Five Steps to Make the Grade in Online Learning
While online learning programs provide students with flexibility and convenience, they can also be more challenging than traditional in-person courses. It takes a great deal of self-discipline and sustained motivation to earn an online degree or graduate certificate.
This year is expected to be the 15th consecutive year of enrollment growth in online learning, reports U.S. News in “4 Expectations for Online Education in 2018.”
If you’re enrolling in online courses for the first time, implement these five strategies that are surefire stepping-stones to e-Learning success:
1) Get familiar with the technology.
No. 2 on U.S. News’ list of expectations for online courses in 2018 is the use of more modern technologies in delivering the curriculums.
Before you tackle these more advanced technologies, be sure your computer is equipped to handle them and that you’re proficient in the basics. You need to be familiar with Microsoft Office, know how to participate in discussion forums, and have a good grasp of proper netiquette at the very least.
UL Lafayette offers resources to help you prepare and learn the technology used in the online courses. Through the IT Help Desk, students can find help in configuring their computer and learn more about technical requirements for online learning.
2) Stake out a study space.
Whether you’re a co-parent to toddlers residing in a three-bedroom home or a childfree-by-choice single living in a studio, you need to claim a work area dedicated solely to your studies. A compact desk and a small bookcase tucked into a quiet corner are sufficient, as long as you and those who share your home know that when you’re sitting there, school’s in session and it’s Do-Not-Disturb time.
3) Create a workable schedule and commit to it.
If you’re not known for your organizational and time-management skills, an online degree program will definitely challenge you to strengthen these abilities.
Your instructor has probably informed you of how many weekly hours your studies require, so block out those time periods on a weekly or monthly basis and stick to them as if they were noncancelable medical appointments. Post a
month-at-a-glance wall calendar above your desk with neon highlighters denoting study time and assignment due dates, or use a smartphone app, Microsoft Outlook, or Google Calendar to stay on track.
At the appointed hour, sit down at your workstation, turn off your phone, close your email program, and focus on your coursework. Doing this religiously and routinely will help you avoid procrastination and prevent you from falling behind. Johns Hopkins University notes in a blog that “online coursework is like exercise – you never find the time for it, you make the time for it.” Rigid adherence to the schedule you establish is key because “The lack of regular class meetings is more (not less) reason to establish a consistent work schedule for yourself,” explains JHU.
4) Stay in frequent contact with your instructors.
Becoming a standout class participant in the eyes of your professor has many advantages. Asking for clarification when materials or assignments aren’t clear saves you time in the long run, and it demonstrates your commitment to accuracy and attention to detail.
Establishing a solid relationship with your instructors also helps you expand your professional network and can be very important down the line when you’re in need of a career reference.
5) Get your employer invested in your education.
If you’re an adult learner enrolling in an online graduate program to advance your career or qualify for a promotion, your employer has a vested interested in your success. Share your plans and goals openly and ask for support. Be mindful of positioning your return to college as something that has many benefits for the company you work for.
Your manager will be far more likely to cut you slack if you need to leave a bit early for a school-related reason. Additionally, many companies are happy to provide some form of financial assistance or tuition reimbursement if your classes are related to your current position or will help you qualify for a promotion.
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette offers online degree and certificate programs that prepare you for an advanced career in some of the most sought-after fields. We offer undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and graduate certificate programs—all built around a flexible schedule: yours. You can learn when and where you want. Anytime. Anywhere. Request more information here.
