{"id":11924,"date":"2019-11-08T09:44:40","date_gmt":"2019-11-08T16:44:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.petersons.com\/blog\/?p=11924"},"modified":"2020-11-03T09:58:44","modified_gmt":"2020-11-03T16:58:44","slug":"the-dos-and-donts-of-taking-an-online-course","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.petersons.com\/blog\/the-dos-and-donts-of-taking-an-online-course\/","title":{"rendered":"The Do’s and Don’ts of Taking an Online Class"},"content":{"rendered":"

Enrolling in an <\/span>online course<\/span><\/a> allows a student to slip into the driver\u2019s seat and have control over their academic environment. But the adjustment from attending in-person classes to online learning can be difficult for a first-timer to navigate. To help you through the process, we spoke with <\/span>Colorado State University<\/span><\/a> Instructor Michelle Ancell to break down the Do\u2019s and Don’ts of online course etiquette.<\/span><\/p>\n

DO login to the online system before the start of class.<\/h2>\n

\u201cFamiliarize yourself with the online platform your instructor is using to teach the class, and explore everything that is available on that website,\u201d says Ancell.<\/span><\/p>\n

If find you\u2019re having trouble with your <\/span>computer<\/span><\/a> or navigating through the online learning system, ask for help prior to the start of the course.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

DO read the course expectations<\/h2>\n

\u201cRead the syllabus. Make sure you understand how the class is going to be structured. Will they use modules?\u00a0 Do they deliver assignments via the \u2018announcements\u2019 section? Get a sense of what you need to be checking on every week\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

The course syllabus will likely contain the due dates and point values for each assignment. Your instructor will also use the syllabus to outline the class policies, including accommodations for disabilities and expectations of academic integrity.<\/span><\/p>\n

DO introduce yourself<\/h2>\n

\u201cIntroduce yourself to your instructor. It makes a huge difference. Send an email saying \u2018This is who I am, here\u2019s what I\u2019m studying, and this is why I\u2019m in your class\u2019. It makes you stand out, and your professor will receive a positive impression of you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Remember, a little effort goes a long way!<\/span><\/p>\n

DON\u2019T be a wallflower<\/h2>\n

\u201cJust because your course is online doesn’t mean you can’t develop some sort of relationship with your instructor.\u201d Ancell notes that connecting with your instructor online will be a bit different than taking a live class, but that shouldn\u2019t deter a student from using them as a resource.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFind the way your professor prefers to communicate, whether through emails, FaceTime, or texting. In my online courses, students typically talk to me through email, but I always give out my cell phone number. They\u2019re always welcome to text me or call me. I think sometimes people feel like humanity is taken away when they take an online course, and that doesn\u2019t have to be the case\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s easy to feel as though you are working through a course alone due to the solitary nature of online classes. Don\u2019t hesitate to reach out to your instructor and ask for guidance or clarification.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRemember, there is a human behind the course, and it’s okay to interact with that human. That\u2019s what they\u2019re there for.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

DO respect your classmates<\/h2>\n

\u201cStudents tend to understand they are in a class and they are usually respectful of other people’s comments even if they don\u2019t agree on a topic.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The golden rule applies to online discussions: treat others the way you\u2019d like to be treated.<\/span><\/p>\n

DON\u2019T blame a late assignment on technical problems<\/h2>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re having trouble uploading an assignment, email it to your instructor as a backup. That will erase any concerns that it wasn’t done on time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

After all, you did decide to sign up for an online class. It\u2019s your responsibility to make sure your technology is working properly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

DON\u2019T ignore the additional online resources<\/h2>\n

\u201cI think that\u2019s one of the fun elements of an online class. Because there are so many resources available in the digital world, I\u2019ll provide students with links to background reading or a video clip that relates to the topic.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ancell noted that students who take an extra five minutes to read an article or watch an accompanying YouTube video often receive a deeper understanding of the course material for little extra effort.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

DON\u2019T think you need to go it alone<\/h2>\n

Connecting with other students can be challenging in an online course, but that doesn\u2019t mean it can\u2019t happen.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAsk your professor if there are students who are located geographically near you. You could meet for coffee or set up a time to study together.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

If meeting other students in-person isn\u2019t an option, don\u2019t fret!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of times instructors will intentionally require students to participate in discussions. I would recommend submitting your discussion piece early (before the deadline), so you can go back and read the comments that are in response to your answer, and get to know people that way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

DO embrace the flexibility of your online classroom<\/h2>\n

\u201cThe beauty of an online course is your study space can be anywhere you want it to be.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

DON\u2019T be afraid to speak up<\/h2>\n

\u201cToo often students are scared of their professors. Although the instructor is in charge, students need to remember they are paying for the course. They should expect to get a response from their instructors in a reasonable amount of time. If your instructor isn\u2019t answering you, question that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Need help finding an online college or graduate school? Check out <\/span>Peterson\u2019s College Search<\/span><\/a> tool. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Enrolling in an online course allows a student to slip into the driver\u2019s seat and have control over their academic environment. But the adjustment from attending in-person classes to online learning can be difficult for a first-timer to navigate. To help you through the process, we spoke with Colorado State University Instructor Michelle Ancell to<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":11927,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[1009,823,519,980,542,646,1298,5213],"class_list":{"0":"post-11924","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-colleges","8":"tag-online-class-tips","9":"tag-online-classes","10":"tag-online-courses","11":"tag-online-degree","12":"tag-online-education","13":"tag-online-learning","14":"tag-online-study","15":"tag-online1","16":"ad_tags-online-degree"},"better_featured_image":{"id":11927,"alt_text":"illustration of computer showing an online class with books and mortar board","caption":"eps 10","description":"","media_type":"image","media_details":{"width":2000,"height":1500,"file":"s3:\/\/pcom-wp-media\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/08093323\/online-learning-.jpg","sizes":{},"image_meta":{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0","keywords":[]}},"post":null,"source_url":"https:\/\/wp-media.petersons.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/08093323\/online-learning-.jpg"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nOnline Courses | The Do's and Don'ts of Taking an Online Class<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"When it comes to etiquette for online classes, it can be tough to know the rules. 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