The downfalls of online video courses

Let’s be honest, who doesn't want to save a couple of bucks? If you are new to the cloud industry you've probably spent countless hours “googling” how to get started. Additionally, you have probably also seen several video courses that promise you a bright future and a six-figure job. While online video courses offer convenience and cost-effectiveness, there are also some potential downsides to consider. Let's look at some of the common issues with online video courses.

Alone on an island

One of the biggest issues with online video courses is a lack of interaction. It almost feels like you can be on an island by yourself at times. In 1943 a guy named Abraham Maslow created a theory called “Maslow's hierarchy of needs”. In his theory, Maslow stated that belonging is a basic human need. The majority of humans have the desire for social connection and

relationships with others. This sense of belonging or desire to be social can create some great benefits:

• Collaboration: Learning in a classroom setting increases collaboration.

• Opportunities for personal growth: Being social can provide opportunities for personal growth and development, as individuals can learn from others and engage in new experiences and activities.

• Networking: Socializing with others can provide opportunities for networking, which can help personal and professional growth.

• Team building skills: Working with others can help build confidence and develop social skills. When you land your dream cloud job you’ll have experience in navigating social situations and communicating effectively with others.

Outdated content/Technical Difficulties

Have you ever been following along on a video course and tried to follow the on-screen instructions and it didn’t work? It’s pretty frustrating. This is more common than you think. Technology evolves at a high velocity a lot of times static video courses can’t keep up with a dynamic industry. In the end, you as the consumer get left holding the bag.

Another common issue is that sometimes the course just doesn’t work. These technical difficulties can include software malfunctions and/or platform glitches. Issues like these can interfere with learning and cause frustration.

Self-Motivation/Accountability

Online video courses can require a lot of self-motivation and discipline to stay on track and complete the coursework. Staying motivated can be hard when working a full-time job or in school. It can be even more challenging if you have a family to take care of too. Without the structure and accountability of a mentor/instructor holding you accountable, it can be easy to fall behind or lose focus. Some online video courses offer forums and small groups but often you don’t get immediate feedback. This is because everybody is on various schedules. Also, this can be because the instructor has created several courses and isn’t consistent with keeping up with students’ questions. It’s the cost you pay for these online video courses. Instructor-led in-person courses keep you on track and accountable multiple times a week as you learn one on one or in small groups.

Monolithic learning

Static online video content is a catch-all approach that assumes everyone learns the same way as if the student body is a monolith. Each student is unique and different. Being forced to learn from a fixed perspective can reduce the quality of your learning. Many times students will feel like a subject is too hard or doesn’t make sense this is because the instructor is not teaching in a way that they can understand. Instructor-led in-person courses and be tailored specifically to the student and how they learn. This can unique opportunity that the student will benefit from directly.

How to overcome these challenges

It can be pretty tempting to enroll in a low-cost online video course, but as we’ve covered in this article online video courses are not without challenges. If you are looking more a more comprehensive learning experience we recommend an instructor-led group or course. This will enable you to get the mentorship/guidance you need and a bespoke learning experience tailored specifically to you. Go check out www.cloudafterdark.com today and get started on the road to your dream job.