This document provides tips for succeeding in online courses. It emphasizes the importance of persistence, communication, time management, technology skills, participation, goal setting, finding a dedicated study space, motivation, and family support. Key recommendations include creating a schedule and sticking to it, asking for help when needed, familiarizing yourself with the learning management system, setting short- and long-term goals, treating online classes like in-person ones, and keeping family informed and supportive of your educational goals. The document stresses that online learning requires strong personal motivation and managing distractions to complete coursework independently.

1. Success in Online
Courses
Lewis Stroud M.Ed.

2. How to succeed in online courses
▪ Persistence
▪ Communication
▪ Time Management
▪ Technology (become skilled)
▪ Participate
▪ Be Involved
▪ Set Goals
▪ Interact
▪ Set Aside a Personal Study
Space
▪ Motivation (getting some and
staying)
▪ Family

3. Persistence
▪ Do not give up
▪ Ask for help
▪ Use all resources available
– From school
– Locally
▪ Look at challenges as opportunities
▪ Do not overload yourself
▪ You can do this

4. Communication
▪ Let your family know what you are doing and why, they may want to
help
▪ Inform your employer, if your education can benefit them they may
work out some sort of assistance for you
▪ Talk with your academic advisor on a regular basis
▪ Join conversations or discussion boards outside of your class but
related to your school and/or program

5. Time Management
▪ Most important
▪ Set aside time to participate in class
▪ Time to do research and homework
▪ Review course syllabus for each course
– Plan weekly goals to complete for each class
– Plan ahead for each major assignment
▪ Stay on your class schedule! do not get behind in an online class it is very
difficult to catch back up

6. Time Management
▪ Put all class events on your calendar
▪ Add various timed alerts, high priority items mark distinctly
▪ To do list
– Daily
– Weekly
▪ Plan plan plan!!!

7. Technology
▪ Familiarize yourself with the technology, understand how the LMS
works and what is required to participate on different levels
▪ Make friends with IT
▪ Insure that the technology you have access too is compatible
(hardware and software)
▪ Do the online orientation offered by your school (prior to class start
and review if necessary)
▪ Check online for various tutorials (YouTube, Google, etc.)

8. Participate/Be Involved
▪ Be active in online chat
▪ Share what you know on call discussion boards
▪ Answer others questions create a dialogue
▪ Be serious on these boards
▪ Reread before you post
▪ Never post angry!!!!

9. Set Goals (SMART)
▪ Set goals
– Short term that you can achieve as you go
– Long term so you know where you are headed and can stay on-track
▪ SMART goal setting
– Specific
– Measurable
– Attainable
– Relevant
– Time

10. Set Aside a Personal Study Space
▪ Make a space in your home turn it into your personal classroom
▪ Treat your online class like a face to face class
▪ Set aside specific times each week for each class
▪ Go to your study space during these times and do your classwork

11. Motivation
▪ Remember why you are taking these classes
▪ Online classes require a strong personal motivation
▪ Set up friends and family as cheerleaders
▪ When you feel sluggish or unmotivated go see your cheerleaders
▪ Never ever give up!!!

12. Family
▪ They are your support staff
▪ Make sure they understand that when you are in class you are in class
even though you are sitting at the kitchen table
▪ Before you take on any education discuss your plans with them make
sure they understand the sacrifices that you make together today will
make for a better future for all.

13. Review
▪ Persistence
▪ Communication
▪ Time Management
▪ Technology (become skilled)
▪ Participate
▪ Be Involved
▪ Set Goals
▪ Interact
▪ Set Aside a Personal Study
Space
▪ Motivation (getting some and
staying)
▪ Family

14. Discussion!!!! Questions????