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Online courses have become increasingly popular and prevalent in the 2020s. No matter where you look, be it influencers, YouTubers or self-proclaimed entrepreneurs, everyone is offering some kind of online course. However, where there is a plethora of options, some are outright scams. This leads us to the question “How to know if Your Online Course is Legitimate”? The simplest and quickest answer would be to check the courses’ accreditation.
In this blog post, we are going to mention some essential factors in choosing a legitimate online course.
Here is how to identify one:
1. Check the Course Accreditation
The first and foremost way to verify the legitimacy of an online course is to check if it is accredited by a regulatory body. Accreditation ensures an institution meets quality standards and usually, the information is available on the website.
2. Review the Content
Another way to check the course’s authenticity is to go through its content. You may begin by checking course objectives and how much time it requires you to complete the course. If the course is detailed and well-explained, it is reassuring to know that the course is legitimate. This also indicates that the course providers prioritise their learners and therefore have designed the course carefully.
3. Check their Reviews and Testimonials
Most of the time, when we are shopping online, we always check the reviews and what customers are saying about the product. Well, do the same before enrolling on an online course. If the testimonials and reviews are positive and the learners are satisfied with the outcomes, then the course is authentic and vice versa.
4. Customer Services
Ensure that they are offering opportunities to cater to your course needs. This will help you understand the course material and make excellent progress. Not only that, ensure they are committed to providing instant customer support to cater to learners’ enquiries in a timely manner.
5. Payment Methods and Plans
Checking payment methods and plans is another great way to check a course’s legitimacy. There are many schools and online course providers that do not disclose their payment plans properly and probably have hidden charges. Always choose the course that displays their payment plans, offers and discounts on their website. Never go for the course providers that offer free features and require additional fees down the line.
Excellent Communication
Another noteworthy sign of good teaching assistants is that they are excellent at verbal and non-verbal communication. Whether dealing with SEN or other children, clear and effective communication is the key because, unfortunately, one approach fits all doesn’t work, and communication style must be changed accordingly.
So, when assisting with lesson content or any other task, a good TA has the ability to build a connection and explain things in a concise yet easier way, according to the child they talk to. In doing so, a trustworthy connection is built between you and your children.
Adaptability
As mentioned before, a teaching assistant may deal with quickly changing aspects and circumstances daily. A TA quickly adapts to different situations and comes up with several ways to fulfil the individualised needs and preferences of children. Moreover, a one-size-fits-all approach is a misconstrued concept and a good TA understands that each student is unique, has a different learning style and must be catered to accordingly.
Team-Work
Working and communicating with a team is a must-have trait for a teaching assistant. In your TA career, sometimes you work with a group of teachers, especially when working in a SEND environment. Therefore, effective teamwork is important, as is sharing new ideas and encouraging and supporting each other to foster a growing and learning environment.
Organisational and Management Skills
With different responsibilities each day, TAs have to prepare lesson plans, assist students with their activities, observe their progress throughout and much more. They must plan everything beforehand and if they fail to do so, they might fall behind and lose track of time and student progress. Therefore, an excellent teaching assistant will always organise learning material ahead of time and be organised in their work.
Positive Attitude
A teaching assistant’s role can be taxing and it may be difficult to remain positive throughout. Regardless of the challenges, a good TA will always maintain a positive and approachable attitude with students and staff. It is imperative because children tend to copy and learn a lot from others in their school environment; therefore, teaching assistants must remain positive, inspire students, and teach them to face challenging circumstances efficiently.
Decision-Making Skills
Sometimes things might not go as planned and might go sideways, especially when burdened with numerous tasks. In such an event, making smart and quick decisions according to the situation is crucial. If faced with some unusual situation, a good TA will make an instant decision to make the most of it.
Final Thoughts
Teaching assistants play a crucial role in supporting children in an educational setting. Their responsibilities vary from day to day and may include observing students, assisting them with their activities, recording their progress, and motivating them whenever needed. However, becoming a TA is not for everyone and to become one takes more than just a qualification. If you are someone who is considering pursuing this career, we have mentioned some of the greatest teaching assistant qualities you may certainly need.
