Quick Know-Hows for Online Courses

By Kaitlin Hurtado on July 16, 2017

Despite it being every college student’s dream, registering for classes does not result in a perfect schedule every term. A class you wanted and/or needed was full or conflicted with another mandatory class. You forgot that you still needed to retake the class you didn’t do so well in a semester or two ago.

The solution that doesn’t drastically change your college plan? Taking an online course instead.

Online courses definitely save you the trouble of having to go to campus to sit in class and most often provide a lot more flexibility for you to take the class on your own time. As appealing as the idea of not having to get out of bed and dressed for class is, online courses do come with their troubles and they often start off with students taking an online course and thinking it would be the same as any other course.

If you’re taking your first online course, or even just thinking about taking an online course, consider the following as you start your experience with online courses.

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Decide where to take an online course

One of the first options on your mind for picking out where to take your online class will be the university you are currently enrolled in. This option is often the most simple as you do not have to go through the process of scoping out another school and trying to network with classmates over there. If you take an online course associated with your university, there is little to no chance of the credit you earn in the class not applying and fulfilling one of the requirements for getting your degree.

When taking a course elsewhere, it is essential to check if the course will actually fulfill the requirement you need to fulfill. The course and its content may seem the same to the one you would take at your own university, but when it comes time to transfer the credits, you may not be able to. Another thing that often happens when trying to transfer credits from a different program or school is finding you cannot apply the credits to your intended requirement; however, the credits could fulfill a different requirement or count as elective credit instead.

If you’re not going to be taking an online course through your school and aren’t sure where to start the search on your other options, consider asking your peers, especially those in your major that could have taken them online as well. By asking your peers, you can get a replay of their firsthand experience with a course — what they liked and didn’t like, if they wished they hadn’t taken it online or picked another place to take it — and get some tips on getting through the course.

If you can’t connect with other students, try looking at online sites such as Uloop that post different online course listings. Be aware, however, that they all may not be applicable for college credit.

Make a plan for your online course(s) and stick to it

One of the most difficult things I found with taking online courses was keeping myself motivated to finish work on time without pushing it off until the last possible minute. Online courses give you plenty more flexibility in terms of figuring out when you are actually going to look at the course material as there is often not a set time for a lecture like in a regular class. Instead, you have to go through recorded lectures yourself, look at readings, and keep up with assignments without a professor to teach you in person and remind you of deadlines.

The worst thing you can do in an online course is to push off looking at the course material until you need it to finish a paper or when your midterm is the next day. If you have any questions while looking at recorded lectures, you can’t just go up to the professor after class like you usually would, and the professor for the course may not get to your email in time for a deadline.

Instead, designate time to study for your online course. It may seem tedious, but give it the time you would to go to a lecture or a discussion and give it as much time as you would any other class.

Communicate with your instructor and classmates

Sending an email out to a professor may seem daunting at first, but for an online course, it may be your only option when it comes to communicating with your instructor. Since you won’t be able to approach your professor before or after lecture as you usually would, emailing your instructor is your best bet. Do not wait until the last minute to email them, however, as they aren’t going to be constantly checking their email for student questions.

Connecting with classmates in online courses is often more difficult, depending on the platform your online course uses. If the course is going to be more interactive and discussion based, there will be discussion/message boards for students to post discussions for credit. Instead of just using them when you need to, use them to communicate with your classmates like you would in class. They may be able to answer any questions you are unable to ask the professor.

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