Student Success Tips to Online Learning

So your school has gone 100% remote this fall and you want to make sure you are successful learning this way. Here are some tips to learning online that I see my students using.

Learning online does work and you need to take it seriously.

Students
There are many reasons students come to take a class online and the sooner they buy into the process the better. The worst thing you can do is get upset and find excuses to not take it seriously. This is the biggest mistake students make right away. 

Serious

Parents

You also need to take it seriously. If you don't take is seriosuly neither will your kids. You may have feelings about this decision but your child needs your support to get up and running. The more you complain that this isn't the education is suppose to work. The harder it is for the teacher to educate your child. 

Put it off and ignore it? Don't ever think about it.

Students
This is common for some students to put it off and ignore the fact they have an online class. Don't be this student. It will catch up with you. Lying to your parents that you have been submitting assignments when you haven't doesn't work. This will catch up with you and quick. The instructor has access to data that tracks when you log in, what pages you click on and you can't fake it. If you don't turn it in, then you will not get credit for it.

Trouble Ahead

Parents
Have your students show you how the class works. Have them show you how they turn in an assignment. Seriously, they can do it. Never drive the computer. Always have them show you. One trick is to have your student cast their computer to the TV so you can see them navigating the course. Do it as a family. This sets up accountability and helps build a better relationship with your child at the same time.

Time Management

Students
So, don't over think this. You don't need your whole day scheduled. Simply plan to work on your classess at the same time every day. Take breaks often for about 5 minutes. 

Time is Precious

Parents
They may need help at first to determine this time and to make this time work for them.

Create a regular study space and stay organized.

Students
I recommend setting up two spots in your home you like to work. One sitting at a desk or table and one standing as a secondary spot. Make sure you have everything you need at your desk space. Here is my list of essentials for my desk space.

1. Headset (Headphones with a mic and noise-canceling)
2. Laptop or desktop (not a tablet or a cell phone)
3. Mouse
4. Webcam
5. Notebook
6. Writing Utensil
7. Second monitor (Optional)

Workspace is crucial

Parents

Help your child's deskspace be a place they want to come to everyday. Hang up some things around the student with their favorite colors and items that make it their space. Similar to decorating a bedroom.

Get rid of distractions

Students

Put your phone on silent and close any unneeded apps or websites. This is not the time play video games, watch a movie or scroll social medias. You can check your social media on your break time. Nothing is that big of an emergency. 

Parents
They will need your help with this. Limit what can be heard where your student is working. If you have multiple children or have a loud house, invest in a good setup of headphones with a mic for your child. Make sure to get noise canceling. A good headset could cost upwards of $200-$250 but if you are going to invest in anything, this is where I would put your money.

Participate

Students
You need to be an active participant in your education. Waiting for someone to explain something to you when you have a question will only hurt you. You need to actively learn how the website works, where to find things, message your teacher when you have questions. If you sit back and wait, you will not be successful.

Parents

The number one thing to watch is that assignments are being turned in. Have them show you that they submitted it. The website will say "submitted", give a number score or give some sort of icon to indicate that it has been submitted. Remember to just have them show you. This creates more accountibility on the students part. You should not have to work harder than them. If you need to email the instructor. Make sure to CC your child in the email. Make sure they know what is going on and the teacher will respond to both of you. Make sure they know you are on the same page as the teacher.