Online+Learning

This list is a work in progress…if you have taken an online course and have strategies or tips that have worked for you, please feel free to add them to the list!
 * Tips for Successfully Taking an Online Course **
 * 1)  The community is very important in an online class. We need to build a strong, supportive community from the very first day of class. Take time to post your introduction and give us a glimpse into your life. These introductions are the foundation on which the rest of the course is built. They are really important!
 * 2)  Look at the entire class in the first days of the course so you are familiar with the layout, content, and structure of the course.
 * 3)  Get organized from the beginning—use a calendar or daytimer to make note of due dates and other important times in the course.
 * 4)  Check the course site regularly—every day if possible. It might seem excessive, but it will be much easier to keep up with discussion posts (and it won’t be so overwhelming) if you are checking in on a regular basis.
 * 5)  Be willing to share—you have to participate fully and openly in an online course. The more you put into it, the more you get out of it!
 * 6)  Be open and put yourself out there. Take some risks, ask questions, think deeply!
 * 7)  Be prepared to do a lot of writing, since most of our work and discussions are all done through text.
 * 8)  Connect with one another, virtually and in person (where possible). Many students in online courses find that in addition to connect with classmates on the online discussions, they also collaborate, communicate, and connect outside of class by using skype, email, or even in person. For those of you in Vancouver, perhaps you want to get together for coffee or lunch to touch base face-to-face.
 * 9)  Decide how you are comfortable reading material…much of our course readings (other than the text) are available online. Can you read online (e.g. on your computer or iPad or netbook?) or do you need to print out articles to read on paper?
 * 10)  Online learning is active, not passive. Successful students read, reflect, comment, question, discuss, share, and participate. Together we create the course content.

Other resources:

Successful Strategies in Online Learning: @http://www.ou.edu/cls/online/success.htm

Strategies and Tips for Online Learning: @http://www.distancelearn.org/studenttips.cfm