Thursday, 14 July 2011

Things to consider before choosing an Islamic course online

There are many Muslims who have experienced a substantial shift in their way of studying Islam. In this competitive and technological age, Islamic knowledge is available on a large scale for the interest of various interest groups through online studies. Unlike in the past, when students had to travel long distances to learn about Islam, today’s online services have allowed students the chance to learn without leaving their homes.

Students who wish to pursue Islamic courses online first need to determine why they want to do this course and what do they want to achieve. They then need to make sure that they select the course that runs at the times that they are available and that they have enough time to do any homework that is set or to listen to the recordings of the online course in order to maximize the benefits of the course. Alternatively they can opt for a one to one course with an online course tutor at a time that is convenient to themselves.

Some online course providers provide a free trial lesson where the student can test out the learning environment, the organization’s customer service, technical support, as well as the knowledge and teaching styles of the tutors. These sessions can also be used by the teachers to make sure that the student has chosen the correct course and that they are ready to learn online at the level required for the specific course. This can be identified by the teacher carrying out a quick initial assessment during the online trial lesson.

Online courses are not for everyone and the biggest drawback they have is lack of interaction with a teacher, who can make a class much more interesting than just a plain lesson. Not only can a teacher make you understand the topic more easily, but they also give you additional information on the behavior and manners that are involved in Islamic studies. They can also give you ongoing feedback on your performance and correct any mistakes early on. A class without face to face contact can become tedious unless the topic is very interesting or relevant to the student.

Some online courses have a live teacher interacting with the students through a Virtual Classroom, which is sometimes called a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). A good web camera, a good microphone and a high speed connection can remove the disadvantages of not being in the same physical room in this virtual classroom. It is very important to understand the pros and cons of an online course before you pay your money and commit to a course, which can last for three months in some cases; this will help you save your valuable time. We recommend that you compare a few online course providers and the virtual classrooms and the benefits the online course providers offer. Finally choose the company and the course which most closely matches your personal learning goals.