I have just been accepted into a Tafe course online for Cert 4 in school based education support. I am beyond excited! I’ve never done anything like this in my life and hardly worked since having kids. I’m so excited. I’ve just gotten my work and subjects etc listed. And man am I feeling overwhelmed. I have no idea where I start, what to do first or when to do them. I’m so nervous.
2 Replies
Stop. Take a breath. It's overwhelming because you're looking at something new as a whole & putting pressure on yourself. The course will be designed to help you get started. (I used to design uni level course platforms).
Start with the introduction, designed to explain the course. Including the content, objectives (what you'll be expected to know at the end to pass - a good tool for doing your assessment), assessments, study schedule (dates unless self paced), teaching team, and study time/resource requirements to start.
If not self paced, there should be an online chat to engage with other students & teaching team.
Just read all of the introductory info and scroll through the course, becoming familiar with the environment and terminology. Accept it's new & just go with it one bit at a time.
And.... Make study your priority. Have your time & home study space. Don't let other people or things encroach on it, or make you miss classes (online or in person).
If you do have trouble, reach out for help.
You've got this. Be excited!!! You're on your way!! By the second study session you'll be confident & cruising along!!
I start with a calendar/diary and a notebook. Write down all the units you’re doing, and split them into when. Write down the start and end dates.
Then write a page for each unit. The start date, end date, assessment dates, tasks for each, break weeks, etc.
Then put the important dates into your calendar and you’ll then be able to see when you’re going to be busier and when you’ll be more free. This helps to arrange things for kids etc. and calm the nerves as you know you’re not going to miss anything.