Online conversations among classmates and instructors are an important part of a distance learning education.  Without these online chats and message boards, students can feel isolated, confused and frustrated.  But online communication needs to be handled respectfully so that everyone feels comfortable in participating and so that a class community is established.  Relationship can be fostered among fellow classmates which will enhance the learning experience.  Most instructors will clearly define the guidelines for online interactions but here are some general strategies that will contribute to a safe and pleasant online experience:  Find out more...

1. When you are responding to someone or referring to a comment, use that person’s name.  Using names creates a friendly tone.
2. Do not use all caps when writing.  This is considered yelling in the online world. Be careful in your spelling and grammar to avoid sending the wrong message.
3. Avoid the overuse of emotional punctuation like exclamation points, unless

Weighing the decision as the whether to take online classes can be a difficult one.  There are many factors and life situations to consider.  Most students who are considering online classes are adults who have already entered the work force part or full time.  Many have families or other obligations.  But all of them want to further their education and advance their degrees, sometimes increasing their earning potential as well.  Here are a few pros and cons of distance education:  Find out more...

• One of the greatest advantages of online classes is the flexibility.  Students can take classes any time of day or week when it works for them.  Students can work around work or travel schedules, family needs and work on their courses late at night, early in the morning or a little bit here and there throughout the day.

Online learning can be a tremendous answer for many working adults who want to earn a degree or enhance their higher education but many prospective students are wary of distance education.  They may just not feel like they know enough to make a far decision about whether or not online classes are right for them.  Students share what they wish they had known before they began their distance programs in order to help other students make the right choice for them.  Here are some important things to know . . .  Find out more...

• “Online classes are the greatest thing ever.  I would have never had the opportunity to get my degree because I working full time and travel a lot.  Online classes allowed me to take my school with me and I’ve done homework in twelve different states and 27 cities so far!  And I’m still in touch with my teacher and classmates.”

“What surprised me most about my online classes,” confessed Robyn, “was that I had a lot more interaction than I expected, in fact, I had more communication with fellow students than I had in most of my on-campus classes!”  Many students have experienced traditional on-campus classes where a few people take part in a class discussion but the rest sit in silence, some listening, some not involved at all.

Students can attend whole semesters of brick-and-mortar classes without ever speaking to fellow students or their professors.  One might expect online classes to pass in the same way, yet today’s distance learning programs are designed to meet the interactive needs of students and instructors alike.  In Robyn’s criminal justice class, students were required to post at least one question or insight and four additional comments in response to other classmates’ posts.  This allowed for active and educational online discussion where most, if not everyone, participated and learned.  Find out more...

Remember when you were a kid and before school began you went to the store to buy new notebooks, colorful pencils and crayons and a shiny new backpack?  If you are considering a return to school via online classes, there are a few others things you will need to be successful, including equipment, software and some important computer skills:

Equipment:  Online students must have regular access to and control of a reliable computer for enough time to complete coursework. Whether you’re studying forensic psychology or American literature, you’ll need regular access to a computer.  While working at a library or internet cafe might be possible, you can never predict when you’ll need to work late on an assignment, so your own computer is a good investement for online students. 

Internet Access:  Your internet connection should be consistently reliable and quick.  DSL, cable or satellite connection is highly recommended.  You must be able to download and save files (if your computer is publicly used or loaned to you, make sure you can download and save files).  In addition, you need an email application and account.   Find out more...

When Shandra gets up each morning, she gets her two small children fed and off to school before she goes to work full-time as a secretary at her local building supply store. After she and her daughters get home at the end of the day, she puts in a load of laundry, makes dinner, helps the girls with their home work and, once they are in bed, Shandra begins her own homework.

Like more and more Americans, Shandra has turned to a non-traditional educational path to earn her bachelor’s degree. Shandra and over 3.2 million other students take online classes. Because so many students work, have families and other responsibilities, this method of learning works well for them.

About one in six students enrolled in higher-education have turned to distance learning and the numbers continue to grow as students find success and accomplishment using this method. In fact, while numbers of students taking online courses varies in its growth rate, they have consistently increased for the past nine years.  Find out more...

Online students have a unique challenge to maintain a strong self-discipline when it comes to studying and coursework.   With no set hours for classes and no professor to account directly to, it is easy for online students to fall behind, to put off studying or taking a test until “later” and then find that they are up against pressing deadlines they can’t meet.  However, by making a commitment to good study habits, students can really excel in distance learning and can enjoy the many benefits of home study.

Study Time

Most online students are busy juggling work, family, sometimes campus classes and other time-consuming pursuits, so making a schedule of when you will study is absolutely key to success.  At least several hours each week should be devoted to studying and should be respected and not easily dismissed.  Don’t let other things overtake study time. Make a plan and stick with it. Write it in your planner or make a weekly written study schedule.  Find out more...

Are online college courses the most expensive way to get your education or a more economical way to earn a degree?  There are many misunderstandings about the cost of a distance education and there is more to calculate in your cost analysis than just the semester’s tuition and books. 

Generally speaking, online degrees are quite close in tuition-only costs to traditional brick and mortar college tuitions.  But there are several huge cost savings that online students benefit from that on-campus students do not enjoy.   Find out more...

As an online college student, one of the greatest challenges is to be in control of your study time and course work because without a teacher and a classroom, it’s all up to you and sometimes, that can feel a little out-of-hand.  One method that can really help you is to make a written plan for your class.  This chart will help you keep track of assignments, make study time, enjoy a reward and map out your progress. 

On a paper, create a table with 8 columns and as many lines or rows below as you have weeks in your course, for example, 20.  (This is best done on your computer so you can replicate it for each online class you take.) Above the table, on the left side of the page write your Starting Date.  On the right side, above the chart, write the Date You Will Take the Final Exam. 

Label the columns from left to right as follows:  Find out more...

One of the biggest factors in the success of your online coursework is how you manage your time.  In a brick and mortar classroom, the class period is set for you and the study schedule is similar.  But in online classes, you determine your own schedule.  Handling your time wisely and keeping on top of your work will really help you feel in control and help you to learn and achieve in your class. 

How do you currently spend your time?  Are you one of the millions of people who says, “I don’t have time!” and yet, find themselves mindlessly surfing the channels or trying for just more level of Angry Birds?  Study Guides and Strategies has a handy exercise to help you recognize how you are spending your time in order to help you prioritize your goals and objectives. 

What can students do to better manage their time in regard to their online classes?  Here are five suggestions that can help:  Find out more...