Middle Georgia Technical College

Online Classes - Online Success Tips

Take the course and yourself seriously.

Elicit the support of your colleagues, family and friends before you start out on your online adventure. This built-in support system will help you tremendously since there will be times when you will have to sit at your computer for hours at a stretch in the evenings and on weekends. When most people are through with work and want to relax is most likely when you will be bearing down on your course work. It helps to surround yourself with people who understand and respect what you are trying to do.

Have a quiet space where you can study.

This will help lend importance to what you are doing as well. Your own space where you can shut the door and be uninterrupted is preferable. If that's not possible, ask those around you to think of you as "not available because you're in class."

Participate.

Whether you are working alone, or in a group, contribute your ideas, perspectives and comments on the subject you are studying, and read about those of your classmates. Your instructor is not the only source of information in your course – you can gain great insight from your peers and they can learn from you as well.

Take advantage of online discussions.

Whatever you can do to avoid feeling isolated is extremely important, and participating in the online discussions will give you access to other students who are taking the same course.

Log in to the course website frequently.

Once you get into the discussion and chat systems, you will be eager to see who has commented on your postings and read the feedback of your instructor and peers. You will also be curious to see who has posted something new that you can comment on. If you let too many days go by without logging on to your course, you will get behind and find it very difficult to catch up.

Be polite and respectful.

Being polite and respectful is not only common sense, it is absolutely obligatory for a productive and supportive online environment. In a positive online environment, you will feel valued by your instructor, valued by your classmates and your own work will have greater value as well.

Apply what you learn.

Apply everything you learn as you learn it and you will remember it more readily. Try to make connections between what you are learning and what you do or will do in your job. Contributing advice or ideas about the real-world as it applies to the subject matter you are studying helps you to internalize what you are learning, and gives valuable insight to your classmates who will benefit from your experience.