The ABCs of Online Learning

The ABCs of Online Learning

By Dr. Laurie Fowler, UWA Online Learning

Access--be sure you have GOOD internet access for the duration of the course.

Book--if there is a book that goes with the class, read it! There is probably some pretty good information in it.

Communicate--ask the teacher questions, email other classmates, ask for an alternative way to communicate like the discussion board or a backchannel.

Dedicate--you have to find a time each week to work on your online assignments or it can be easy to get behind.

Explore--the teacher found all those great resources for the class. Go look at them!

Friend--expand your personal and professional learning network outside of class by “friending” classmates on social networking sites.

Go out on a limb--take a stab at something new, or try a new way to do a presentation, or think WAY outside of the box!

Help others--offer advice and assistance to classmates who seem to be struggling. Share resources with class members and the professor.

Interact--email other members of the class and post discussion topics to the discussion board even if it is not required.

Join in the conversation--let your voice be heard even if you are the ONLY math person, or library media specialist, or whatever. You have an opinion--let’s hear it.

Keep to a schedule--This doesn’t always work, but give it a good college try. A planned time to do your online work each week can be a lifesaver!

Log in on a regular basis--lots can happen in a week online so check in to the course and your email a few times per week not just once on the weekend.

Meet others in your class--use the functions of the class management system to meet in chat rooms or on the discussion board or through email.

Network--get to know the people in your online class who teach the same grade or subject as you. There is nothing better than a lot of teacher friends to call upon when you need new ideas.

Organize--Be sure to allow time to organize your online learning. Find a time and place you will do your online work each week. This needs to be a place where you can work uninterrupted and with good internet connections.

Plan--to be a successful online student you really have to have a time PLANNED to work on your assignments including doing background reading, research, writing, and proofreading.

Question--ask questions of the teacher/professor. He is there to help.

Read--yes, really, read the directions, the assignments, the ideas shared by the professor and your classmates.  In an online class, there is no substitute for thorough reading.

Share--Did you find a great resource in doing one of the assignments? Then share it with the class. The professor likes to hear from you, too!

Think--the resources that are selected for the classes are there for a reason. Think about them, digest them, agree or disagree with them, but please give them some serious thought.

Understand--the professor has a “real life” just as you do so be understanding if every assignment isn’t graded one hour after you submit it.

Variety--As an online student, you should expect a variety of activities including readings and papers, but also multimedia and group projects as part of your learning experience.

Write--you will get to know both your classmates and your professor if you write on the discussion board and emails. It is the currency of communication in an online class.

eXamples--Pay attention to the examples the professor gives. There is a reason they are there!

Yearn--Just because you “meet” online and when it is convenient for you doesn’t mean that you can’t yearn to know more or to get excited about the subject being taught.

Zoom--Learn to zoom in and focus on the assignment and its assessment.  If the directions are not clear to you, ask the professor for more information.