Studying for pleasure: a new way of learning

With the passage of time and the evolution of technology, online education has become an accessible option for many people. Not only young people take advantage of this format, but also adults who seek to continue learning and exploring new areas of knowledge.

This is the case of Soledad, a 55-year-old civil servant living in Alicante, Spain, who is pursuing a degree in Spanish Language and Literature at Universidad de Burgos (UBU) remotely.

In this interview, Soledad tells us how she discovered her passion for online learning, her motivations for studying at this age, and how technology, including tools like SMOWL, has been crucial in her academic journey.

From Alicante to Universidad de Burgos: a digital journey to rediscover oneself

Soledad, 55, a resident of Alicante, works as a Social Security civil servant. For a few years now, she has been balancing her professional career with university studies, but not in the traditional way. Soledad is pursuing her degree in Spanish Language and Literature online, an option that has allowed her to pursue one of her great passions: continuing her education.

The most curious thing is how it all began. “While looking for a college for my son, I got the bug,” she explains. While exploring her son’s academic possibilities, she came across Universidad de Burgos‘s offer and decided it was time to resume her studies, something she had left pending years ago. Additionally, the possibility of taking classes in the afternoon fit perfectly with her work and daily routine.

Unlike many students who seek to obtain a degree to advance their professional careers, Soledad studies for pure pleasure. “It’s a hobby. I started studying this degree when I was young, and now, although I’m in no hurry to finish, I do it because I enjoy learning,” she comments.

Online teaching has allowed her to select the subjects she likes most and study at her own pace. For her, it’s not a matter of meeting deadlines, but of deepening her interest in language and literature. “It’s an effort I’ve chosen, and I’m learning a ton,” she adds enthusiastically.

The challenges of on-campus study and the flexibility of online learning

One of the major challenges Soledad faced before opting for distance education was schedule incompatibility. “Taking my studies in person was practically impossible. Most classes are in the morning, and with my job, I couldn’t afford that luxury,” she explains.

Online teaching has given her the flexibility she needed. Now she can organize her time according to her responsibilities and needs, something she considers a key factor in her academic experience. “Without being able to study online, I wouldn’t have studied. It’s as simple as that,” she states firmly.

The quality of online teaching: up to her expectations?

When asked if online education has met her demands, Soledad doesn’t hesitate to affirm that it has. “Online teaching is teaching me a lot. It’s true that I’m not in a hurry, and I do it for pleasure, but the quality of the content and the academic level are high,” she comments.

For her, the key lies in the autonomy this modality offers. Being able to choose the subjects that interest her and study at her own pace, she feels she’s getting the most out of her education.

Privacy in exams: the SMOWL tool

Regarding privacy during exams, Soledad tells us about her experience using SMOWL, a proctoring tool that monitors online exams to ensure the integrity of the process. “I didn’t feel violated at any time. When you enroll online, you already know there may be tools that monitor you; it’s the same as when you take an in-person exam and a professor watches you,” she explains naturally.

Soledad emphasizes that at no time did she feel uncomfortable or distracted by the tool. “They could only see me and a wall. I didn’t even remember I was being watched,” she assures. Although at first she thought being monitored might make her nervous, the reality was different. “The exam demands made me forget about everything and, when I finished, well, I finished.”

Soledad is convinced that proctoring tools like SMOWL work adequately to verify student performance. “They are necessary to ensure that what we’re doing is correct and legitimate. Without them, there would be no way to guarantee that everything is done fairly,” she opines.

Moreover, she admits that without these tools, she probably wouldn’t have been able to obtain her university degree, as she couldn’t attend in-person exams due to her work. “They are a key piece in distance education,” she adds.

The future of online education: would she recommend it?

When asked if she would recommend this type of tool and online education to other students or even other educational institutions, Soledad is clear: “Of course. In fact, I initially looked into it for my son, but I ended up doing it myself. We’ve discovered online teaching at this university and it’s wonderful.”

Soledad believes that online education opens up a world of possibilities, especially for those who, like her, have work or family responsibilities that prevent them from following the traditional in-person format. “It’s a way to enable more students to complete their studies without giving up other important parts of their lives,” she concludes.

An inspiring testimony for studying for pleasure

Soledad’s story is an inspiring testimony of how online education can adapt to each person’s needs, regardless of their age or situation.

Thanks to her dedication and technological tools like SMOWL, Soledad has continued her studies, enjoying the process and acquiring new knowledge along the way. 

For her, studying is not an obligation but a personal and passionate choice.

With a future full of possibilities, Soledad continues to move forward, proving that it’s never too late to learn, and that with the right tools, limits disappear.