Five Tips For Success in Online Classes
Posted: March 17, 2020 | Author: Addison Love | Read Time: 4 minutes
You may have a lot of worries about your first online class. Many online students wonder if they will be able to stay on top of their coursework and are unsure of what to expect. However, online courses have been around for a long time and technology makes it possible to have the same quality as a face-to-face course. Here are five tips for success in an online course.
1. Create a Study Schedule
One of the greatest advantages of online classes is flexibility. Traditional face-to-face courses require you to adapt your schedule to when they are held. With online classes, you can fit your coursework into your schedule. This makes it easy to be a student regardless of work schedule, personal responsibilities, or physical location.
However, it can be easy to procrastinate assignments or forget due dates in an online course. One of the best ways to make sure that your online classes get the attention they deserve is to schedule specific times to study. Organizing these study times in a digital calendar is a great way to ensure that you have enough study time. Your phone calendar can automatically remind you when it’s time to start studying. Make sure that you add assignment due dates into your calendar as well.
The flexibility of online allows you to schedule your study time whenever you need it to be. Your scheduled study time might change from day-to-day, but the important thing is that your coursework has a defined slice of your time. This prevents you from ending up with a pile of incomplete assignments that are due.
2. Find a Study Place
Creating a study place can help you focus on your online coursework and help you get in the right frame of mind to study. Find a place that you can go to during your designated study times. Make sure that your designated study space is free of distractions.
Some great study places include:- A home office
- A desk/table in your home
- Your local library
- Your local park (weather permitting)
Sometimes you may find yourself studying on the go. In these situations make sure that you pack all your needed supplies. Creating a “study bag” with all your supplies is a great way to make sure you don’t forget anything.
3. Stay in Contact With Your Professors
Your professors are an incredible resource! It can be easy to forget that your professors are ready and willing to help you succeed in your online course. While you don’t get to see them in person your professors can still be reached by email, phone, or video calls. If you are struggling with an assignment don’t hesitate to reach out. Online courses allow you to move at your own pace but you should always remember that moving at your own pace does not mean you have to do it on your own.
Your professors may also be willing to help you with your career goals. If you have any questions about how to be successful in your field reach out to them. They have experience and may be willing to provide you with mentorship.
4. Reach Out to Your Classmates
Even in online classes, you can form friendships, networks, and study groups. It might require a little more creativity but with today’s technology, it can be done. By reaching out to people in your classes, you have the opportunity to talk through the course material and get study help from your peers. Some great tools to reach out to your online classmates include email, Google Meet, social media, and course discussions.
Building networks with your online classmates is an important opportunity you don’t want to miss. You never know when the relationships you build in college may benefit you in the future. You and your classmates can provide each other with advice and help for years to come.
5. Use Online Resources
There are many resources available for online students. Many colleges have online tutoring centers and library resources available. There are also many great tools outside your university. YouTube has many educational videos to help you supplement your learning. Resources like Khan Academy, Quizlet, and Grammarly can help you study and proofread your writing.
Many colleges also offer resources to help you advance your career. Your school may have a career center that can help you with your resume and job interviewing skills. Utilizing these resources can help you advance your career.
There are many ways to be successful in an online course, these five tips are just the beginning. Online classes will provide you with incredible flexibility and customization. Using organizational skills, effort, and dedication, your online courses can be powerful tools that give you the ability to take charge of your education!
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