Advice to Share with Students
From focus groups with online students:
- keep a good calendar; block periods for study and stick to it; turn off all phones, distractions during that time
- schedule breaks
- be present in class: log on early, sit at a desk; shower/dress and treat it like going to class; * turn on your video so you are accountable for doing the latter
- schedule each week in advance; know what’s do when and when you’ll do what work
- if the class does not have peer groups, form a peer group or ask instructor to do so; work in groups even if you are just watching each other do work individually – it makes you accountable to your peers
- look back at the recorded sessions
- watch the pre-recorded lessons mindfully – don’t treat them like “Netflix movies” and watch them while distracted; focus while watching; take hand-written notes; if a programming class follow along
- know where everything is: assignments, lecture notes, e-books, course materials, submission dropboxes, instructor contacts, TA contacts, lessons; keep a folder in your browser with URLs to key resources
- set up a dedicated work space; get dressed for all online classes (treat it as if you went to class on campus)
- get to your work space 30 minutes early and review the material
- log on 5 minutes early – after all you would not go into a classroom on campus just as the professor starts class
- turn on camera at the beginning of class at least; it creates more of a presence