TOPIC 3: SUCCEEDING ON LINE
Success online requires motivation, good time management, flexibility, and self-discipline. Here are some suggestions for making your online class more enjoyable as well as easier to manage. Most of all, don’t give up!! Ask questions. I can’t see if you look puzzled or won't know if you would like some help. Here are 10 keys to success online.
1. READ ALL DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY. If you don't understand the assignment, ask for clarification.
2. BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND UPCOMING ASSIGNMENTS. Using your syllabus to establish a personal timeline and a calendar of due dates. In some cases you will find it helpful to work on more than one assignment at a time. There is a local calendar in each Moodle course. They are easy to use and you can make private notes.
3. SAVE YOUR WORK OFTEN. Periodically saving documents while you are working on them will prevent lost of your work if there are any problems. Be sure to keep a copy of the assignments you submit. If anything happens to the assignment you can submit them again. One suggestion is to save a copy of your work on a diskette or other portable storage device as well if you are storing your files on your computer's hard drive. If your hard drive crashes you will still have a copy of your work. If you are only using diskettes or other portable storage devices, then it is a good idea for you to make and keep a back up copy of your files on another diskette or portable storage device.
4. PRACTICE GOOD COMPUTER FILE MANAGEMENT. Clearly label all diskettes. Use filenames that make sense. Decide on a system that works for you, so that when you need a file you will be able to easily find it.
5. PROTECT YOUR FILES AND COMPUTER AGAINST VIRUSES. Always save files you download from the Internet to a diskette and virus-check them before opening them. Always virus check attachments you get via email. If you have used your diskettes or storage device in a computer you typically don't use, virus-check them when you begin to use them on your computer. Never open a .bat, .exe, .com file that you receive as an attachment. These often contain terrible viruses that could destroy your hard drive. A common practice right now if for the virus to copy your e-mail address book and send a virus-infected e-mail with your name on it to those people. The virus comes as an attachment and the email message says something like: here is the file you ask for; or, will you read this and let me know what you think? Never open an e-mail or e-mail attachment if you don't know who it is from or if you are not expecting it. Sometimes you can have a virus checker on your computer and unless you update it regularly, bad ‘new’ viruses can get through. If you do not know how to virus-check a document or update the virus-checker, find out.
6. TIME MANAGEMENT IS A KEY SKILL FOR SUCCESS ONLINE.
CHECK your email and graded assignments (if using WebCT) at least every two days. Every day is even better.
Most instructors will send e-mail messages and course updates regularly.
SET aside and schedule time to work on your class assignments.
7. HAVE A BACK UP PLAN. In case you do not have access to your regular computer and Internet source. All SWTJC campuses have computers in their libraries available for student use. Some campuses have computer lab that may be used and ACE labs may also provide a backup resource to the student.
8. MAKE PRINTOUTS. Make printouts of documents such as the course syllabus, reviews, and any other resource you may want to have available to you offline. However, try to resist the impulse to print EVERYTHING. Some things simply do not need to be printed. Use good judgment when printing.
9. PLAN AHEAD. Be aware that Internet traffic and computer problems can be very frustrating. Keep trying, plan ahead, don’t procrastinate, don’t leave things to the last minute, and be prepared for unexpected glitches by giving yourself plenty of time to complete assignments.
10. STAY FLEXIBLE. Realize that some things will probably take longer than you think they will. Give yourself more time than you think you will need to finish assignments, take tests, and take quizzes.
End of Topic 3.
Continue to Topic 4
Topic 2: Email Basics and Netiquette Topic 4: Time Management
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Revised August 2011