Tips for Success

Online learning may offer great flexibility when it comes to attending school and taking care of home life. The possibility of completing a degree program at home will be rewarding and exciting to some, but discouraging and complicated to others.

Because learning at a distance can be quite challenging and many of the benefits of a traditional classroom will not be available, it is very important that students develop consistent habits in order to be successful.

Here Are Some DO's & DONT's for Online Learners

DO's	DONT's
Do assess your educational and career goals before starting an online learning program. Do be prepared to commit the time -- anywhere from 4 to 15 hours a week per course. For a 3 unit course, you are expected to spend at least 9 hours per week on course-related tasks. Do find a quiet and secluded area (of your house, apartment) to use as a place to study and complete your coursework so that you don't get interrupted or distracted. Do familiarize yourself with the course syllabus and content, even before you register, to be sure you are ready to master the content online. Do know The Rules of Good Netiquette, especially as it relates to email. Do develop good online learning habits, such as thinking about your online class every day and checking your email at least once a day, more often if you are working on a group project. Do plan on using or developing good time-management skills to enable you to balance course work with your other responsibilities and obligations. Do respect the rules of academic honesty and integrity. Do take breaks from being online too long; give your eyes a chance to rest. Do remember that email is your primary form of communication, therefore you must be clear and detailed with the information you are sending.	Don't be intimidated by the lingo and terminology of distance education. Use this Distance Learning Education Glossary from The eLearning Coach to get a handle on all the key terms. Don't think you can be anonymous in a distance-learning course; in fact, do expect more interaction with your professor and your classmates than in traditional university settings. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you are having problems with the technology or with the course. Don’t take the courses lightly because they are only online learning courses. Distance education courses can be just as rigorous, if not more so, as traditional classroom courses. Don't expect to be a passive learner; you must be self-directed and self-motivated to succeed. Do assume your share of the responsibility for learning the course material. Don't procrastinate. Procrastination may be the one deadly sin of online learning. Do set goals and deadlines, and do try and stay current with your readings and class projects. Don't get discouraged if distance learning doesn’t work for you; distance education is not suited for everyone; however, do look into other educational opportunities to achieve your goals. Don't try to "squeeze in" a Distance Learning class if you don't have time to take a traditional class. Distance Learning classes require the SAME (or more) amount of time as a traditional class.

DO's

DONT's

Do assess your educational and career goals before starting an online learning program.
Do be prepared to commit the time -- anywhere from 4 to 15 hours a week per course. For a 3 unit course, you are expected to spend at least 9 hours per week on course-related tasks.
Do find a quiet and secluded area (of your house, apartment) to use as a place to study and complete your coursework so that you don't get interrupted or distracted.
Do familiarize yourself with the course syllabus and content, even before you register, to be sure you are ready to master the content online.
Do know The Rules of Good Netiquette, especially as it relates to email.
Do develop good online learning habits, such as thinking about your online class every day and checking your email at least once a day, more often if you are working on a group project.
Do plan on using or developing good time-management skills to enable you to balance course work with your other responsibilities and obligations.
Do respect the rules of academic honesty and integrity.
Do take breaks from being online too long; give your eyes a chance to rest.
Do remember that email is your primary form of communication, therefore you must be clear and detailed with the information you are sending.

Don't be intimidated by the lingo and terminology of distance education. Use this Distance Learning Education Glossary from The eLearning Coach to get a handle on all the key terms.
Don't think you can be anonymous in a distance-learning course; in fact, do expect more interaction with your professor and your classmates than in traditional university settings.
Don't be afraid to ask for help if you are having problems with the technology or with the course.
Don’t take the courses lightly because they are only online learning courses. Distance education courses can be just as rigorous, if not more so, as traditional classroom courses.
Don't expect to be a passive learner; you must be self-directed and self-motivated to succeed. Do assume your share of the responsibility for learning the course material.
Don't procrastinate. Procrastination may be the one deadly sin of online learning. Do set goals and deadlines, and do try and stay current with your readings and class projects.
Don't get discouraged if distance learning doesn’t work for you; distance education is not suited for everyone; however, do look into other educational opportunities to achieve your goals.
Don't try to "squeeze in" a Distance Learning class if you don't have time to take a traditional class. Distance Learning classes require the SAME (or more) amount of time as a traditional class.