Orientation to Online Learning:

Online Learning Strategies

To be effective in any classroom environment, there are skills that a student needs. These skills are often magnified in the online learning environment.

Time Management:

In a normal classroom environment, do you:

• Have difficulty keeping up?

• Efficiently use your free time to get ahead on assignments and readings?

• Effectively schedule your time to maintain a balance in your life?

If a student tends to put things off until the last minute, wastes time with unrelated tasks instead of concentrating on the task at hand, or lacks a reasonable ability to schedule time and stick to that schedule, online learning may prove to be a very difficult endeavor. But if you that student makes it a point to manage time wisely, and to communicate clearly and often, their online learning experiences will probably be more fruitful.

Communicating Online:

Here are some suggestions for online communication:

• Develop a thick skin: Don't let constructive criticism get personal.
   

• Open up: Don't be afraid to be a part of the discussion.
   

• Write clearly: so there won't be any misunderstanding.
   

• Communicate often: You'll probably get much more from online learning if you send frequent Emails and make frequent posts.
   

• Don't write it down if you'll regret it later:  Email is permanent, don't say anything you'll be ashamed of later.
   

• Be clear on whether you are writing a reply or a new thread:  this helps keep the class organized and on track.
   

• Answer Emails immediately:  This is part common courtesy and part common sense.  It also helps you schedule your time more effectively and keep up with assignments.

Some Tips for Online Learning:

(This is not intended to be an all-inclusive list.  For more information, go to your favorite online search engine and search for "online learning strategies.")

1. Map out your online learning goals. This will help you understand more fully where you are, where you are going, and why you want to get there.  It sounds elementary, but it is a very important step.
    

2. Assess your readiness. Maybe online learning is perfect for you. Maybe it isn't. Be sure either way.
    

3. Analyze the resources a class will require and the availability of those resources. How much time will the course take?  What kind of research materials are necessary? What is required for class projects? Are there any software requirements above and beyond the program's requirements?

It is important to understand that online learning through the Department of Industry and Technology at Ball State University is an extension of on-campus learning.  Students are expected to meet the same high standards as the students on-campus and the work-load is reflective of those expectations.  As a result, however, we believe our graduates are among the most knowledgeable and qualified in world because of their efforts in our programs.

Some other tips:

Some other tips that may help you take an online course effectively:

• When you are copying and pasting in a document use "ctrl c" to copy and "ctrl v" to paste.  It's faster than right clicking and selecting copy and paste.
   

• Don't print everything out.  It's just a waste of paper. The documents are going to be available online, so printing them out is only rarely necessary.
   

• Increase your font size by clicking "view, text size" and then adjusting to suit (Internet Explorer) or "view, increase font" (Netscape Navigator)
   

• Right click on a hyperlink in the menu and select "Open Link in New Window" to get a full window version of the page.
   

• Keep your files organized. Know exactly where you placed a document by clearly defining the folders on your computer.

Author: David Scheetz
Department of Industry and Technology
Ball State University
Muncie, IN, USA 47306
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