What Is Online Learning? A Simple Guide for Busy Mums in the UK

Introduction

Back when we parents were students, online learning didn't exist. We did everything with pen and paper, copied from the whiteboard, and carried stacks of textbooks for each subject. But technology has come a long way since then, and now almost everything, including learning, is online.

Your teen can study for their GCSEs almost entirely from a phone or laptop. They can even complete A-levels and degrees online, making learning easier and more flexible than ever. But what is online learning, and what does it look like? Keep reading to find out.

What Is Online Learning?

Online learning is an umbrella term that refers to any kind of study that's facilitated through a digital platform. For instance, if your teen uses interactive resources to support their revision, or they receive one-to-one tutoring from a provider like us, they're doing a form of online learning. Some full courses can be completed entirely online.

As the name suggests, online learning delivers everything online. Depending on the type of study, the content could be provided as recorded lectures or classes, live video calls, self-paced modules, or gamified quizzes and interactive exercises.

Benefits of Online Learning for Your Teen:

• Study from home, avoiding travel to classes or tutoring sessions
• Schedule learning around their other commitments and extracurricular activities
• Maintain momentum and stay consistent without disrupting their daily routine
• Access flexible learning formats like live classes, recorded lectures, or interactive exercises

Studying GCSEs Online

Beyond just being supplemental to school education, online resources can actually be used as a primary source of learning for your teen.

Several providers, such as Open Study College, Oxford Open Learning, and the National Extension College, allow teens to study full subjects and prepare for exams outside a traditional school setting.

Important note: exams still need to be taken in person at an approved exam centre. That way, the qualification will hold the same value as a GCSE studied in school.

Online courses also offer the chance to retake GCSEs. So, if your teen doesn't get the grade they wanted in one of their GCSE subjects, they can study to retake the exam without having to return to school full-time.

Online Revision Resources

If your teen is doing the bulk of their learning at school but wants a more modern, interactive way to revise for their exams, they might prefer to swap their textbooks for online revision resources.

So, what is online learning from a revision standpoint? It can be any tool or resource that supports GCSE and A-level learning, like an exam, an app, or even podcasts or a YouTube video series. A few popular, free online revision resources to look into are:

• BBC Bitesize, which breaks topics down into clear explanations and quizzes
• Seneca Learning, which uses interactive activities to help your teen learn faster
• Quizlet, where your teen can test themselves with flashcards

These resources are all free, so it's worth testing them all out and seeing which one (or combination of several) your teen prefers. Plus, because they share bite-sized and interactive content, they're particularly beneficial for teens with anxiety, who might feel overwhelmed by a chunky textbook.

Online Tutoring Platforms

Online revision resources can be a great starting point, but if you think your teen needs a bit more guidance and you're not sure how to support their learning, you might want to consider tutoring.

Online tutoring is ideal for teens who struggle to stay focused when they're revising alone, those with anxiety that prevents them from achieving their highest grades, or anyone who's struggling with a particular subject or just wants extra teaching to do their very best.

Online tutors offer support tailored to your teen. They can get help with tricky maths or Spanish concepts, something they might not get in a full class. This kind of one-on-one support is something they're unlikely to ask for or receive in a full class.

How to Keep Your Teen Motivated Online

When your teen is taking all of their learning into their own hands, they might struggle with motivation. It’s normal for motivation to ebb and flow, as with anything in life. But if your teen is really struggling to stay focused, here’s what you can do:

• Give them access to a quiet, distraction-free study space. Suggest putting their phone away during study hours and rewarding themselves with screen time on their breaks.
• Use a shared calendar, so you can both keep track of important deadlines and live class times. Acting as their accountability buddy makes it more likely they’ll follow through with their study plans.
• Encourage them to split their study into short blocks rather than marathon sessions. This will prevent them from losing energy and keep their study sessions productive and beneficial.

How Mums Can Benefit From Online Learning Too

As the mum of a student, online learning indirectly benefits you, too. You'll know that your teen has plenty of resources to support their learning and help them get to grips with the more confusing concepts. There's no need for you to take full responsibility for helping them with something they find difficult.

Beyond this, if you fancy moving your career in a different direction or you just want to step back into education now that learning has more appeal, you can use online learning yourself. For instance, you could take a short course on a site like Open University, fitting it around your schedule, so you can learn at a time that suits you.

If you're not super tech-savvy, don't worry; you just need a basic understanding of how to access and navigate websites.

A Note on Offline Learning

Is it still possible to learn offline? Of course!

Let's say your Wi-Fi is down or your teen is one of the rare children who still prefers to learn the old-school way. Textbooks for learning still exist, and your teen can make notes by hand.

They might prefer creating their own revision tools, like flashcards or mind maps, instead of using a website or app. Learning offline also helps them avoid online distractions and focus better.

Conclusion

Online learning makes GCSEs, A-levels, degrees, and tutoring more accessible to everyone. Your teen can use online learning tools as much or as little as they like – whether dipping in and out of revision resources or getting one-to-one support from an online tutor.