11tips on how to succeed as

onlinestudent

You want to do well in your studiesand your teachers and College willhelp you to do this.

This document looks at what YOU cando and what your TEACHERS will doto help you learn online.

Online learning is different to learningin a physical classroom, as you can’t see your

fellow classmates and teachers and you need to rely on findingthem ‘online’. Your teachers will create an online environmentthat will help you feel at home, so that you know when theywill be online, how to talk to them and how to talk with yourclassmates. This is called creating an online community and therehas been a great deal of research into this over the last 25 years.Experience tells us that if you participate in online discussionsand other activities, you are more likely to succeed.

Your teachers will:

#1 Put up their Welcome video and their picture on the pageto introduce them. They will also give you an idea of how thesubject fits into your course and how you can contact them.

Why:

They will do this as it will help you to feel more settled in yourstudies and so that you know who your teacher is.

So what do YOU need to do?

Watch the video, and complete any discussion forums so thatyou can make connections with other classmates.

Your teachers will:

#2 Your subject outline will be up-to-date and have a plan forwhat you need to do to participate, pass and do each week.

Why:

This will help you to plan your time to complete readings,quizzes, activities etc before they are due.

So what do YOU need to do?

Read your outlines, complete your forums and ask questionsto clarify you learning so that you know what you need to do.

Your teachers will:

#3 Put up either a Podcasts or videos or PowerPoint file thatexplains your assessments plus any concepts that may bedifficult to understand.

Why:

This will help you to better understand the subject andlearn more deeply.

So what do YOU need to do?

Check out the Marking Guide so that you know what todo in your assessments.

Your teachers will:

#4 Set up Collaborative learning opportunities usually early in the studyperiod and then again closer to your assessment due dates, so thatyou can ask them any questions about your assignments.

Why:

This will enable you to talk with your classmates.

So what do YOU need to do?

Join when invited, participate (through chat or voice) and watch therecording again when added to the site so you can understand allparts of your assessments.

10% of what we read

20% of what we hear

30% of what we see

50% of what we hear and see

70% of what we say

90% of what we say and do

Your teachers will:

Reading

Hearing words

Looking at picturesWatching a movieLooking at an exhibit

Watching a demonstrationSeeing it done on location

Participating in a discussionGiving a talk

Doing a dramatic presentation

Simulating a real experienceDOING THE REAL THING!

#5

Te Learning PyramidHow we tend to comprehend...

Set up both Open forums (for any general comments) assessmentforums (for each assessment item) and your weekly subject forums(to discuss your materials).

Sometimes you may be asked to ‘start’ a forum or ‘wrap’ it up. This isa way that you can contribute to your own learning and the learningof others, as it has been proven that the best way to learn is to ‘do’ it.

Why:

These forums will help you to find out what is happening, share yourlearning and know what you need to do to succeed.

So what do YOU need to do?

Try to do more of the 90% when you can! This will help you tomaster all the skills needed to become a graduate in your field.

Your teachers will:

#6 Set up Chats/teleconference/webinar forums as other ways ofconnecting with you.

Why:

This will enable you to talk with other students and ask questionsthat will help you learn.

So what do YOU need to do?

Join these options - please note if any are compulsory - so youcan talk with your classmates. Remember students who participateon forums are 60% more likely to pass their assessments.

Your teachers will:

#7 Add a Wiki (a document you can write together withyour classmates)

Why:

You will be able to add your own comments and editthose of others.

So what do YOU need to do?

Use the tool to work with your classmates.

Your teachers will:

#8 Add any relevant Videos and other items to enhance thequality of your learning material.

Why:

These will usually be around 5 minutes long and provideyou with a good visual reinforcement of what has beencovered in the text of material.

So what do YOU need to do?

Watch them and integrate your thoughts about them intoyour learning.

Your teachers will:

#9 Check how you are going and contact you if they noticeyou have not logged on for a while.

Why:

Your teachers want you to succeed and will offerassistance and support for you.

So what do YOU need to do?

Respond to any requests from your teachers.

Your teachers will:

Give you feedback on your assignments within 7 - 14calendar days from submission by you depending on typeand time during the trimester.

Why:

We know that assessment drives learning, and that youare keen to receive the results of your work as quickly aspossible. By keeping to these time frames, this could help ifyour need to re-submit, or build your next assignment ontop of the first one.

So what do YOU need to do?

Take onboard the feedback and incorporate it into yournext assignment.

Your teachers will:

#11 Keep the subject site clean

Why:

This means they will remove old information orannouncements and possibly reorder material to makeyour learning easier.

If you need more help you can find it...

Under the Academic skills or by googling THINKSTART.