Success in Online Classes

Learning Online

We enjoy that online courses offer more flexibility in terms of travel, scheduling, and balancing work, school, and life. That flexibility can make procrastination easier, making success more challenging. 

How Can You Be Successful Online?

These strategies, gathered from college and university online programs, can help you have a rich, valuable experience in your online courses. 

Be Aware of Your Mindset

        • Have a Growth Mindset: Most of what you're learning in college is skill, which means that instead of simply learning knowledge and remembering facts. The good news is that you can improve at all skills through practice. Just like learning to play a sport well, or learning to bake, the more practice and feedback you get, the better you are.
          • If you think you're not "good" at reading, writing, or studying, or not "good" at math, English, or science - that's what our classes are for. To help you get good. The more you read, watch, and practice, the better you become. 
          • Everyone who is good at writing or math (or anything) got that way after lots of practice - and that will include you!
        • Be persistent. This is often identified as one of the most important skills for online learners. You have to find solutions to occasional technical issues, you have to figure things out, and you have to not give up on yourself if you make a mistake. When you encounter a challenge, you will work through it, find answers, and make it work in order to be successful. 

Plan and Schedule

        • Find the best space you can. Studying and reading are usually best achieved in a quiet environment. Writing or creating may work better for you in a noisy space, or you might need quiet. It may not be easy to find a quiet space in your home, and it may not be possible to go elsewhere, like a campus or public library. Prioritize your education, and plan for the best time and place to get work done. 
        • Organize and coordinate your calendars. Have one calendar that includes due dates, time to study or work in advance of tests or projects, and all other important events for yourself, your family, and your job. Identify days or weeks that will be especially busy and plan to work ahead or ask for help. Be familiar with course calendars, especially around midterms and finals, when there tend to be a lot of things due. Putting everything on one calendar helps you predict when you'll need help and when you'll need to really work ahead.
        • Schedule focus time. Put time on your calendar for studying, working, planning, outlining, writing, or preparing. Try to schedule it regularly - like every day or every other day around the same time. Routines help us avoid procrastination. Booking time, like Mondays and Wednesdays 8:00 - 9:30 am to work on your Spanish class builds the routine, keeps you accountable, and mimics the kind of schedule you'd have in face-to-face classes.

Engage With Your Course, Instructor and Classmates

        • Course Material: Explore the entire course space. Read the syllabus and calendar, look through resources provided, and become familiar with how lessons or modules are organized. Look through the textbook, read ahead, and get used to what the topics of the course will be. Look up terms you don't understand. Watch the videos provided, and refer to announcements and the syllabus when you have questions. 
        • Instructor: Connect with your instructors are often as needed. Instructors in online classes can't see nonverbal cues that students might not be understanding something entirely, so reach out by email or message (or however your instructor recommends you correspond). Ask questions when you don't entirely understand something about readings, course material, or assignments. Look ahead at assignments to identify questions ahead of time, so you can give instructors time to reply. If your instructor has office hours, plan to attend or ask during those opportunities to talk with your instructor. 
        • Classmates: Build community by sharing appropriate information, asking questions, or helping others. Sharing information with classmates can help you better understand material, and give you someone to contact with your own questions. Spend time authentically engaging in discussions by thinking through posts, asking questions, and answering classmates. Take peer review opportunities seriously and ask for help with your work while providing feedback to others. 
        • Communicate effectively: Use the tools provided by TCC (including Canvas and email accounts), and use a professional tone. Don't be shy or reluctant to ask for help, and remember to communicate clearly. If you need help or have a question - ask! Be professional, courteous, and direct. Avoid writing things out of frustration (if you're feeling frustrated, take a break before sending a message), and remember to use greetings, full sentences, and to read it over before sending it.

Time Management

        • Check your courses every day. Look at announcements, discussions, upcoming assignments, readings, and lessons. Keep upcoming tasks in mind. 
        • Schedule time to do your work. Most online students are busy - it's one reason they're taking classes online. You may have to get creative to find time at lunch breaks, before or after work, or after dinner to sit down and focus on class work. 
        • Respond to others as timely as possible. Replying to messages from your instructor, posting and responding to discussions, and providing peer feedback early and often will help you build community in your class, and stay on track. Being connected to your classmates, course and instructor will make it harder for your to fall behind or get lost in the course. 

Self-Motivation

        • Greater flexibility also comes with greater responsibility. You have to keep track of things, schedule time to work, and bring yourself to the material. You have to be committed to your own success. 
        • Motivation is a skill - it is something you build and improve over time, through careful and thoughtful practice. 
        • Find what helps you get and stay motivated - whether it's a desire for that walk across the stage, or the need to advance in a career. Personal motivators are important, too. 
        • Some strategies for motivation are rewarding yourself for completing work on time, for working ahead, or for keeping to a schedule. These can be time rewards, like time to watch a favorite show, or finding something that makes you smile. 
        • Get support. Work with family, friends, classmates, or peers to stay motivated. Reach out when you're feeling overwhelmed, ask others to help you stay accountable, and schedule "appointments" for studying solo at the same time as classmates.
        • Find the system that works. Whether that's daily to-do lists, a planner, a Google calendar, a daily check in with a peer, or a whiteboard calendar and task list - try things out, and use what helps you. 

Reading, Writing, and Typing

        • Reading and writing are two of the main ways students learn and demonstrate understanding in online classes. Many courses will include audio, video, graphics, quizzes, and tests, as well, but all online students will do a considerable amount of reading and writing. 
        • Successful online students are generally comfortable with computers: they have practice and experience with navigating websites, reading things online, and reading and creating Word documents.
        • Your textbooks may be online ebooks, which can be accessed through the course space in Canvas. You'll need to learn to use the ebook site to read, highlight, bookmark, and search the textbook online. 
        • Discussion, assignments, essays, short answer quizzes, and emails will all be typed. If you type fewer than 30 words per minute, it may be worth practicing your typing skills in tutorials before taking online courses. (You can search for typing tests and tutorials online)
        • You don't have to start college with a full or advanced set of technical, reading, and writing skills. These are all things you will develop in your courses. You do need a basic familiarity with these skills, and an understanding of their importance.

Technical Preparation

        • Start with computer basics. Finding websites, opening and creating documents, sending emails, etc.
        • Understand technical requirements before classes begin. Think of questions like Do I need a particular browser? Do I need to download or install anything?
        • Become familiar with websites, email, and Office. Be sure you can navigate websites, open multiple tabs, attach items to emails, find documents on your computer, upload images, and make your way through discussions.
        • Become familiar with the Learning Management System (Canvas). Learn how to find syllabi, lesson contents, textbook resources, course meetings, announcements, and other important items. Make sure you understand how to submit assignments, take quizzes, and find your grades. 
        • Read the syllabus for each course to better understand whether proctoring software will be used in the course. 
        • Make sure you have access to a back-up in case your computer or internet has an issue. 
        • Become familiar with resources provided by the college, including computer check-out, Help Desk support, and software downloads. 
        • Be sure you understand how to use Proctorio or Respondus, if your instructors require them.

Ready for Online Classes?

        • Students taking online classes at TCC Connect campus must first pass the Online Readiness Assessment. This is a basic assessment of typing, reading, and technical skills You can learn more about what to expect, and how to take the assessment on our website by clicking here. 
        • You can find technical requirements for computers on our website here. 
        • Review the syllabi of your courses every semester to be sure you have access to the technology, browsers, and resources you need for the course. Ask your instructors if you have questions about specifications for a particular course.

Sources:

"Becoming a Successful Online Student Links to an external site.." Marquette University. 

"Characteristics of a Successful Online Student. Links to an external site." Fairmont State University. 

"Tips for Taking Online Classes: 8 Strategies for Success Links to an external site.." Northeastern University. 

"6 Tips to Being a Successful Online College Student Links to an external site.." University of Cincinnati Online. 

"What Makes a Successful Online Learner? Links to an external site." Minnesota State University Career Wise.