| After you have enrolled into an online education | | | | your computer if necessary before you install the |
| program, the next thing to do is preparing yourself to | | | | software. |
| attend online classes. Your first week in an online | | | | 4. Get to known each other with your teachers and |
| class can be a little disorienting as you may not | | | | peers |
| familiar with the online learning system used by the | | | | Your online teachers may never get to know you if |
| school. You need to learn how to navigate a virtual | | | | you are in an online course with a lot of students. |
| "classroom", interact with peers and professors | | | | Take an initiative to briefly introduce yourself by |
| through online system and familiar yourself with the | | | | using online course message board to let your |
| online learning environment. Here are 6 online study | | | | teachers aware about you. A teacher who knows a |
| tips that you can do in the first week of your online | | | | little bit about you will be more likely to help you |
| learning: | | | | through the course. Establish yourself as an active |
| 1. Review the course requirement | | | | member in the online class, take the initiative to get |
| Once you received the course requirements for | | | | to know your peers and trade your email or other |
| every subject, go through the requirements carefully | | | | online communication accounts with them. You will |
| to ensure you can really handle the workload. Many | | | | your life in online study much easier if you have |
| online students tend to dropout half-way of the | | | | made up your network between teachers and peers. |
| course after they find out that can't cope for the | | | | 5. Plan your learning schedule |
| course. Don't let this happen to you, if you find out | | | | You should always balance your family, career (if |
| the course is not suitable for you after reviewing the | | | | any) and your online study life. The life balances can |
| course requirements, and you decide to dropout the | | | | only be achieved with a proper time management. |
| course, do it before the school's withdrawal deadline | | | | Establish a regular study schedule and stick to it with |
| so that you can get a full or partial refund of your | | | | your best efforts. Let your friends know that you |
| payment. | | | | are unavailable during these times and plan your |
| 2. Buy text books and other materials | | | | family time to fit your study schedule so that it |
| Buy all the textbooks and other course materials | | | | won't crash with each other. |
| early so that you won't fall behind on your online | | | | 6. Marks the tests and assignment schedule on your |
| study. Many schools have their own online bookstore | | | | calendar |
| or a recommended list of bookstore where you can | | | | One of the key factors for success online students is |
| purchase the course textbooks and other materials. | | | | "self-motivation", nobody will look at your back and |
| 3. Upgrade computer hardware and install required | | | | remind you on your assignment due date, and the |
| software | | | | tests schedule. You should be self-motivate enough |
| Is your computer meeting the online system | | | | to record all of the assignments, test, essays and |
| requirements? Most online learning system can be | | | | project on your personal calendar once you receive a |
| accessed directly from general internet browser such | | | | syllabus, which normally will be given out at the |
| as Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox, but those | | | | beginning of the online course. |
| online learning system may only run well in certain | | | | Summary |
| minimum version of internet browser such as IE 6.0 | | | | Get yourself prepared for the classes at the |
| or Firefox 2.0, then you need to upgrade it if yours is | | | | beginning of the online course will help you to go |
| an earlier version. The school may requires you to | | | | through your learning journey smoothly. Use the |
| install their software on to your computer, make sure | | | | above 6 online study tips to get started. |
| you read the software requirements and upgrade | | | | |