Many students today are tackling online learning for the first time. Maybe you are finding yourself in the same situation. Your 'new normal' is more of a 'new challenge' than ever before. Perhaps you're asking your friends and family for advice. Maybe you spoke with your boss or coworkers for guidance. But at the end of the day, it's the advice of those who came before you and accomplished their goals that prove invaluable. With that in mind, we asked our students and alumni to share one their top do's and don'ts for new students taking online courses for the first time, and we gathered the top comments into one SlideShare. Each slide offers valuable advice from students just like you, for you. Whenever you need a bit of inspiration, click through these slides until you find just what you’re looking for.

1. top 21
DO'S AND DON'TSfor new online students

2. TAKINGONLINECOURSESCANSEEM
EXCITINGAND
DAUNTING
at first,

3. TAKINGONLINECOURSESCANSEEM
EXCITINGAND
DAUNTING
at first,
all at once.

4. LIFESAVER.
INSIGHT
THOSE WHO HAVE
OF
THAT'S WHEN
THE
DONE IT BEFORE
YOU CAN BE A

5. So we asked our students and
alumni to help you out and answer
ONE QUESTION:

6. What do or don't
would you share
with a new
student taking
courses online
for the first
time?

7. Here are
their
answers...

8. Here are
their
answers...
and the best
advice for going
back to college
for students,
by students.

9. For the military and veteran students: Do attempt to
transfer as many military credits as possible and speak
to the TESU representative if you have questions.
Submitted by Shawn Mitchell
Don't make excuses - make time.

10. Plan for the unexpected. For example, I had
planned on writing a paper today, but found
myself sitting in an ER all day. So
S u b m i t t e d b y S u e M a c d o n a l d
get it done!

11. DON'T QUIT!
Youwillworkhard
anditwilltakea
lotoutofyou,
butitwillbe
worthit!
Submitted by Stephanie Reid Dollaz

12. Don't wait until Sunday to look at
Sunday's assignment. Do tell your
mentor if an assignment is going to
be late because your cat walked across
your keyboard and deleted a 4 page
paper you just finished and didn’t
save and now you have to rewrite it.
Submitted by Stacy Jimenez

13. DO
YOUR TIME.
Submitted by Gina Holmes
MANAGE

14. DO WORK HARD
andbeopentolearning.Don'tassume
it'seasierthanatraditionalclassroom,
workingprimarilyonyourownrequires
disciplineandorganization.
Submitted byJesenia Brown

15. Doprintoutthesyllabusand/ormodulesto
havehandyincaseofapowerorInternet
outage.Thiswayyouwillbeableto
continuewithyourassignments.
Submitted by Lisa Whitehead

16. DO SPEAK TO YOUR ADVISOR
QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS. REACH OUT TO
SOMEONE AND GET THE HELP YOU NEED
AND GET YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
OFTEN.
Submitted by Alan Ali Thompson
DON'T REMAIN QUIET IF YOU HAVE
EARLY AND

17. Don'twaituntilthe
lastminutetodo
assignments-itwill
affectyourgrade.
Doalittlework
everydayandbe
suretosaveyour
papersatleast
twiceaday.
Submitted by Sarah Murphy

18. Don'tletyourworkgetawayfromyou
whetherit'sduetotheholidaysor
illnessbecausecatchingup
onthatishard.
Submitted by Leah Alabrè

19. DO NOT THINK THAT ANY
OF THE OPTIONS FOR
EARNING CREDIT ARE
TOO DIFFICULT FOR
YOU TO USE TO
Submitted by Gene Ellender
EARN CREDIT
FASTER AND
FINISH QUICKER.

20. DO GET ORGANIZED...
Time, work, rest, research...
Submitted by Deb Aikens

21. DO STRUCTURE YOUR
TIME VERY WISELY. JUST
BECAUSE IT'S ONLINE
DOESN'T MEAN IT'S EASY;
IT'S ACTUALLY MORE
DIFFICULT BECAUSE
Submitted by Yvonne Sendy
YOUHAVETOBE
DISCIPLINED.

22. with when
assignments are
due.
Submitted by Eveline Zacharowitz
mark your calendar
Print out the class
schedule and

23. DO ASK YOUR CLASSMATES
AND PROFESSOR FOR
ADVICE. YOU HAVE
THE ABILITY TO
CONTACT
THEM.
Submitted by Adam Wentworth

24. your courses and workload
in advance. Have a plan,
and pace yourself!
Submitted by Bill Bortz
Do plan out

25. Submitted by Claudia Newton
WORK
DO LOOK AT YOUR
CLASS SYLLABUS,
PLAN AHEAD,
BUDGET YOUR TIME,
ALLOW FOR
UNFORESEEN
CIRCUMSTANCES,
AND
DILIGENTLY!

26. is most important.
Budget your time
and work ahead
if you can.
Time management
Submitted by Daria Marsh-Buck

27. Do use the resources
available such as tutors.
Don't procrastinate
Submitted by Chris Pantoya
...ever.

28. Doprintoutyoursemester
scheduleanduseasa
guide.Doloadall
assignmentdatesinto
youroutlookcalendar.
Don't give up!
Submitted by Ken Thomas

29. DON'T QUIT! SO WHAT IF IT'LL
TAKE A COUPLE OF YEARS. THE
Submitted by Frances Holly
TIME WILL PASS ANYWAY!

30. Wantmorestudenttips?
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