Know what’s due this week AND next week
Eliminate the question, “What am I doing?” and “What am I doing next?” entirely. Not knowing the answer to those questions eats away at the clock. Not wasting the time procrastinating really puts goals in sight and most importantly mainstreams effort into results.
Online does not mean at a desk or hunched over a laptop
Sitting for more than an hour or an hour and a half at a time contributes to unhealthy lifestyles. Movement is important. Get blood pumping and stretch to remain comfortable and calm. Respecting the body’s health needs provides clearer thoughts and better joints. Use this time away from your computer to walk away from a current project and come back ready to give it a second look.
Be creative
Creativity is not everyone’s talent. Maximize the benefits of online learning by attuning it to a lifestyle. Try taking walks for the outdoorsy types or the dog lovers. Use an opportunity for a good jog or light exercise. A lot of time as an adult is purchased time, owed time, or required time. Find “Me Time” and take it. Setting up little steps and knock them out every time there is something set out to accomplish.
Know the battle
Knowing is half the battle. This is true with online courses as well. Read the syllabus and the tips provided by Sinclair. Not all online courses are the same. The new switch to E-Learn from Angel may have new and returning students left with a learning curve. Few options at Sinclair are go at your own pace. Most are scheduled with weekly due dates that vary greatly between courses. Figure out a routine and stick to it. Write it in a planner. Quizzes after dinner, before the laundry, before heading to the gym.
Understand how to get ahold of your professor, Sinclair’s services and peers
Taking a class with a friend is a great option online too. Some people aren’t able to work well with their good friends in a university environment, however, in an online class the work is largely independent. Forget an assignment? Need help? Well, there’s someone familiar now to get ahold of and learn from. Sinclair offers various services for students that people should take advantage of.
Have a backup plan
Ohio can experience all four seasons within a week. Power can go out, snow may close down the testing center or campus and public Wi-Fi internet areas. Life is unpredictable. Have a plan for what to do in these emergencies. There is no time to waste when there’s an 11:55 p.m due date inching closer and no service available for the Internet. Preparing won’t make stress go away, but it makes stress manageable. Managing stress is key to succeeding in life.
Find that perfect learning environment
No T.V, no Facebook, no Instagram or twitter or video games. Those are some common distractions to college students. Just five minutes can quickly turn to thirty and for some to four hours or more of procrastination. This will never take that much time away from activities if the threat is stomped out early or simply not there at all. Noise is not just physical. The less noise, the less interference, the better for productivity for most people. Find a productive environment.
Start part time
Don’t jump right in. Taking a whole course load with or without experience in online learning can drag GPA’s down. Take one or two online classes to start. Online education is a great, flexible option. However, it is a new option to many, and most new things require change. Change in habits, change in schedules, change in approaches to success. This can sometimes mean a bit of trial and error. Being proficient online requires mastering how to learn online, just like how learning requires how to learn effectively.
Do not underestimate a course because it is an online option
Standardized tests are famous for their difficulty and unique approach to evaluation. Imagine an entire learning construct based off those same principles. Nailing it without commitment and familiarization is a rare feat. That is exactly why hundreds of thousands of people across the country enroll into courses specifically for taking these high risk tests. Online courses can be daunting not only in their own content, which is as rigorous as most in class options at Sinclair, but also in their methods.
Every point matters
Never adopt the “just” attitude. It is never “just” a few points here or “just” a few points there. Math, so long as there is addition, will always add up. Discussion posts, replies, grammar points and citation points, everything is a part of your final grade and everything should be approached with academic seriousness.
Barton Kleen
Managing Editor