How to stay organized in an online course

  Taking a course online requires some careful organization.  There isn't a professor standing in front of you saying "Hand in your homework next Tuesday".  Some online professors will be more proactive and will post reminders or send email announcements, but others will simply post a syllabus at the beginning of the semester and expect you to keep up.

I began my online courses trying to organize myself in the same way I had for on-campus classes; with notebooks and folders of papers.  I struggled through this method for a few years with online courses before throwing in the towel and changing my organization style (okay, credit where credits due- it was my husband who finally convinced me to start organizing like an online student instead of an on campus one).  Here are my best tips for staying organized with your online coursework.

1. Print out your syllabus

     The first day of classes, print out the syllabus from the class and post it on the wall near your desk (or usual workspace, or your fridge... somewhere you are guaranteed to see it daily!)  I assume you're taking online classes because you have a job or family that prevents you from commuting to a campus every day, and with all of that "life" going on it is much easier than you think to miss a deadline if you don't organize yourself right away.

2. Learn "snap screen", love "snap screen".

     If there was one tip I could give you about being an online student, it would probably be to snap screen.  If you have a newer version of windows, this is easily accomplished by dragging the window you are viewing to the far left or right, at which point it will "snap" to automatically fill half the screen.  Use half of the screen to view readings or watch lectures, and open up a word document on the other half of the screen to take notes.  This process allows you to easily name and match documents to readings or lectures.  If you don't have a "snap screen" feature, then you'll have to adjust the windows manually so that both fit on the screen at the same time.  Learning to use this feature will really help!

3. Stop printing everything!

     Part of the beauty of online learning is that you can accomplish schoolwork wherever you happen to be.  By continuing to print out all of your readings and homework, you're bringing your education back into the 20th century.  The adjustment to having everything on the computer can be tough, but it will make being an online student SO MUCH EASIER!

4. Strategically store your information.
      Here is how you are going to keep track of your new college courses.  1. In "My documents", make a new folder titled "College" or "University of Awesome" or "Go Llamas!"... whatever.  Then within that folder, make a folder for that Semester "Fall 2013", in your semester folder, make a folder for each class you are enrolled in "Psychology 120" and within each class folder make new folders as appropriate "Lecture notes" "homeworks" "Research papers", etc.  If this sounds crazy and like a ridiculous amount of folders... well it is a lot of folders, but it isn't ridiculous and it's the best way to stay organized (and sane!) when taking online classes.  

Getting the most out of discussion boards

Etiquette applies whether in-person or online

 Photo Credit

When I began with online classes, discussion boards seemed like a necessary evil.  I HAD to participate in them to earn points, but I really didn't enjoy doing so.  The worst was when I had to participate but felt I had nothing worthwhile to contribute to the discussion.  So how can you participate in class discussion boards to 1. Get the most out of it and 2. Get full participation points? Here are a few pointers...

1. Do the homework or watch the lecture first (duh). 

You will save yourself time this way.  Sure you could skimp and just reword what other people wrote for discussion credit, but you won't learn anything that way, you won't contribute to the class that way, and you won't impress your professors either.  If you we're in a physical room for this discussion, you wouldn't just loiter in a corner listening to other people the entire time and then just regurgitate what you overheard towards the end.. Don't make that mistake in your online classes either!

2. Find something substantive to say.  
Sometimes I really felt as though I had nothing to say.  In this case, the best strategy is to first reply to other discussion posts.  If you really don't know what to say, but want to make a substantive post; find one thing you like or agree with what they had to say and two things you disagree with or think they should give consideration to, or add something additional onto their comments.  After doing a few replies like this, you should have formed a clear enough idea about the topic to write your own original post. (Note to professors: sometimes, just because a student posts their original discussion piece towards the due date, it doesn't necessarily mean they are not engaged I the class, your discussion questions may not be very engaging)

3. Find your peeps!
In most online classes you get extra points if your discussion posting actually leads to a discussion beyond the required "post". In every class there are a handful of people who will be really active on the boards- find out who they are and post replies to their threads. Why? They are likely to post replies to your threads and are more engaged in the class.  This will earn both of you more points, and will lead to better understanding of the material.

4. Post on time and revise if necessary.
  Many times, your initial post will be due early in the week, say Tuesday, before you have had a chance to do all of the required readings.  You should still follow this deadline by at least posting something, even if it isn't your best work.  This will get you the bare bones due date points and by returning to your post to edit it or add on to it, you will show a commitment to the class and the topic.

5. Stay classy! 
Just because you are behind a computer screen, it doesn't make it okay to remove your internal filter.  Remember that your classmates are real people you are talking to.  Online courses cover all of the same controversial topics in-person courses cover, but when you get heated over someone's opinion you aren't actually looking them in the face.  It is easy to react before thinking it through.  If you know a class or topic gets you really riled up; write your post right away, but save it as a draft before you publish!  When you calm down, read it over and make sure your comments are appropriate and coherent before you publish.  And obviously, keep swear words OUT of your posts.

Is earning a degree online right for me?

Before you sign up for online classes, it's important to assess if online learning is right for you.  With enough dedication, online learning can work for anyone; but here are a few questions to ask yourself before you enroll....

1. Am I motivated?

It is very easy to slack off in online courses!  You need to be on top of your assignments and due dates to make sure you get things accomplished.  There is no professor sitting in front of you to make sure you learn the material, and if you can't keep yourself motivated you are going to have problems.

2. What do I need to get out of my education?

Before paying for a degree, you should have an idea of where you want to go and how this degree will help you.  This will help you find schools and programs that will fit your needs.

3. How much time do I want to commit to school right now?

If you're unsure if online learning is right for you or you have limited time available, try taking one course to test how it goes.  Juggling multiple courses online can be difficult, and if you're unsure you have the time for a full course load; start one at a time.  

4. What can I gain in an online program vs. on-campus?

You probably know the answer to this one, but it's important to consider.  Online learning has some distinct advantages over on-campus programs, and on-campus programs also have their distinct advantages.  I can rave all day long about how great online learning has been for me, but you need to assess your personal goals and which environment is a better fit for you!

5. How will I pay for my education?

It's important to consider this up-front.  Just like on-campus learning, the costs of online programs vary wildly!  Yes, online students qualify for financial aid (I will do a whole post on this later) and yes, the GI bill can pay for online classes.  But you need to consider the costs before you enroll.

Yes! You can succeed with an online education!

We believe in you!

Greetings student, educator, fellow human... I'm Shanna, and this is me with baby #3.  I completed my BS degree in Natural Resources just after his first birthday.  Most of my credits for my bachelors were earned online, and the last 3 years of 7 years of "undergrad" were completed online only.

I decided to start this blog to offer advice and support to current or potential online students, and to offer critique and strategy to educational professionals.  

I am frustrated by the media coverage I commonly see of online education that make it seem as though it is a joke completed by people who couldn't get into a "real" college because they didn't have the grades and dance around in their pajamas holding a diploma (you know the ads I'm talking about!).  So I wanted to put a real face, my face... to online education.

If I could finish my bachelors with three young children, you can! I don't care what obstacles you face in doing it, you absolutely can earn a degree if you set your mind to it.  There were many, many, many times when I wanted to quit and I am SO glad I didn't!  Now, I'm in graduate school at a major research university working as a graduate assistant on some very cool research.  There's nothing super special about me other than the fact that I refused to give up, even when I really wanted to!

I have taken online ed courses from four different universities, but eventually found where I belonged at Oregon State University's E-Campus.  My intention in writing this blog is to be a point of contact for students who need to know that it is possible to reach graduation in an online program and to find meaningful employment after graduation, and for educators who have no idea how to reach students in online courses.  The quality of online instruction varies WILDLY from class to class (and school to school).  And as someone who has completed a huge amount of online courses, I can absolutely help educators become more effective online teachers.