Online college students from across America, Australia, and other countries report many tips for online learning success. Because you don’t have a traditional school system in place or a physical teacher to report to, online learning requires organization and self-motivation as well as the following study tips for online classes success that have helped other online students. Getting a quality online education is not easy, however if you follow the techniques below, your chances of success will be greater.
2. Treat Your Online Classes Like a Job
You may not be getting paid to go to school, but once you complete your desired level of education, you will be getting paid for the work you do. Now is a great time to practice showing up, learning time management, and setting and keeping boundaries. When you treat your online classes like a job, you commit to spending a certain amount of time learning each day, and never let distractions or excuses get in the way. Set daily goals and make checklists so that you stay on task and stay motivated. Once you’re done with your allotted time for studying each day, spend time socializing, relaxing, and participating in hobbies. Keeping everything balanced will help you stay healthy and prepare you for the real world.
3. Manage Time Carefully
You may have left traditional school because you didn’t want the structure of a formal learning environment. Even so, most people need structure to be efficient and effective with their time. The beauty of online learning is that you create your own structure in a way that works for you. Set a schedule for the week and stick to it. Maybe it’s a 2-hour study block in the morning, a break for lunch and relaxing, and then a 3-hour study block in the afternoon. However you decide to organize your time, make studying a priority and be careful not to procrastinate. Give yourself plenty of time to complete assignments and some wiggle room if you need extra time to go back and fix something.
4. Use Online Resources
Getting your high school diploma or college degree online doesn’t mean sacrificing resources. In fact, you may have access to more resources than ever before because of online libraries and writing centers provided by your online institution. Online programs and helps like Grammarly and PaperRater can also help check for plagiarism and common grammar and spelling errors. Make sure you know how to find your online assignments and activities as well as chat groups with other students. Become familiar with your instructor’s contact info, the online student portal, and how your academic counselors can help you so that if you need anything you will know exactly where to find it.
5. Make Your Health a Priority
When you’re studying online it can be easy to get stuck inside and overwork yourself. Make sure you take time for breaks, get outside, exercise and drink plenty of water. Sometimes the best breaks can be preparing a healthy meal or trying a new form of exercise so that you use other parts of your brain and have a chance to be creative. Additionally, getting enough sleep at night and avoiding getting sick will help you do better on your assignments and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Connect with Others
Students who seek alternate routes to high school success through online learning often feel isolated because they aren’t surrounded by social opportunities and other students to collaborate with. Take advantage of opportunities to connect online through online portals, Facebook groups, and discussion boards. Find other students who are taking the same or similar courses as you and work together on proof-reading for each other and sharing helpful resources. Ask your instructor questions and post comments when you can. Participation, even in an online forum, will help you maintain a good relationship with your teacher and may boost your overall grade.
Online learning is an excellent alternative to regular high school or college and can help you learn at your own pace and give you access to more resources and affordable tuition. Rather than assuming that online learning will be easy, planning ahead and following the tips above will provide you with the tools you need to enjoy flexibility while staying ahead in school. Your quality online education will help prepare you for the real world by teaching you time management, healthy habits, and how to be a self-starter. Contact High School of America today to learn more about how we can help you get your high school diploma online, access our student resources, and save money on tuition.
