Online Classes - Top Ten Tips

Many public K-12 students, particularly at the high school level, are now utilizing e-learning to address specific individual needs. For some, a required class was offered at a time that conflicted with other classes or outside responsibilities, while others may be using e-learning for credit recovery necessary to address graduation requirements. Some are taking advantage of an online option to take a class not available in their home district (has anyone else noticed that the old example of a Japanese language class has now become a Chinese language class). Teachers and other staff are increasingly turning to online coursework to address licensure, IPDP, or other requirements as an option that also allows them to fulfill not only their professional needs but their employment and family obligations as well.

E-learning courses may be offered onsite using the district's technology to provide individualized instruction, or via an online course developed and delivered elsewhere. In both cases, since the learning is more self-directed by the student than in the traditional classroom, there are some skills that are particularly critical for success with this educational delivery method. The following have been my personal "Top Ten Tips."


Be Clear on Why You Are Taking the Course
Motivation is the prime driver for everything we do, so it is important that you clarify your purpose for taking the course. Are you doing it to become qualified for employment, to increase your value to your current employer, or simply due to a long standing interest? When challenges arise, reminding yourself of your motivations will help encourage you to meet those challenges.


Be Prepared
While online coursework offers many benefits, there can be unanticipated challenges that can only be addressed by advanced preparation. For instance, if you are an on-campus university student and need to purchase textbooks, that requirement is normally addressed by a simple stop at the campus bookstore. However, if you are an “online student” and live hundreds (or thousands) of miles from campus, an obscure textbook can cause serious challenges. If possible, contact the professor well in advance of the course start date to determine if any textbooks or other materials are needed. If they are unavailable to you locally, you may need to arrange to have them shipped from the university’s bookseller.

Since your computer and Internet connection will be your crucial link to the online class, if you do not have an understanding of computer and modem troubleshooting you might want to find someone willing to help you if problems arise. A high school classmate or college/university campus support technician might be worth cultivating as a friend, because we all know technology “glitches” occur at the worst possible time. Advanced planning might give you someone to turn to should a problem arise when you are desperately trying to meet a course deadline.

It is also more important to be prepared for an online course than a traditional “face to face” course due to the more limited opportunity for teacher/professor and student interaction.


Polish Your Writing Skills
The majority of communication in an online class is written, so it is critical that you have good written communication skills. While tools like online chat allow for back-and-forth discourse, typing is slower than speaking for even the most texting-addicted students so it is important to be as clear as possible. Tools such as discussion boards take asynchronous communications to even greater extremes, so “precise and concise” is even more critical here. Imagine the classic “Who’s on First” comedy routine by Abbott and Costello on a discussion board with hours – or days – between lines as they strive for understanding.


“Touch Base” Regularly
Remember to check your e-mail regularly to keep up with communications from your professor and the other students in your class. If you are using an e-learning tool such as Blackboard or Sakai, make sure you log onto those frequently as well. Your only communication conduit is electronic; do not neglect it.


Participate!
Simply showing up for class and warming a seat isn’t sufficient for success in the traditional classroom, and participation is even more critical in the online environment. If your professor uses online chats and/or discussion boards to encourage interaction, you must participate both for your own benefit and for that of the other students.


Schedule “Class Time”
Many students prefer the online learning experience because it allows them to flex their learning schedule to accommodate fulltime work, family, and other commitments. However, the lack of a defined schedule can also make it tempting to put off your coursework until a “better time.” To avoid this temptation, establish a set schedule that accommodates your other commitments, but also assures attention to regular class participation and study.

Also, make sure you schedule enough dedicated time for your course. Some students participating in their first online class expect the class to be a “breeze” because you don’t have to encounter the leader face-to-face. Once in the class, however, you may well find that your online course requires more time than a traditional class as you develop the new skills required for this learning modality. Some sources suggest you plan to spend 9 – 12 (or more) hours per week on each class.


Stay Focused
During your defined class schedule, be sure to stay focused. In traditional classes, it is not acceptable for your friends to drop in suggest going out for pizza. Don’t let this occur in your e-learning experience, either. It is also not conducive to learning to multi-task your coursework and the “Matrix Marathon” on the Sci-Fi Channel. Unlike the traditional classroom where your teacher or professor and the rest of the class – even the structured class itself - helped you stay focused on the task at hand, in the virtual class environment this responsibility is yours alone.


Carefully Read and Complete All Assignments – On Time!
Due to the lack of face-to-face communication and discussion, it is critical that you carefully read and understand all instructions to avoid misunderstandings about assignment parameters and deadlines. Make sure you complete and understand all assigned readings and other supplemental materials (web sites, electronic presentations, videos, and so on). Do not fall into the trap of letting the lack of definite class times translate into a lassiez-faire attitude toward your assignment deadlines; these are typically non-negotiable and, if anything, it is in your best interest to submit assignments early so that a last-minute submission isn’t prevented by a technical issue such as an Internet connection problem.


Organize Your Work
Online classes are electronically-based, and require that you have (or develop) certain skills. You should always keep copies of everything you submit online, for your own reference and also as a protection against files that are lost or corrupted during transmission.

Design an electronic file structure that helps you locate your files when needed. You will want to create a directory for each class, and a subdirectory for each module within that class. In an increasingly mobile world, you may be able to save electronic course materials such as assignment sheets, assignment templates, documents, PowerPoint presentation files, and more to your notebook computer so that you can access them any time you have some spare time – even if you are away from Internet access. Many programs, such as the Backpack program for Blackboard, exist to help you automate this process. You can then save all materials related to a specific module in the appropriate directory so you can find them easily. You will also want to save any files you produce for submission in response to this module in the same directory so you will have a copy in case one of the electronic dogs “eats” your homework.

For extra protection, also remember to backup your computer. You can save your files to a USB thumb drive, burn them to a CD, back them up to an external USB hard drive, or even just print everything out in hardcopy - whatever is your backup process of choice. It doesn’t matter how you do the backups, but in the immortal words of Nike, “Just Do It.”


Communicate with Your Teacher or Professor
You may not be able to raise your hand, but you can send an e-mail. Make sure you communicate questions and problems with your class leader, just as you would in a traditional class. This is particularly important because in the virtual classroom your leader can not see if you are confused or frustrated.

Some students have told me they actually do this better in the slightly more anonymous online class because it causes them less embarrassment than discussing questions and problems in front of others in a traditional classroom. I have also heard positive comments about the immediacy of responses, as a question posted at 1:00 am may be responded to at 1:03am. Your teachers and professors do, however, have lives outside the classroom, so do not expect this immediate response as the norm. Most class leaders try to respond to all messages within 24 – 48 hours, but even these teachers may take longer over weekends and breaks.