In an online course, you won't have face-to-face contact with your peers or teacher, but you will have a great deal of independence and flexibility in your learning experiences. You will decide when and where you will meet your course responsibilities, and you will set the pace of your studies. Of course, to enjoy this independence and flexibility, you must take charge of your own learning. This means that you should be prepared to do the following.

Understand Your Strengths and Weaknesses

1. Assess Your Computer Skills

Certain computer skills are essential for succeeding in an online course. Ask yourself the question, "How comfortable am I with each of the following computer skills?"

Reading on a computer
Typing
Using word-processing software
Using spreadsheet software
Downloading files
Saving files to a hard drive
Using e-mail
Attaching files
Using the Internet
Using a discussion board

If you are uncomfortable with any of these skills, be sure to talk with your faculty member about how you can get help to improve your proficiency in these areas.

2. Assess Your Study Habits

As you read the following checklist, note "yes" or "no" for each item as it applies to your study habits.

When I am taking courses, I

work only when I am well rested and alert.
work under conditions that permit me to concentrate.
familiarize myself with course learning outcomes, faculty member expectations, and grading criteria.
take well-organized notes and refer to them often.
read and reread assigned articles and textbook selections for maximum comprehension and retention.
look ahead in the Syllabus and plan my time carefully.
review feedback from my faculty member and peers to get the most out of assignments.
keep track of my assignment work and grades to know where I stand in the course at all times.
ask my faculty member whenever I don't understand something.
know how and when to seek extra help.
use discussions to seek out study partners.
allow ample time to study and complete assignments.
work regularly and steadily rather than frantically in response to deadlines.
carefully edit and proofread my work before turning it in.

If you responded "no" to any of these items, you have identified an area for improvement.

Manage Your Time Effectively

1. Commit to a Schedule for Working on Your Courses

Set aside specific days and times to work on your courses. You may not have regular "meeting times" in your course and will often need to set your own schedule for progressing through the course materials. Choose times that let you concentrate with the fewest possible distractions. Be prepared to set aside no more than 20 hours per week.

2. Keep a Calendar

Create a master calendar for yourself that shows all of the important due dates, activities, teamwork meetings, and other obligations for the entire course. Your master calendar should also show personal obligations so that you can plan your coursework around your nonschool activities. Each week, block out on your calendar all of the times you plan to spend studying or working on any activity related to your course.

3. Pace Yourself

When beginning a course, carefully review the Syllabus for the entire course so that you can plan ahead and anticipate any conflicts you might have with assignment deadlines or collaborative activities. Make sure you set aside adequate time during the week for each type of course activity. For example, you might spend one evening becoming familiar with your assignment, the next two evenings reading your learning materials, and the next two evenings working on your assignment. Allot adequate stretches of time so that you can complete your work without interruptions, and give yourself 5- to 10-minute breaks during your study sessions.

4. Stay on Schedule

Once you have chosen your study hours, it is important that you don't fall behind in your schedule. Your faculty member will impose fixed due dates to help keep you on track. However, you also should consider using the following techniques to keep your work moving according to schedule:

Focus on small goals and fixed activities.
Each week or each day, make a "to-do list" of everything you need to complete for your course.
Set priorities for the week and focus first on your most important course responsibilities.
Use your time efficiently and consider studying whenever you have a free moment. Carry course reading with you so that you can study while commuting if possible, while waiting at the doctor's office, or during a lunch break.

Study Strategically and with Discipline

1. Fight Distractions and Focus

You may sometimes have to fight distractions such as telephone calls, television, Internet surfing, e-mails, or other temptations to procrastinate. But you can prevent these problems by setting aside a quiet, private space for studying, by breaking up your work into small, manageable chunks, and by rewarding yourself when you make incremental accomplishments.

2. Prepare to Learn

Prepare for your online course by carefully reviewing its organization, navigation, tools, and resources. Doing so will help you work efficiently once you begin.

3. Be a Strategic Learner

Remember that your goal is to understand the principles, concepts, and methods central to the course. In our courses, these key points will be covered in the learning outcomes listed in the Syllabus. Look at the learning outcomes and scan the assignments before starting the course. Keep the learning outcomes and assignments in mind as you work through the readings and resources in the course.

4. Check Your Understanding

Take advantage of all opportunities to check your understanding of the course material. Try self-assessments, exercises, and activities that reinforce your learning. Continue to join discussions with your classmates and ask questions of your faculty member until you clearly understand key concepts.

Stay Motivated

1. Communicate Frequently

In discussions, be sure to share with your classmates your course-related thoughts, experiences, questions, success stories, and struggles. Make the most of your opportunity to share your views, learn from others, and collaborate with your peers; doing so will make your course experience more fun and help keep you motivated. In an online course, you will also meet students with a broad range of work backgrounds and life experience, so communicating frequently will expose you to new perspectives.

2. Maintain a Positive Attitude

Don't become discouraged if you run into difficulties in either using the online course environment or trying to master new material. If you do become discouraged, remember that your faculty member is experienced in guiding students through the new challenges of online learning and will always be available to help you solve problems. Developing new skills and knowledge can be difficult, but your successes will be worth the effort, and you should feel good about every small accomplishment. You may need time to adjust to working on your own and remotely from your class, but remember that your classmates are in the same situation and you can help each other.

3. Ask for Help

In a traditional classroom, faculty members can recognize when students are struggling, confused, unmotivated, or bored by observing their expressions and body language. That's not possible online. So, if you are having problems with any part of your course experience, don't remain silent or give up. Always ask your faculty member for assistance or seek help from classmates. If you need help with technical problems, your faculty member will direct you to the proper person to receive technical assistance.

4. Take Initiative and Be Resourceful

Log in to the course daily to stay involved in course discussions and updates.
Ask questions often of both faculty members and classmates.
Don't be afraid to tackle a problem or join a discussion for fear of making a mistake. Online learning allows you to balance independent learning with faculty member mentoring.
Explore the course thoroughly so you are comfortable finding any information you need.
Take advantage of the variety of course features available to you as you learn about course topics.
Consider using other Internet resources that may enrich your online learning experience, such as online dictionaries, study aids, or other reference materials.