Be Successful in an Online Environment

Study Smart

Find the best way to study for YOU!

• Utilize various ways of gaining information; audible, reading, or hands on projects.
• Study with others.
• Block off time for deep concentration and note-taking.
• Avoid multitasking, as well as reading on screens when possible.
• Find a time during the day when you are most productive.

Treat Online Classes Like In Person Classes

• Treat online classes as “real” classes (e.g. Do not use your phone during lectures, turn off your TV, and focus on your professor).
• Stay connected. Actively engage in interactions with peers and instructors. Ask questions, relate new concepts to already existing knowledge and apply new skills to improve problem solving.
• Communicate with your instructors. They are here to help you and will do their best to meet with you in a timely manner, so don't hesitate to send them an email asking for help!
  • Identify specific rules and norms in the learning environment.
  • Develop individual learning goals from existing course requirements.
  • Identify and prioritize tasks needed to accomplish your learning goals.
  • Assess needed human, technology, and material resources to support your learning goals.
  • Assess time, effort, and ability to accomplish your learning goals.
• Don’t be afraid to speak up. Sometimes while taking an exam or quiz you might come across a question that is vague or is hard to understand. Reach out to your instructors and let them know when you struggled with a question. Don’t be afraid to ask if there is anything you can do to make up for any missed points.
• Schedule study sessions with your classmates online: studying with others can be very helpful, especially if you are struggling in a class.

Eliminate Distractions

• Our phones can be a huge distraction. If you feel the need to check it frequently you can use app blockers/time limits for your phone.
• The Forest App is a great tool to increase productivity, diminish distractions from your phone and best of all, plant trees. Simply set a ‘productivity time’ and the app will ‘grow’ a virtual tree for you as long as you stay focused and do not use your phone. The company actually plants trees with profits made from the app!

Practice Time Management

• Plan to commit to 4 to 15 hours per week per course.
• Use a calendar (physical or digital) where you can write down important dates, assignments, exams, deadlines, etc. This will provide you with a clear view of what your week/month time commitments look like and how much time you have available to complete your tasks. The TMCC Student Government Association provides free student planners to 3,000 students each year!
• Create a schedule with assignment deadlines, weekly reading, study times, and follow the schedule.
• Make it a habit to begin working on each course as soon as the course begins, and make efforts to meet requirements and achieve success from the beginning of the course. It’s easier to keep your grades up from the beginning rather than struggling to bring them up at the end of the semester.
• Regularly evaluate and adjust daily and weekly time requirements for completing your course work based on papers or tests coming up.
• Create a to-do list. Writing down a physical to-do list on a notepad helps to keep you motivated to complete a task. Crossing off an item on your to-do list is so satisfying!
• Recognize and act accordingly for potential delays of responses in communications. Instructors and students may be working during different days and times, so allow adequate time for others to respond.
• Hold yourself accountable.

Stay Motivated

• Manage negative emotions that may impair learning. Go easy on yourself. Online classes may be more challenging for some students. Reach out to your instructor, fellow students, or campus resources for support.
• Remind yourself of why you are in college. Envision yourself graduating and reward yourself frequently, even for small successes.
• Take frequent breaks from studying. For every 1-2 hours studying, take a brisk walk or stretch for 5-10 minutes. Studies show that breaks in your study routine positively affect your ability to focus.
• Stay focused. Online classes can be challenging, as much of the motivation has to come from within, but know that self-discipline and hard work will pay off.

Take Care of Yourself

• Manage your stress. If you find yourself studying day and night and wondering why you can’t remember what you just learned, it could be because you’re too stressed to focus. Take a break and do something you enjoy to de-stress, that way you can release your thoughts and come back to study with a clear mind.
• Give yourself small frequent rewards. After you’ve completed an assignment or reading, take a little time to watch your favorite show, go for a walk, call a friend, or take a nap. Taking a break to rejuvenate is just as important as completing your classwork.
• Taking online classes might be hard, but please don’t but don't sacrifice sleep, eating, and your well-being. If you need assistance with this, contact the TMCC Counseling Department. Stay healthy and good luck!

Use Technology Proficiently

• Give yourself plenty of time to adapt to a new learning environment.
• Practice patience. Learning to deal with new learning environments can be a struggle and easily become frustrating.
• Log in often, at least once a day. If you check the course site at least once a day, if not more, you will be able to respond quickly to discussion posts, finish your assignments, see what is due next, and make your presence known to your fellow classmates and instructor.
• Utilize specified technology tools to achieve learning goals. Set up email notifications in Canvas, that way you never miss a class announcement or assignment. You can do this by changing the notification preferences.
• Explore capabilities of available and emerging tools for learning. If you do not have a computer or laptop, reach out to your instructor and ask if there is one you can borrow.
  • Utilize Google Docs so you can save your work in the cloud and easily transition from your phone and multiple computers
  • Use Google Slides as a powerful publishing and presentation tool. It is easy to format presentations in clear and engaging ways
  • Google Calendar can also be a very effective tool to insure you meet deadlines. In addition to classes, you can also keep track of your work, events, and meetings. Set it up to receive pop up and text notifications if something is due or you have set aside time to study.
  • Utilize screen time limits on your phone to limit time wasted that could be used to study.
• Use technology selectively that is appropriate to the learning activity. For example, if you have a laptop or computer, use that for school work instead of your phone. Composing essays or doing other classwork on cell phones is not ideal, and should only be used for this when necessary. If you do not have access to a laptop or computer, please contact your professor.
• Keep digital data files organized and remember to save work as you go.
• Seek solutions to any technical problems that impede learning. One of the most important things you can do is ask for help. There are so many resources available to you, even from home. Check out the list of departments and services provided for you at your college.

Utilize Campus Resources

• Take advantage of the many student resources available such as: Counseling, Tutoring and Learning Center, Disability Resource Center, Academic Advising, Student Government, the Library, and much more!
• Manage your stress. If you find yourself studying day and night and wondering why you can’t remember what you just learned, it could be because you’re too stressed to focus. Take a break and do something you enjoy to de-stress. That way you can release your thoughts and return to studying with a clear mind.
• Give yourself small frequent rewards. After you’ve completed an assignment or reading, take a little time to watch your favorite show, go for a walk, call a friend or take a nap. Taking a break to rejuvenate will pay off in the quality of the work you produce.
• Taking online classes might be hard, but please do not sacrifice sleep, eating or your wellbeing. If you need assistance with this, contact the TMCC Counseling Department. Stay healthy and good luck!

References

8 Strategies for Getting the Most out of an Online Class. (2020, March 26).

Online Classes 101 - 5 Tips for Online Class Success. Walden University (2020, January 21).

What Makes a Successful Online Student? University of Illinois Springfield, ION Professional eLearning Programs.

5 Tips to Succeed in an Online Course. U.S. World Report News.

Five Tips for Moving Teaching Online as COVID-19 Takes Hold. Gewin, V. (2020, March 24).

Online Learner Competencies : Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes for Successful Learning in Online Settings. Information Age Publishing. Beaudoin, M. F. (2013).