets, which could add a fun element to your learning process.
It can be extremely confusing and overwhelming to choose the right platform that suits your needs. Hence, it is important to understand your goals and decide on a website accordingly.
A good point to start is to consult others who have taken similar courses. You can get an insight into what you should expect from a good business course.
Key Takeaways
With so many people interested in online courses and countless platforms offering them, it is a great time to get started. However, be mindful of what you choose to study and see that it caters to your goals.
Don’t settle for a course that doesn’t provide any benefit even if it costs less because whatever you spend on it is money down the drain. Instead, look for quality content that gives you a real insight into the business world.
So get familiar with what the courses cover and who their intended audience is. Check them against your criteria and make sure it meets all your needs. If you find several courses are up to the mark, figure out if you have the time and money to study all of them. Talk to the course provider to find out if they’ll let you fast-track or upgrade a course.
Or you could always bookmark all the courses and go through them later one-by-one.
If you want to study quality online business courses in Australia, head over to MCI Institute and find a range of courses to help you achieve your aims.