© Fabio Principe / Shutterstock.comTreat learning like it’s a job
Learning is work! There’s no way around it. No matter how engaging a course may be or how interested you are in what you’re learning, there’s work involved.Therefore, look at this as a for-hire situation. Set a schedule for yourself. Clock in and out at specific times, and decide whether this new job is ten hours a week or fewer. That also means you need to figure out a compensation package for yourself. What reward will motivate you to work? It might be as simple as a bubble bath.
For some learners, receiving a digital credential after a course is a bonus and quite rewarding. Especially for professional certifications, these gems can be career enhancing.
While we’re thinking about work, where is your office? It might be worth your while to invest in an ergonomic desk chair. Working from your sofa with your head bent down isn’t sustainable!Asynchronous courses, especially those for academic credit, usually state how many hours per week you should expect to work. Most 3-credit-hour courses would expect nine hours of work per week. That includes reading plus working on assignments, plus study plus posting.
It’s not a sprint; it’s a marathon
As you approach each course you take, realize that it may be part of a bigger whole. Sure, there are fast training programs you may complete online, but for most true courses, you cannot log in and complete the program in one sitting.Related to this is the idea that quality learning requires some time to let ideas percolate. Even if you could complete an entire course in a weekend, would the learning “stick?" Likely not. Enjoy the slow roll of learning something new, experimenting with new ideas, and seeing how it relates to the next chapter in your life. In fact, you may find that, as you have conversations with others (other people outside of class), it helps bring it all together.
Courses are sometimes organized by modules or smaller units, and the instructor reveals one module per week. The practice of releasing one bit of content at a time is a built-in pacer. For classes where the instructor reveals several modules at a time, you need to be your own pacer. The urge to get it done might be there, but, again, what will you have learned by focusing only on getting tasks done?
Manage your own expectations
Coauthor Susan took up running years ago. She slowly progressed to being able to complete a 5K. (That’s a little over three miles.) As she tells the story, it was one driveway at a time. She had no expectation to be able to run the entire distance at first, and she had no specific speed in mind. She managed her expectations.This is not to say you shouldn’t try to do your best, but when someone is new to a situation like learning online, everyone needs to manage expectations. Is it necessary to score 100 percent all the time? Is it possible that there could be feedback your instructor has to help you improve? Is it good enough that you did your best and tried?
We say yes. Give yourself a break and manage expectations. Otherwise, frustration can set in and you never make it to 5K.
Pay attention to the syllabus and how you’re graded. Look for opportunities to resubmit work if you’re disappointed with your own performance, but please do not let yourself believe that you cannot succeed.
Your calendar is your best friend
Many wonderful students fail because they can't meet deadlines. Right from the beginning, find a way to follow a calendar and set deadlines.Susan’s calendar is on her phone, and it sends reminders for work projects. For example, at 8:50 a.m. every Monday, she receives an alert to check on a business project. She’s never late—the time is blocked off on her calendar.
If you approach your learning like a job and schedule assignments on your calendar, you will never be late. The trick is to get everything organized in the beginning and then to respect what your calendar says.
Learn to coordinate with your personal calendar any calendar that might be inside the learning management system. You can find tips and tutorials to help with this.
Advocate for yourself: ask for help
If this is your first experience with online learning, you may have a few questions. Ask questions. Ask for help. Here’s a list:- If you have questions about how your specific course works, after you have read the syllabus and other course documents, ask your instructor.
- If you have questions about the technology—specifically, the learning management system, look for tutorials on the school’s website. If that doesn’t give you what you need, search on YouTube!
- If you’re having trouble understanding an assignment, lean on your peers. Look for an area in the course where you can have learner-to-learner communication and see if others can help.
Be present in class (and let your instructor know)
We’ve seen a few inspirational posters that say, “Showing up is half the battle.” When it comes to learning online, it’s true! However, “being present” looks a little different online. It’s often measured by how frequently you log in. Make certain you log in frequently (at least three times a week). That way, you’ll see announcements and be more likely to keep on top of the work.Alas, don’t just show up. Leave some evidence that you’ve been in class. Comment on another student’s post or submit an assignment. Your instructor will be paying attention to your level of engagement. Learning management system software gives instructors data, such as how frequently students log in, how long they stay, and what pages they view. You can use this to your advantage.
Set your calendar to remind you to log in every two or three days.
Give constructive feedback
In the world of online learning, it’s not uncommon to be asked to review the work of other students. You might be asked to comment on a discussion post or give feedback on a work project. You can develop a knack for giving feedback that’s constructive. Here are some guidelines:- Find something good: Compare what you’re reading to what was asked. Did the person follow the instructions, for example? Are they creative with their response? Start with something you like about their work.
- Be honest and suggest: To give constructive feedback means you’re helping the fellow student improve; you’re helping them construct a better product. If you think the individual could go deeper in an area, or if you note a few issues with grammar in a piece of writing work, be honest but respectful. As a reviewer, it’s not your role to fix the work, but feel free to make suggestions. For example, you might say, “I wonder if it would help the reader if you elaborate a little more about the difference between constructive feedback and praise?”
- It’s okay to disagree: If you have a different viewpoint, as long as you present it with respect, share it! The world learns from diverse perspectives.
- Close with goodness: By goodness, we don’t mean empty platitudes. It can be a comment as simple as “I enjoyed reading your paper/post. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to comment.” Or, “I hope this helps you as you shape your work.” Good manners go a long way!
The same method for providing feedback on student work applies to comments you might have for your instructor.
It’s okay to take a break
Up to this point, we have emphasized setting a schedule, using a calendar, and approaching learning like it’s your job. We sound like taskmasters, but even workers get to go home! Sometimes the best response to stressful learning is to walk away. Take a break.Take a break, whether it’s a 5-minute stretch in the kitchen or 30 minutes playing Fortnite. Focusing elsewhere actually improves concentration later. Plus, ample brain research shows that you’re probably still problem-solving and working it through, even when you’re not sitting in front of the computer.
The idea of taking a break can also be applied to sitting out a term. If juggling work, home, and school is getting to be too much, maybe it’s time to skip the next term or enroll in fewer hours. This is where a heartfelt conversation with your academic advisor can help.
Breaks come in varying sizes. For a two-hour study session, fifteen minutes makes sense, not forty-five minutes.
Sleep is good for you
Did you know that when you sleep, your body rids itself of waste build-up in your brain? It’s amazing and true. That leaves your brain “rinsed out” for the next day and better able to handle new learning. (Apologies to brain scientists who have better explanations.)Your brain is an amazing organ, and it needs sleep to thrive. As you approach your role as a learner, consider how you will preserve a regular schedule for sleep. For your health, please don’t skimp. We know that kids can interrupt sleep as can irregular work schedules. However, if you can establish a sleep routine, you will find yourself performing better in all areas of your life.
Experts recommend a quiet, dark, cool room with minimal screen time before sleep. Of course, that doesn’t sound like most households we know! A fan for white noise and foam earplugs are Susan’s salvation.
Say thank you
Not to sound like an awards show on TV, but there are a lot of people you may need to thank:- Your family, for freeing up your time and resources
- Your instructor, for their patience
- Your employer, for supporting your learning journey
- Your peers, for their encouragement and camaraderie