by Michael S. Miller, Ed.D.
There
is a great deal of information on the internet regarding how to be successful
in an online course. One can find
anything from tips for managing your time to staying organized. Much of what is written is done so by
researchers and poll groups; little information exists from actual online
professors. Having spent several years
now teaching online, the following are some general guidelines from someone in
the trenches. While this list may seem
simple and “common sense,” you would be surprised at how few students actually
follow them.
1.
Check
your email regularly. The main form
of communication in the online learning environment is through email. Your school and professor will likely use
this as the first step in getting information to you. Many online professors do not have access to
your phone number…so the next best thing is email. Professors may use email to notify you of a
missing assignment, an incorrectly submitted assignment, a grade or attendance
issue, general announcements, or changes in due dates, just to name a few. You will feel much more connected to both the
course and your professor if you check your email on a frequent basis. A good rule of thumb is at least once every other day.
2.
Read
the Course Announcements. Many
students see this as superfluous information and do not spend the time reading
through the course announcements.
Particularly, at the beginning of the course this is critical. You will likely find information about: how
the course is run, important due dates, professor expectations, and sometimes hints for completing your
assignments. Most online professors
spend a great deal of time designing and developing these…use them to your
advantage! Not to mention, when a
student asks a question and the answer is ‘in
the announcements section,’ it is very frustrating for both parties. This is similar to the syllabus; read it
thoroughly.
3.
Review Assignment
Feedback. For each
assignment you complete, there is a great chance that the professor will provide
detailed and constructive feedback. The
Illinois Online Network (2010) suggests that the feedback process continues the
learning experience, adds depth and understanding to the assignment already
submitted by the student, and affords the instructor an opportunity to reiterate
key concepts. In addition, this feedback
gives you specific information on your course work in relation to the course
objectives and expectations.
"Research suggests that students want feedback, and personalized
feedback that includes suggestions for improvement, with explanations"
(Getzlaf, Perry, Toffner, Lamarche & Edwards, 2009). In an online course, detailed and specific
feedback on assignments is even more critical given the medium. Therefore, once your grade is posted for an
assignment or assessment, you are encouraged to take the time to read the
feedback provided by your professor. It
can be very frustrating for a professor to have to repeat the same comment for
subsequent assignments.
4. Spend Time Learning APA Style Formatting. If you have never used APA Style
formatting, or if it has been a while, it is crucial that you spend time with
it. The important thing to remember is that APA can
be difficult, but do not get discouraged.
Learning APA takes time and practice.
Even your professor did not learn it in just a few weeks or months. So, why APA you ask? Not only is APA Style formatting required of
at most schools, but the APA Style format is a standardized system for
formatting research papers and citing resources. By following its rules, one can write a paper
that conforms to standard guidelines, the paper will appear professional and
scholarly, and readers will easily understand how to find the resources you
used. The American Psychological
Association began setting standards for research paper format and citations in
order to help scholars, like you, everywhere, follow coordinated
guidelines. Standardized papers are
easier to read, understand, compare, and study.
Since researchers often build upon past studies, these guidelines help
make that progress smooth (Smith, 2013).
You will be using it a great deal throughout the online learning
experience. A good way to familiarize
yourself with it is to take notice when reading journal articles formatted in
APA. You will want to take a closer look
at both the in-text and reference citations.
The more time you spend learning it now, the less difficult it will be
as you progress through your degree program.
Becoming a successful online learner requires the student to be on
top of things- and to be self-directed.
Whether you are brand-new to the online learning experience, or you are
a professional online learner; these four tips will help you get the most out
of your education.
References
Getzlaf, B.,
Perry, B., Toffner, G., Lamarche, K., & Edwards, M. (2009, July). Effective
instructor feedback: Perceptions of online graduate students. The Journal of Educators Online, 6(2). Retrieved from
http://www.thejeo.com/Archives/Volume6Number2/GetzlafetalPaper.pdf
Illinois Online
Network. (2010). Strategies for providing feedback in online courses. Retrieved
from http://www.ion.uillinois.edu/resources/tutorials/communication/feedback.asp
Smith,
D. (2013, January). Five principles for research ethics: Cover your bases with
these ethical strategies. Monitor on
Psychology, 34(1), 56.
