Tips for Taking Online Classes
If you're considering taking online college courses, the tips and advice below can help you address their unique challenges to get the most value out of your online program.
⒈Hold yourself accountable
Without professors actively reminding you, it's up to you to make sure you've set aside enough time to complete assigned work. If you're having trouble holding yourself accountable, pair up with a fellow classmate. By being organized and self-aware, you can get the most from your online class.
⒉Practice time management.
The flexibility to create your own schedule is often one of the biggest appeals of taking online classes. But that freedom can also be detrimental if you do not have solid time management skills. Without them, you might find yourself cramming before classes or handing in poor-quality assignments.
Make note of major assignments. Mark them on a calendar you check regularly so you know what workload is coming in the weeks ahead.
Create a weekly schedule that you follow, designating certain hours each week to reading, watching lectures, completing assignments, studying, and participating in forums.
When working on your assignments, try time-blocking, distributing yourself a certain amount of time for each task before moving on to the next one and setting a timer to keep you accountable.
⒊Eliminate distractions
Regardless of where you choose to work, consider turning your cell phone off to avoid losing focus every time a text message or notification pops up. And if you're still having trouble resisting the temptation to check your email or surf the web, try downloading a website blocker. Using applications like Cold Turkey and Freedom can help eliminate distractions by blocking the apps or websites that tend to complete for your attention, such as Facebook and Twitter.
Online classes are an excellent option to help you earn that degree you need to fulfill your goals such as job promotion. Though they come with their own unique challenges, following the advice above can help you be successful even in the most chaotic of times.
