Online Learner Success
To meet the needs of today’s student, quality online courses were developed to help balance educational, personal and work commitments while earning a degree.
Welcome to our guide for online learning! We felt it was important to help highlight important characteristics an online learner should possess:
- Are you a self-directed learner?
- Are you comfortable asking questions?
- Can you stay motivated?
If you answered yes, then you should be successful in the online environment.
Becoming an online learner can take some adjustment; however, with a deeper understanding of the best practices of learning online, you should successfully engage, learn and complete your course(s). Let’s now review and discuss the best practices and approaches to being a successful online student!
Where my reason, imagination or interest were not engaged, I would not or I could not learn.
Tips and advice for learning in an online format
1 Create a time-management plan
One of the most important aspects of being an online student is being self-disciplined. You must find time to complete coursework (lectures, readings, discussions and assignments) within a weekly timeframe. As most online courses are asynchronous (without a specific meeting time), you must devote adequate time to complete all of your course tasks.
Advice: To help organize your week, start by reviewing the weekly tasks as soon as the course opens. Look at when your courses open the next week of material. Pick a specific day and time to complete your work. Once you have set up your schedule for the week, this will help ensure you have enough time to complete your work and participate in class discussions and assignments.
2 Be thoughtful in online discussions
As your course is completely online and asynchronous, your interaction with other students and the instructor will happen within the class discussion area. Class discussions present an opportunity to learn through other student’s interpretation of the content and can provide a higher level of understanding of the topic and material.
Advice: Take time to be thoughtful in your response as you now have the opportunity to research and craft your response before posting. Online discussions provide you with the opportunity to think deeply and have richer discourse with your fellow students. Instead of hearing only a couple of student’s thoughts on a topic as in a face-to-face course, you have the ability to read all students' responses and comments, ask questions, and discuss thoughts further on certain ones.
3 Ask questions
Online courses provide communication tools (discussions and email) that allow you to ask questions. Questions are an integral part of learning, and our online learning courses and instructors support this. You shouldn't hesitate to post a general question for all students to benefit from or send an email specifically to the instructor for a one-on-one response.
Advice: Be thoughtful in your questions, and take take time to write these so they are clear and understandable. If your course has a discussion area for general questions, don't be afraid to post here as your classmates can benefit from the question and response.
4 Make connections with fellow students
Being part of a community of online learners can benefit everyone. Students in online courses have the opportunity to learn as much from fellow students as from their instructor through discussions and posted questions.
Advice: Read the discussions within your online course, and interact with responses and comments. Ask questions, and answer questions. Consider sharing email addresses/phone numbers with other students for support.
5 Stay motivated to learn
As you have no physical contact or interaction with your instructor or fellow students, it is easy to lose motivation throughout the semester. Students begin to put course tasks and requirements off and focus on other things. Not having to look your instructor in the "eye" when turning in late assignments or missing content makes it easier.
Advice: Participate, ask questions and keep your eye on the prize. Each of us has different motivators (feedback, grades, setting personal goals), so identify yours and let this help keep you working toward the class completion.