How to "be" an online student?
In general, an online student must demonstrate certain essential skills. Here are some of them.
Be independent: learn how to manage your time
Your biggest challenge will be to develop your autonomy to view course videos, complete module knowledge tests, as well as formative and summative quizzes. Since you may not be in the classroom, you need to set aside time for this course. Book six (6) to twelve (12) hours per week depending on the modules. The estimated times are provided.
The course content is accessible on the site along with explanations for the activities and quizzes. You must take the time to visit the site regularly and read what needs to be done. In other words, manage your time well! (There will be an activity later in this module that will help you manage your time.)
Tips:
- Follow the structure of the course
- Adhere to the schedule
- Add the course schedule to your own calendar
- Block off time for the course, work, play
- Ask questions
The key to success in an online course is to make time each week and put in a consistent effort throughout the semester.
Be engaged: participate for understanding, not just completion
One of the essential skills of an online student is certainly the ability to participate in a meaningful way - that is to say in a way the helps you to learn and understand the content. Ideally, you will not only be working to complete the modules, but learning in the process. In this course, the key to learning and understanding the material is to practice, practice, practice as many problems as you can.
Be active: practice, practice, practice
The course is designed for you to get practice while you are learning the material, as well as to get practice beyond the lessons. Sometimes the answers will be provided (independent practice) and sometimes the answers will not be provided (consider attending a tutorial or join a study group to find these answers). This is an effective way to learn.
Tips: many ways to practice
- Review the video lesson (VL) and complete the accompanying Knowledge Tests. Knowledge Test are formative assessments (FA). That means they provide information on what you understand, they are not meant to score your understanding.
- Once you have completed the Knowledge Tests, participate in the web based learning activities (WBL) to reinforce your understanding.
- Participate in tutorials, in-person lessons and study groups for clarification of any questions you may have.
- If you have questions about the content, discuss them with other students in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Be comfortable with technology
You are enrolled in an online course. All activities related to this course are conducted online through this website. As a result, you must be able to:
- Navigate through the site
- Send emails
- Save course documents to your computer
- Upload and submit files
- Complete quizzes