In the light of the novel coronavirus pandemic that took the world in early March, much of our lives have been moved to a virtual world.
This includes how we interact socially with friends, conduct meetings and how we work. University classes are not an exception to this new way we conduct our lives.
Online classes are making up a majority of class options on campuses across the nation, and Colorado Mesa University (CMU) is no exception. Though there are still choices of face to face classes, there are many online classes now being offered. Some students may have had their entire schedule converted online, while others may have a few or no online classes.
Online classes can be intimidating, especially if you have never done one before. However, if you follow these five tips for success, you can be successful in your online classes.
1. Schedule your classes
It can be tempting to do your online class whenever you want – it’s one of the perks of having an online class – yet it’s not the best way to do an online course. In my own experience, having a set time during the week to work on my online courses helped me so much more than when I worked on them when I felt like it. By setting a time to work on your online class, you give yourself less of a chance of forgetting you have the class and missing assignments. Schedule your class for three hours a week – like if you were meeting in person – and be diligent in working on that class during that time.
2. Remove distractions
Online classes pose a different kind of difficulty when it comes to getting work done. Unlike a face to face class, you do not have a professor there to moderate the amount of distractions in the classroom. This can make it very easy for some students to get distracted by their phones, online shopping, friends, Netflix, etc. When you set a time to work on your class, minimize the amount of distractions during that time. Place your phone on do not disturb, remove yourself from high traffic areas – where friends or roommates may distract you – and turn off Netflix, Hulu or any other distracting service.
3. Location
A part of removing distractions is where you are located when working on your online class. Finding a place that has minimal distractions and low amount of traffic is ideal when working on an online class. Some good spots are the library or Escalante’s terraces.
4. Study groups
While it may not be possible to meet in person for study groups, you can still meet virtually through Zoom, Teams or even FaceTime. Forming a study group from your online class is a very helpful way to make sure you are on top of your assignments, ask your peers questions when you do not understand a concept and gives you another way to study concepts by quizzing each other.
5. Utilize student services
There are many different services provided to students to ensure they are successful. CMU wants you to succeed and make it to graduation. Utilize the services offered to you. The Tutorial Learning Center (TLC) and Writing Center have peer tutors that can help you on any class you may be taking. These tutors had to pass with a B or higher to be tutoring, so you will be in good hands.
