How to Get the Most From Online Learning: 10 Habits

The 10 habits

1. Set fixed study hours. Write them in your calendar like work shifts. Plan about 9 hours a week for each 3-credit class in a 15-week term.
2. Put every deadline in one place. On day one, copy all due dates from each syllabus into one calendar or planner.
3. Log in every day, even for 10 minutes. Check announcements, messages and grades.
4. Start early in the week. Many online classes have deadlines on Sunday night. Start on Monday, not Saturday.
5. Make a study space. Use the same quiet place each time. Put your phone in another room.
6. Take part in discussions. Post early and reply to classmates. It helps you learn and often counts toward your grade.
7. Ask for help early. Email your teacher, join office hours and use free tutoring. Do not wait until you fail a test.
8. Know the tech. Learn the class website in the first week. Know how to submit work and where to find grades.
9. Have a backup plan. Save work in the cloud. Know where you can get internet if yours goes down.
10. Talk to your advisor every term. Make sure each class counts toward your degree, and ask before you drop a class.

Before you drop a class

Dropping a class can lower your aid. If you stop attending all your classes before about 60% of the term, you may have to pay back part of your federal aid. In short 8-week classes, dropping a later class can also count as withdrawing. Talk to the financial aid office first.

Use the free help your school offers

• Tutoring and writing centers (many are online)
• Library and research help
• Tech support
• Disability services
• Career services and job search help
• Counseling and wellness services

More: What to Expect in an Online Class · Is Online Learning Right for You?