One of the advantages of online courses is that the work required can be done at any time of the day you choose, however this can present challenges that a face-to-face course may not. The following tips will help you prepare for your course and adjust to the online environment more readily.
The First Week
The first week of an online class is usually designed to help you get to know the course, the instructor, and students, as well as learn how to navigate the online learning environment. There are a few things that you should pay special attention to during the first week:
- NEST changes do not happen instantly in Canvas (registrations, drops, add, etc)
- Quizzes and submissions should be done from a computer and not the Canvas app.
- Make sure to check Canvas at least once per day with a web browser. If you turn off notifications, it is your responsibility to check Canvas for updates. Weekly notifications will hold ALL notifications for the week until the day selected to receive them.
While Taking the Course
Understand the Expectations
Online courses, just like face-to-face courses, require that you are fully aware of the instructor’s expectations and requirements. When you read through each Learning Module, make sure you pay attention to the following things that every learning unit will contain:
- Learning Objectives: What you are expected to accomplish upon completing the unit.
- Learning Activities: What you are expected to do to achieve the learning objectives.
- Assessments: Evaluate how well you have met the objectives, through assignments, exams, etc.
Manage Your Time
It is recommended that you look briefly through the learning content in a Learning Unit before you start working on it. Don’t spend too much time reading the content; just get a sense of what topics are covered, how much reading is required, and what kind of activities or tests are included. It is unlikely that you will be able to complete a full Learning Unit in just one night, so you will probably need to break up the learning materials, activities and assignments into manageable chunks. Plan for how much you can do at a time, and allocate times for completing the tasks. Make specific, realistic and time-limited plans, and stick to your plan until you are done.
Be Prepared for the Assignments and Assessments
Assignments in online courses may take a variety of forms. Most assignments will have to be submitted online. For example, you might be asked to upload your term paper on the course site or send it directly to the instructor as an email attachment. You may also be asked to create presentations in the form of a webpage. For each assignment, read the instructions carefully to understand specific requirements.
Online assessment strategies are similar to face-to-face courses, including quizzes, exams, papers and projects. Quizzes can be taken online and scored automatically, and research papers can be submitted directly through the Canvas system. Assessments may also include the use of proctoring tools that create a restricted test-taking environment through integration within Canvas.
Communication and Collaboration
One important part of online learning is to study the course content provided by the instructors independently. Usually, instructors will post lectures, readings, and video clips on the course site, and it is your responsibility to review all those materials. Be sure to study them carefully, take notes on important issues, and write down the thoughts and questions you have. This will set up a good foundation.
Connect with Your Classmates
Researchers and educators emphasize the importance of the social and cultural aspects of learning. Some believe that online courses provide a more democratic learning environment, where shy students are more likely to speak up, and everyone has more freedom and opportunity to express their opinions. The instructors usually provide plenty of opportunities for students to interact with each other by participating in online activities, such as group projects or online discussions.
Participate Regularly and Frequently
There are many differences between online classes and face-to-face classes, but one thing that does not differ is student participation. Participating in online communication and collaboration helps to foster a learning community, and allows you to share ideas and co-construct knowledge with your classmates. It is important to frequently visit and contribute to the Discussion Forums. We suggest that you visit the Discussion Forum at least three times for each Learning Unit. Don’t wait until the deadline to post. Learning can be most productive when every participant is committed to and engaged in thoughtful and sustained discussion.
Write Carefully and Respectfully
Consider these tips on how to communicate effectively and appropriately in online courses:
- Write in complete and logical sentences.
- Use correct spelling, grammar, capitalization, and punctuation.
- Do not write entirely in capital letters, it gives the impression that you are shouting.
- Be brief and to the point. Avoid lengthy or detailed posts.
- State and support your positions, but try not to overwhelm everyone with your opinions.
- Let others know that you have read and appreciate their posts.
Interact with Your Instructors
Read the course introduction/syllabus for your online class to find out ways to interact with your instructor or teaching assistant (TA). When you have questions, some instructors will ask you to post them to a class Discussion Forum (so that everybody will be able to see the questions and answers), and others will ask you to email them directly to the instructor or TA. Don’t hesitate to contact your instructor or TA when you need their assistance. email is the standard communication method. When an emergency comes, you can also phone your instructor or TA. Some instructors offer face-to-face office hours even when the course is online. Identify how or when you can contact your instructor during office hours.
The Library
Electronic Resources
The University Libraries provide access to a wide variety of electronic databases, articles, and video/audio streaming. At our Reference Desk we are available to answer your questions, offer instruction on the location and use of our collections, or show you how to use our electronic resources and online catalog. Please don’t hesitate to ask for assistance by phone or online at Ask A Librarian. We welcome inquiries from the public. For more information, visit the library database website.
Electronic Reserves
eReserves are online resources located in the Canvas Course Management System. eReserves provide web access to course-related readings and other materials selected by instructors.
Citation Tools
Proper citations allow the reader to retrace an author’s research. Therefore, electronic as well as other kinds of citations should be as complete as possible. Completeness in electronic citation means including the complete address of the site, the date the page was loaded or refreshed by the webmaster, and the date you viewed it. There are a few citation searching resources available to you.