Keys to Success in Online Courses



Taking an online class can be pretty convenient for some people. Being able to learn online, opposed to commuting can be impactful for those in need. While there are some advantages to taking a course online, it does not be mean that the application, and time management needed to succeed in an in-person class supersedes that of an online class. Taking an online class does come with its own set of individualized struggles. Fear not, this blog is all about how to overcome those struggles.





 Self-Reflection
It’s important to reflect back on yourself as a student. What kind of student do you consider yourself to be? What are some of your strengths in regards to learning, and applying information? What are some on your weaknesses? What subjects do you excel at, and what subjects take a little extra effort? What are some distractions, or barriers that detour you from reaching academic goals? Establishing a foundation, and a clear understanding about you as a student will help you to utilize the appropriate tools for your success.It’s important to have a clear understanding of the example questions above because you can then determine if the factors are internal, or external. If there are internal factors that are causing you struggle then the great thing about that is that you are in control of those. Often a hard realization, and change of mindset is what will help you overcome those internal factors.  If there are external factors that are causing you to struggle then those factors are out of your control until you become aware of those factors, and learn how to control them. This could be a teaching style for example. Say for instance your professor does not give access to PowerPoint slides outside of class as he sees them as a copyright infringement. When he reads off the slides in class, he goes through them so fast that you are not able to record all of the information. This is a problem that seems to be essentially out of your control. To gain control in such situation, you could read the textbook for the class and create your own guided PowerPoints. You could look for additional information online as well. Maybe someone created a study guide on Quizlet. With your professor’s permission, you might even be able to voice record his class with your phone or laptop. Evaluate your situation and turn your obstacles into advantages.


“I Tried…”
In my opinion, application is probably one of the most common reasons that most students struggle. A lack of application is often the main barrier in reference to comprehension. Sure, there might be some concepts that are hard to grasps, but how efficient are you as a student when it comes to utilizing every resource available to you to fully comprehend the content? Consistently putting your best foot forward will be very rewarding for you as a student, and for your character as well. Apply your all, so that you have just as much opportunity to receive all. Don’t limit your learning by being mediocre with your work. Taking an online class limits the direct micro-managing, and guidance from a professor. So you as a student will have to be self-disciplined, and diligent with all of your tasks. If after all you have tried your very best and the outcome still isn’t favorable, it is okay. Hard failures bloom great lessons. Take that experience and try again. Switch out the formula, but be sure to keep what works. Success is sure to come with hard work. Keep going!


“Procrastination Brings on Stress” – Ms. Mary Tucker
In addition to application, procrastination is also an internal factor that can be fixed with consistency. For some, procrastination may be the secret ingredient to producing the best work. Unfortunately that ingredient can come with a lot of stress. The stress typically derives from the unpredictable circumstances that may arise. Such circumstances could separate you from getting a task done in the appropriate time. Planning is key to prevent this. Try writing all due dates in an agenda whenever they are first given.  Those can be referred to as hard deadlines. Once you acknowledge that, try to create soft deadlines for the task. These will give you a little time just in case unforeseen circumstances arise.  You could also plan out your week on each Sunday of the month. This will give you a fresh start, and a closer look at what is due soon. Procrastination is also a good habit to break as online classes are set up exclusively through technology. As we all know, technology fails, so it is crucial to not wait until the last minute to finish assignments. You never know when a server may fail. In addition, communication is a huge barrier when taking online classes as direct communication is essentially cut off. If an unforeseen event occurred and prevented you from finishing a task in the specified time, then the odds of your professor seeing your excuse, and request for an extension is limited.


Be Resourceful
People should not be alone. Engaging with others is crucial to development. Such engagement not only aids in cognitive advancement, but also scholastic. This brings me to the point of seeking help. I first want to say that it is okay to ask for help. Prior to college, I graduated high school at the top of my class. Assignments were easy for me to comprehend, and I often helped others navigate through assignments. Entering college, I was in for a rude awakening. I struggled in a math course, and waited until it was nearly too late to ask for help. I was too intimidated by peers who knew the answers, as my scholarly role switched, and I had too much pride to go to tutoring because I had never needed to go prior to college.

MYTHBUSTER: Only students who struggle in school go to tutoring.
MYTH BUSTED, I learned that I had no reason to be ashamed for needing additional help. Most of my peers who were also attending tutoring sessions just needed additional, dedicated support, or were already doing exceptionally well in the course, and wanted to continue. So do not struggle silently. Be loud, so someone can help you. There are plenty of peers that are willing to have study sessions in the library, tutors with flexible tutoring hours, professors with available office hours, and learning resources such as, Youtube, Mathway, Quizlet, Socratic, Ebsco, etc.


                     
                     Be Positive
The final tip I want to give to any student out there is to be positive. You will pass. Not only will you pass the class, but you’ll expand your academic horizon. Not only will you do those things, but you’ll make life long connections, and be influential in your future endeavors. College is a marathon, not a race. Absorb what you can, at your own pace. Take in every experience, good, or bad and learn from it. I hope that this blog will serve as a helpful foundation for anyone struggling in any academic course.



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