Tips for Being a Successful Online Student

---

Because an online course environment is a different structure than the traditional classroom environment, an online student must have some particular skills. The student must be highly motivated and self-disciplined. It is important for online students to have good reading skills and the ability to understand and follow written instructions in order to be successful in an online course.

Participation is the core element in an online course. Because there is no physical classroom setting, interaction with other students and the instructor take place through the discussion board, announcements, email, and chat rooms. Unlike the classroom, instructors will not be able to tell if you are confused or if clarification is needed by facial expressions or body language, therefore online students:

Must ask questions, ask questions and ask questions.

Students should read the course syllabus thoroughly and check their ASUN WebCT email frequently. Students should also visit the course assignment pages regularly so they will not miss due dates or changes your instructor makes during the course. (Most instructors scheduled due dates for assignments are not set in stone, so it is important that students check the announcements page regularly). When emailing the instructor, the student should consult the course syllabus for the instructor's emailing preference and allow a reasonable length of time for the instructor to respond.

Make sure all correspondence to your instructors is professional. As a preventive note it is important for students to remember that email to an instructor is that, communication between student and instructor.

Basic computer skills are important to be a successful online student. Students taking an online course must be able to use a web browser to navigate the internet, be able to send and receive email with attachments, create and store files, be able to retrieve files, copy and paste text, download and install software from the internet. Students who are not able to perform some of these basic functions may want to take a beginning computer course before they enroll in a course that is entirely online. It is also important to a student's online success that the student's computer meets the minimum requirements needed to operate WebCT effectively.

To Summarize: To be a successful online student should:

• Become familiar with WebCT as quickly as possible.
• Be self-disciplined and motivated.
• Check your course site and ASUN WebCT email regularly.
• Keep in contact with your instructor and don't hesitate to ask questions.
• Participate in online discussions.
• Be familiar with technology (you should be able to send or receive email with attachments, cut and paste documents, navigate the web, and be able use search engines).
• Make sure your computer meets the minimum requirements for WebCT.
• READ carefully all correspondence between you instructor and others at the institution!
• If you don't understand something - ASK QUESTIONS