10 tips for learning online

Understand what is expected

In a face-to-face class, the professor, tutor, instructor, or lecturer can easily explain course requirements and expectations for papers, projects, and/or assignments. Online, you must rely more on documents such as the syllabus and written descriptions of the work to be completed. Read these materials carefully. If you are not sure what is expected, ask!

Understand your learning objectives

When you look critically at course and assignment materials, you will start to see the same action words used to describe the precise types of learning expected. Words like ‘evaluate’, ‘analyze’, and ‘interpret’ can be used for a whole course, and for specific assignments. Many educational institutions use a system known as Bloom’s Taxonomy to articulate learning goals and objectives. When you understand this taxonomy you can use it to determine what kinds of work is expected of you

Identify questions early

Once you have reviewed the course and assignment materials, and used Bloom’s Taxonomy to discern expectations, identify any questions that remain. Don’t wait until the last minute, get clarification right away. There are no dumb questions.

Find out what communication form your professor prefers, and use it

At the start of the course, ask your professor what communication times and modes they prefer and honor their requests or boundaries.

Plan your time

While the internet is instant, everything takes a little more time when completed online. Look at due dates, estimate the time it will take to complete major assignments or projects, and develop your own timeline and checkpoints.

Review and use suggestions or comments to improve your work

Use written or verbal comments on your assignments to improve your work. Make sure to address any feedback before submitting the final iteration of the paper or project.

Give constructive and respectful feedback to peers

Be aware that comments made in writing can seem more critical, blunt, or negative, than those made verbally. When peers hear verbal comments they interpret what you say based on your tone of voice and facial expressions. Without nonverbal signals and context, written comments should be clear and specific. Ideally, any critical comment should include a suggestion for improvement.

Don’t plagiarize

Cut-and-paste is all too easy, and the vast array of writing and visual elements available online can make using others’ work very tempting. Learn how to properly attribute your sources and commit to submitting your own original work on papers and assignments.

Be kind

Be the peer others want to have in their class. Keep in mind that students who are also adjusting to a new online learning environment might feel a great deal of stress and uncertainty. Being supportive, encouraging, and kind will help to build a mutually beneficial learning community.

Janet Salmons is an independent researcher, writer, instructor, and consultant through Vision2Lead. Her eclectic, inter-disciplinary interests include collaboration, leadership, creativity, sustainability, and ethics in a digital world. See Vision2lead and follow me @einterview for more information as well as instructional materials. Visit Methodspace for blog posts on research trends, writing and publishing resources.