By registering for a best online course, a student can be seated in the driver’s seat and have control over their academic environment. However, it can be difficult for beginners to adapt participation in personal lessons to online learning. To help, we talked to Michelle Ancell, Colorado State University instructor, about etiquette, what to do, and what not to do.Log into the online system before the course begins.

Familiarize yourself with the online platform that your instructor uses to teach in the classroom and explore everything that is available on this website. If you have problems with your computer or browse the e-learning system, ask for help before starting the course.

READ the course expectations

Read the curriculum. Make sure you understand how the class will be structured. Are you going to use modules? Do you submit assignments via the Announcements section? Get a photo of what you need to check every week. 

The program will likely include due dates and point values ​​for each task. Your instructor also uses the program to describe class guidelines, including accommodation for people with disabilities and expectations of academic integrity.

Present

Introduce yourself to your teacher. It makes a big difference. Send an introductory email that says this is who I am, this is what I study, and so I’m in your class. You will notice that your teacher will have a positive impression of you. Remember, a little effort goes a long way!

Don’t be a wallflower

Just because your course is online doesn’t mean you can’t establish a relationship with your teacher.” Ancell points out that connecting to your online teacher is a little different from attending a live course, but that shouldn’t stop a student from using it as a resource.

Find out how your teacher prefers to communicate, whether by email, FaceTime, or SMS. In my online courses, students usually speak to me by email, but I always give my cell phone number. You can send me an SMS or call me anytime. I think sometimes people feel that their humanity is taken away when they take an online course, and that shouldn’t be the case. It is easy to feel that you are working alone on a course because online courses are lonely. Contact your instructor and ask for advice or clarification.

Do not forget that there is a human behind the course and that it is normal to interact with this human. That’s why they are there. “

Respect your classmates

Students tend to understand that they are in the classroom and generally respect the comments of others, even if they disagree on a subject. The golden rule applies to online discussions: treat others as you want to be treated.

DO NOT blame a late task for technical problems

If you are having trouble downloading a task, email it to your instructor as a backup. This eliminates any problems that the task was not completed on time. After all, he opted for an online course. It is your responsibility to ensure that your technology works properly.

DON’T ignore additional online resources

I think this is one of the fun parts of an online course. With so many resources in the digital world, I will provide students with links to background readings or a video clip on the subject. Ancell noted that students who take an additional five minutes to read an article or watch an accompanying YouTube video often gain a better understanding of the online course material with little additional effort.

Don’t think you should do it alone

Connecting with other students can be difficult in an online course, but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen. Ask your teacher if there are geographically close students. They could meet for coffee or make an appointment to study together. If meeting other students in person is not an option, don’t worry!

Trainers often deliberately ask students to participate in discussions. I recommend submitting your chat message earlier (before the deadline) so that you can go back and read the comments that respond to your response so that you can meet people that way. 

 

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