• Keep yourself connected with faculty and your peers.  When you have concerns/questions, use the phone, email or the “chat” function to get answers.  Communication is very important in an online course so keep in touch.  May times you may feel "isolated" because you are online and in a graduate program.  Graduate programs demand self-direction--you will  be responsible for reading all the information that is provided for you.  Again, contact me or your faculty when you have questions or feel isolated.  Sharing your concerns with your peers also helps as they may be  feeling the same way that you do.  You will develop a strong support system with your peers online.  
• Participation in the class discussions, be it synchronous (chat rooms) or asynchronous, (discussion forums) with your ideas, opinions, and/or questions increases your reflection and learning. The more you participate the more you will increase your learning.

• Keep all class materials, syllabus, a copy of completed assignments, discussion forum answers, e-mails and anything else from class in a folder, notebook or in an electronic file.
• Use your syllabus as a guide to the course and keep a paper copy of any course documents that will help you to function or complete assignments in the course.  Remember your syllabus is your contract for the course.  Make sure you read it thoroughly and understand the requirements of the course.  If you have any questions about it, contact the faculty right away.
• If possible, set aside specific study times and do not fall behind with the assignments.  Set up a routine that you can follow--remember, the majority of courses will be completed in 5 weeks.
• You will not be able to complete assignments at the last minute or the night before . Readings and reflection on the content take time in graduate courses.  Remember that technology can be unreliable and unforeseen things can occur plus you will need time to reflect on many of the readings prior to discussion or other assignments.

Always save a copy of the assignment to your hard drive, CD-ROM or thumb drive.  This will reduce stress in case you need to resubmit because of technology problems or want to use the assignment in your portfolio.

Streaming Audio or Video Material

Designate a time each week to watch or listen to  any audio or video material when the course has these materials.  As with other assignments, do not wait until the last minute to view/listen to the material.  View or listen to this material when you will not be interrupted. After viewing/listening to the material, complete the assignment. Remember to contact nmchelp@methodistcollege.edu if you are having problems listening to the audio or seeing the video. It may have something to do with your computer set up at home or work.

Material adapted from:  

• Florida Gulf Coast University web page http://itech.fgcu.edu/distance
• Ko, S. & Rossen, S. (2004). T eaching online: A practical guide.   New York:  Houghton Mifflin Company

• Tips for Being a Successful Online Learner: www.uwsp.edu/natres/rwilke/eetap/Tips.htm
• What Makes a Successful Online Student: www.ion.uillinois.edu/resources/tutorials/pedagogy/StudentProfile.asp