Online Classes: Tips for Success

There are two areas I must cover here. They are absolute necessities for anyone planning to take an online course. In all the years I have been teaching, these two areas are where the highest number of students hit a snag.

First, an online student must be self-disciplined and self-motivated. Since you don't have to go to a classroom at a set date and time, it is up to you to schedule your time properly so all assignments are completed. You will not have an instructor standing in front of you two or three times a week providing you with the motivation you need. Additionally, situations arise in your daily life that can cause you to 'put off' doing assignments or logging on to your class. Procrastination will get you behind fast. Once you get behind, the stress starts to build.

Second, communication skills are a must. More importantly, good written communication skills. Communicating face to face and communicating in writing are two completely different things. One of the biggest complaints among business owners today is that job applicants lack writing skills. It is the responsibility of a college instructor to ensure students learn these skills. Hence, good writing is not just required in an English class. It is required in each class you take. Online courses require a great deal of writing. So be prepared and learn to write effectively. If you don't have good writing skills, be prepared to learn them. Online courses will definitely teach you these skills and help you be better prepared for the job market.

Once you enroll in an online course, it won't take long to note that you are not required to attend an actual classroom at a pre-selected time. Because of this fact it can be easy to put off the required readings and assignments. Waiting until the last minute to complete assignments not only adds stress, but also decreases the quality of learning. To be successful, an online student must keep up with the class readings and assignments without constant reminders from their instructor.

Missing the starting date of your class can put you behind before you even get started. This can lead to discouragement and leave you feeling a bit overwhelmed. The last thing you want to do in an online course is get behind. So know your starting date and be ready for the "first day of class".

Not all online courses are the same length so be careful not to assume that your class is eighteen weeks or nine weeks or whatever you consider to be normal. Missing the ending date of your course means that you will probably not finish all assignments because you think you still have plenty of time. This will lead to receiving a lower grade in the class then you expected.

Make sure you know what assignments are required for the class and when they are due. Missing a due date can lead to a reduction in points. There are several ways in which you can locate assignment due dates. Look for a class calendar, an assignment sheet, or a link that says assignment due dates. When you find these due dates print them out and keep them in a location that will serve as a constant reminder.

You must be willing to schedule your time in a way that ensures you will be able to do the required readings and complete all assignments. A common problem online students have is trying to determine how much time to schedule. Here is a simple guide for you to follow using a nine-week class.

Plan to spend two hours per unit per week for downloading class materials. Plan to spend an additional two to three hours per unit per week for studying, reading, and completing assignments.

Hence, for a nine-week three unit class you should plan to spend twelve to fifteen hours each week studying, reading, and doing assignments.

I recommend you not take more than two classes online during a nine-week period. Two nine-week classes amounts to approximately 24 to 30 hours a week. This is in addition to your career and family. If you take on too much at one time, it will add stress. It is difficult to succeed when under a high level of stress, so do what you can to keep your stress levels low.

Your instructors are willing to help so don't hesitate to ask them. From the first day of class you should know how to contact your instructor with any questions you may have. Your instructor's office hours can usually be found on the class homepage, syllabus or class outline, or discussion board. Your instructor's email address will normally be on the class homepage.

Get these dates as soon as possible and keep them where you will readily see them. Midterm and final exams usually carry a heavy percentage of weight toward your final class grade, so make sure you don't miss them. Also, make sure you understand how these exams will be taken. Do you need to find a proctor? If so, do this within the first two weeks of class. Do you need to ask your boss for time off to attend a final exam meeting? If so, do this in plenty of time so that you do not chance missing the scheduled exam. Every instructor and/or school will have their own policy concerning the taking of exams. Make sure you become familiar with this policy during the first week of class.

Your class homepage contains a great deal of information that will assist you throughout the course. This page contains links to all the class lessons as well as other important information. Become familiar with it because it will be your class directional or map.

Some of these links are fairly basic. For example, if you get lost in your classroom the Home button will always take you home. And there is truly no place like home in an online classroom.

The link to the discussion forum will usually say discuss or forum or something similar. Determine which button will take you to the forum the first time you log on to your class. You will be using this button often. It is your connection to the rest of the students in your class.

Your instructor is your class lifeline. Know which button will enable you to send him or her an email message. Find it the first time you log in so you will know exactly where it is when you need it.

Investigate the rest of the buttons on your class homepage. If you are not what a certain button represents, click on it and see where it leads you. Knowing where each button takes you will be a tremendous asset when you are trying to complete your assignments.

Knowing and applying these tips for success can eliminate unnecessary stress for online students. The less stress you have the more prone you will be toward successful learning. Hurrying through assignments does not promote learning and can often lead to a lower grade.

While these success guides are just the tip of the iceberg, I hope you will find them helpful as you venture into your first online course. I wish each of you success in your educational goals.