While online classes can be a wonderful opportunity in a busy world, they come with their own challenges. Without an in-person lecture, it can be harder to stay on top of learning and classwork. With a solid routine and some self-discipline, you can do your best and feel proud of your work.
Steps
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:
Setting Up
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1Read the syllabus. In a traditional classroom environment, the professor or instructor typically spends a majority of the first class period going over the syllabus and schedule for the class and answering questions that may arise. However, in an online course, this is your responsibility.
- The syllabus is considered on par with a legal document in some institutions and you are bound by its parameters, so be familiar with them.
- Ask questions via e-mail or other communication tool about anything you would like to have clarified.
- Many professors will make allowances if difficulties come up. However, this is for things such as recovering from surgery, or a parent dying, or a natural disaster. Not submitting your test because you had to make Christmas dinner is not.
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2Consider the challenges you will have in an online class format. In most lower-level educational settings, the environment is structured: Accounting meets Monday and Wednesdays at 9:30, for example. But many classes allow the student to essentially participate whenever and wherever the student desires. While this comes with incredible benefits, there are also some common pitfalls. For example:
- Do you tend to procrastinate? If so, you may need to structure your learning so you do not try to cram a semester's worth of education into a frantic week.
- Is time organization an issue? Online learning means you are responsible for your progress, so if you have a hard time with using time wisely, you will have to problem-solve. [1]
X
Expert Source
Jai Flicker
Academic Tutor Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:
Maintaining a Healthy Routine
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1Set up an appropriate study space . What this is will vary a bit from person to person, but it will have minimal distractions. Keep it clear, except for a laptop, tools (e.g. calculator, pencil and scratch paper), and maybe a fidget toy or two to stimulate your brain as you work. [2] X Expert Source Jai Flicker
Academic Tutor Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.- If you are a fidgety sort, sit on an exercise ball or give yourself a five-minute break to walk around the room.
- Avoid doing anything other than studying in this space. This makes the transition into studying easier, since your brain will start to associate that specific space with doing schoolwork.
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2Keep a calendar . Buy one, download one, create one on your PC, laptop or phone, but get a calendar! Especially for adults, it is difficult to keep track of dates. And you cannot rely on your instructor to remind you of every assignment and exam date; his or her job is not to keep your organized.
- Consider keeping a checklist of things that you need to do so you can check them off one by one. Sit down and fill out that calendar at the beginning of the course so that you will always know ahead of time what is due on what date.
- Check that calendar on a daily basis! This tool is useless if you do not refer to it.
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3Schedule study time. It can be hard to make time to study if you're constantly waiting for the right time. Instead, set a specific time every day to work on your class. [3] X Expert Source Jai Flicker
Academic Tutor Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.- Set an alarm on your phone or laptop if it helps.
- You may need to be assertive with your family and friends. Tell them that you need to study for a while. If you want, put a sign on your door to remind them you need to focus right now.
- Make sure that any young children are taken care of. Try studying while they are sleeping or being watched by someone else. Try to avoid sitting them in front of a screen for too long.
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4Check your class website every day on school days. Your professor may have posted new announcements or even grades. Checking the website regularly will help you stay on top of class news.
- You may also be emailed this information, so you’ll want to be sure that you check this every school day as well.
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5Start early on your assignments. Give yourself more time than you think you'll need, just in case you have a problem you didn't foresee or a hectic day in which you can't work.
- If you miss work or are struggling with finishing an assignment, email the professor as soon as possible. Many are willing to provide guidance and make accommodations as needed for unforeseen circumstances. [4]
X
Expert Source
Jai Flicker
Academic Tutor Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.
- If you miss work or are struggling with finishing an assignment, email the professor as soon as possible. Many are willing to provide guidance and make accommodations as needed for unforeseen circumstances. [4]
X
Expert Source
Jai Flicker
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6Ask questions. [5] X Expert Source Jai Flicker
Academic Tutor Expert Interview. 20 May 2020. In online courses, the professor has no way of knowing you are confused, or need clarification, or help if you do not speak up! You may enjoy the anonymity of an online course, or you may hate missing out on the classroom interaction, but there is no reason to have a question go unanswered just because you are "home alone" when the question arises.- Consider asking a question after class, via email, or during office hours depending on how the class is set up. Check the syllabus to see if there's a method your professor prefers.
- Your class may have an online discussion space. Consider asking questions there. Another student, a TA, or a professor may offer some advice (and other students who had the same question will see the answer too).
- Sometimes professors give short replies because they're distracted by other work or they don't realize you need a little more guidance. If you don't understand, feel free to ask them to clarify.
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7Act with integrity. Online courses are subject to the same code of ethics as any college course. And cheating, plagiarizing, or otherwise committing academic fraud online is as serious as doing it in a traditional classroom. Also, as a student, you may learn how to cheat, but you will not actually know the material that you have paid so much money to gain.
- In some courses, you have unlimited access to study materials. For instance, if you are writing your Master's of Education thesis, you will need to cite studies, books, quotations, research, and so on.
- Don't assume that you can get away with cheating. Professors can often tell if you were looking things up when you shouldn't have been or if you plagiarized something.
- Most educational institutions have a Student Code of Conduct that addresses cheating and plagiarism. Read it; as it applies to you.
Tip: In some cases, professors are OK with you accessing outside materials for quizzes or exams. If it's not clear, don't be afraid to ask.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow can I set my own study schedule?Jai Flicker is an Academic Tutor and the CEO and Founder of Lifeworks Learning Center, a San Francisco Bay Area-based business focused on providing tutoring, parental support, test preparation, college essay writing help, and psychoeducational evaluations to help students transform their attitude toward learning. Jai has over 20 years of experience in the education management industry. He holds a BA in Philosophy from the University of California, San Diego.Create a schedule that fits your temperament. Some people really need their sleep and may do better with a late start when studying. Others love getting up early, so they're going to do better with an early start to get all of their studying out of the way. The most important thing is finding the schedule that works for you as an individual as opposed to thinking there is one ideal schedule.
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QuestionHow can I study fast and effectively?Jai Flicker is an Academic Tutor and the CEO and Founder of Lifeworks Learning Center, a San Francisco Bay Area-based business focused on providing tutoring, parental support, test preparation, college essay writing help, and psychoeducational evaluations to help students transform their attitude toward learning. Jai has over 20 years of experience in the education management industry. He holds a BA in Philosophy from the University of California, San Diego.Try to figure out the best learning approaches for you specifically. Use studying as a self-knowledge exercise to see what actually works and what doesn't. For example, a very common practice is creating flashcards. Some people jump to it and love the idea of flashcards as a practical study tool. Others may resist flashcards. It's all a lesson in what works for you.
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QuestionHow can I avoid getting distracted when studying?Jai Flicker is an Academic Tutor and the CEO and Founder of Lifeworks Learning Center, a San Francisco Bay Area-based business focused on providing tutoring, parental support, test preparation, college essay writing help, and psychoeducational evaluations to help students transform their attitude toward learning. Jai has over 20 years of experience in the education management industry. He holds a BA in Philosophy from the University of California, San Diego.The first step when distracted is to identify what kind of distractions are occurring. Broadly, there are three categories of distractions, including digital distractions, human distractions, and internal distractions. Digital distractions can be handled by putting your phone on silent or Do Not Disturb. Human distractions can be dealt with by communicating the need for some space and finding a quiet part of the house to study. Internal distractions are commonly stress-related. Try to put aside your stress for the moment and finish your work or attend to what is causing the stress enough so that you can come back to your work.
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Tips
- In many colleges, you will be required to sign an acknowledgment that you have read, understand and will follow the syllabus before you are cleared to continue with the course.Thanks
- Check with your professor or instructor early in the course to see if they will accept assignments early. Most are happy to do so and welcome the opportunity to get a portion of their grading done ahead of the due date.Thanks
- As soon as you open the door for a screaming 5-year-old or agree to go out for a pizza with your friends, you have compromised your commitment to study for your online course. If at all possible, create a support group of family and friends who will agree to give you specific study time.Thanks
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References
- ↑ Jai Flicker. Academic Tutor. Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.
- ↑ Jai Flicker. Academic Tutor. Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.
- ↑ Jai Flicker. Academic Tutor. Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.
- ↑ Jai Flicker. Academic Tutor. Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.
- ↑ Jai Flicker. Academic Tutor. Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.
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