Tips for Succeeding in an Online Course

Objectives & Goals

What do you hope to accomplish by the end of the course? Once you define your goals and objectives, you will be better able to stay on track.

Assessment

Make sure you understand the assessment process and how your performance in the course will be evaluated. You will be able to better understand what is expected of you. If the information is not provided in the course, do not hesitate to ask the instructor.

Plan Ahead

Make sure that you have read the course syllabus and that you understand what is required and when assignments are due. Use the calendar and task scheduler in Blackboard so you can easily recall important dates, times, locations, and tasks.

Use e-mail effectively

Make sure you have provided your instructor with a valid e-mail address so that he or she is able to contact you at the start of the course and throughout the semester. Get in the habit of checking your e-mail at least daily, if not more frequently.

Participate

As in traditional courses, it is important to participate in online class activities and discussions. Communication with your instructor and peers can provide great insight into the subject you are studying. You learn by communicating, reading, and applying the content.

Create some personal space

It is important that you have a quiet place that you can go to study. If you're taking an online course, your desk serves as the classroom. A private, personal space gives you a place where you can shut the door, study, and work in a peaceful, focused manner.

Logon frequently

It is important that you logon to your online course each day. Logging on is often the only way to find out what’s happening in the course and to stay informed of any last-minute changes. If you ignore this step to success, you will fall behind.

Be polite and respectful

Abide by the Golden Rule and treat others how you would want to be treated. Just because you are shielded by a computer and miles of phone line doesn’t give you a license to put down someone else's ideas, no matter how outrageous they might seem. Be polite and respectful towards others, as you would in a traditional course. (10 golden rules of Netiquette)

Speak up

If you are having difficulties in the course, speak up. The professor is not able to see your hand raised or the blank expression on your face. The only way he/she will know that you are having problems is if you discuss those problems with him/her. Besides, you never know if other students are also having the same difficulties; speaking up will enable your professor to clarify the problems not only for you, but for the other students as well.

Be on time

Hand in all projects and assignments on time. The instructor cannot evaluate your progress in the course if he/she does not have anything to base that evaluation on.

Study schedule

Place yourself on a study schedule and stick to it. Doing so, will help you stay organized and help to ensure that you have read the material and completed the assignments.

Put in the time

Plan on spending 5-10 hours a week studying for each online course.