Tips for Success in Online Classes
Taking courses online requires all the skills necessary to be successful in tradition college courses, plus students need the self-motivation and discipline to be independent learners.
Here are some time management, and smart study tips for students taking courses online. Research shows that successful distance learning students are good readers, good organizers and have good time management skills. To help you get started with a successful experience in your Taft College Online courses, we encourage you to review your individual time management skills. You can start by setting up a time management plan for yourself by following the steps below.
| Identify your goals and priorities | The first step to managing your time and controlling your life is to identify what your goals and priorities are. You need to decide what you want out of school and what you must do to get it. Is getting an education high on your priority list? How about your current job, your family? What is most important to you? |
| Analyze how you're spending your time now | For a week, keep a detailed log of everything you do. Account for all activities: class attendance, study, work, eating, commuting, recreation, exercise, sleep, etc. Also note when you do these activities. |
| How much time each week do you spend… | in classes? studying for classes? working? meeting the needs of others? exercising? relaxing? sleeping? |
| Match how you're using time with your priorities | Now you can evaluate your use of time. No one can judge your use of time as efficient or inefficient—not even you— unless you do it in relation to your priorities. |
| Develop a plan to spend quality time on your priorities | If you found some time blocks that are not in line with what you want to
be doing to reach your goals, you can begin to systematically change
your life by taking control of your time.
Start by building a realistic time schedule or time budget that gives time to the activities that fit with your priorities and will help you reach your goals. If learning and getting good grades are high on your priority list, then you will have to budget time for attending classes regularly, for preparing, studying, and reviewing, plus additional time for papers, reports and other special assignments. |
| Finally, you must stick to your time schedule | Some flexibility is necessary, of course, to take care of unexpected demands, but if you spend too much time on non-priority tasks you will not meet your goals. |
Here are some tips to help you keep to your plan during the semester…and beyond
- Keep a "Things To Do" list and keep the items in priority order.
- Break major projects into small pieces and tackle them one at a time.
- Eliminate tasks - Carefully evaluate each task and, when possible, don't do time consuming routine tasks like re-washing the car weekly or dusting.
- Delegate or negotiate tasks - Ask yourself "Who else can do this task?"
- Consolidate tasks - Whenever possible do more than one thing at a time, except thinking! If you're going to the library to prepare your biology report, also work on your research paper and look up that reference you need for literature.
- Evaluate your habits - Why do you do routine tasks in a certain way? Are your routines the most efficient? Could you save time by changing your routine actions? Could getting up 15 minutes earlier be helpful?
- Know and wisely use your prime working times - There really are "morning people" and "night owls"—find out when you're at your best and use those hours wisely.
- Learn to say "No" - There is never time to do everything we want to do, so we must learn to do those things that move us toward our goals and say "no" to those that do not.
- Be flexible but remain in control - Expect interruptions, as they are bound to occur. If you are doing things in priority order—not leaving big things to the last - you and your schedule will easily survive.
Study Smart
- Make a study schedule and stick to it - The best way to ensure that you will have enough study time to meet your goals in each course is to plan for it.
- Understand assignments and write them down - Keep all assignments in one place to avoid forgetting something.
- Develop an understanding of your best concentration times - Arrange your schedule so that you have study time during your peak hours.
- Remember that "study" includes many different tasks - When instructors talk about the need to study, they mean you should read review material in preparation for class, complete all homework, and review class notes, text assignments and supplementary material on a regular schedule.
- Realize that different subjects require different types of preparation - Lecture classes require that you review your notes right after class and preview the new topic just before class; recitation classes, like languages and math, demand more specific study just prior to class.
- Schedule study learning sessions to fit your attention span - Try studying for 45 minutes and then taking a ten minute exercise break.
- Begin each study session with goal setting - Predict specifically what you want to accomplish and then work to meet your goals.
- Study difficult and/or complex material first - Leave routine and more mechanical tasks for last.
- Vary subjects and type of study for maximum efficiency - Within a study session do some reading, writing, recitation, etc. to stay interested and alert.
- Schedule periodic review sessions - To remember material over a long period of time, you must review the information often. Use all of your available time. Even small bits of time, like waiting for the dentist, can be put to use, don't be caught without something to read or study!
Special thanks to Michigan Community College Virtual Learning Collaborative for use of the tips.