Students are increasingly enrolling in courses offered online such as humanities classes online. Why pursue an education online? Statistically, many students find online learning better fits their style. They enjoy having the flexibility to complete assignments at their own pace from a geographic location that best suits them as a student.
However, the online learning environment poses specific challenges for students. Here are five online learning tips to help students be successful in this environment.
Have a Schedule and Manage Time Wisely.
Your time is precious, so don't let it slip away while you work on your online course. Utilize your time wisely with these tips:
- Course calendars: Schedule your online courses like you would any other class. Use the syllabus to guide the classes' due dates and assignments that you will need to complete to meet that deadline.
- Study agenda: Take advantage of time-management tools such as setting a study agenda for each course. In the agenda, list all of your assignments and due dates. Before you begin working on an assignment, review this list and decide which tasks are most important to complete first.
- Make a study schedule: Take advantage of online programs designed for you. All you need is your syllabus, which gives you the specific dates and assignments for each class. If you use a free online calendar program, set up a custom-made schedule for yourself. Set aside time to complete your assigned homework at times listed in the syllabus.
Maintain a strict organization and be in-depth.
As you complete each assignment, be sure to take the time to go through it carefully. Every instructor provides you with an assignment's description, but even this can be difficult to read at times. Use a pen or pencil and highlight the words you will need to remember for your next class. When reviewing your assignments, keep track of any important book information (such as ISBNs) and photocopy relevant pages. Use this information to organize your notes so you can find them easily when you need them.
Be Focused and Engaged through the entire course.
You may not have to make weekly trips to your local library or campus computer lab, but keep in mind that many of your online coursemates do.
- Maintain a consistent study pace: Keep yourself on track by scheduling study sessions for each week. If you hit a slump, spend some time focusing on the material that precedes it and making a plan to tackle the next assignment.
- Participate in online discussions: When you complete a discussion, review the notes you took during the session. You may find that an interesting idea from another student has helped spark a new opportunity within your current assignment.
Stay motivated.
As an online student, you may be tempted to skip meals or sleep to finish your coursework. However, this can have a negative impact on your overall performance and health. These tips can help you take care of yourself and still finish all of your homework:
- Eat healthy and stay hydrated: Avoid skipping meals because it can lead to poor grades. Drink lots of water.
- Avoid late nights: It's tempting to stay up all night cramming for an online exam. However, this can cause you to make careless mistakes on your test. Stick to your usual bedtime and wake up early enough the next morning, so you have time to review your work before your final exam.
Know Where to Find Help.
Online coursework presents special challenges for students who rely on support services from their campus communities. Take advantage of these online learning tips to help you connect with your instructor and peers.
- Contact your instructor: Sometimes, an instructor assumes that you have all the materials and assignments for an online class. If you feel that something is missing or unclear, contact your instructor (via phone or email) as soon as possible so they can provide you with the information you need.
- Connect with your classmates: Take advantage of the online learning environment to make connections with students worldwide. Use an online forum or chat room to initiate contact and build a relationship with your peers.
- Online communities: An online learning environment makes it easy to connect with students who share your interests. Use this facility to build relationships and get help when you need it. For example, if you are looking for help with your assignments type «write my coursework» in your browser.
- Knowledge sharing: As an online student, you may not have time or resources to teach others the material that you know very well. Take advantage of the online learning environment to help others learn by sharing your knowledge with them. You are not obligated to pretend that you know what you don't, and if you can't answer their questions, refer them to the instructor or other students in your course.
