Can you make deadlines? Your instructor is counting on you to finish your work on time.

Your communication may be virtual, but your tasks and assigned deadlines are not. Make sure that you are able to set your own schedule and are able to stick to the timeline. Is this the right time for you to apply for an online class? You should be confident that you can set enough time aside for your online course assignments and study time. You may feel that taking an online course will free up your time for other tasks. If you are feeling overwhelmed by other responsibilities, like your work or you have/want to concentrate on family obligations- then perhaps you had better postpone your involvement. Online courses require as much and often more personal preparation time than oncampus courses. Remember everything that you would normally communicate by speech in class must be typed in an online course. Are you sure you are capable of producing first-rate results in your online course? You should think about your success with time-management and your ability to feel confident that you are able to achieve success in the course. Otherwise an online course will not help but cause inconvenience.

Be honest with yourself about your capabilities. Commitment to answer e-mails quickly o The instructor will send and respond to emails and post messages in the Blackboard learning environment. Pertinent information pertaining to the course will be given. It is necessary to have a smooth communication process. Commitment to stay with the course to its completion, and to set a schedule achieve success o Assignments, projects, etc. are given specified due dates. These dates are nonnegotiable. It is the students responsibility to turn in assignments on time. If the student is having trouble with a portion of a project it is expected that contact be made with the instructor in enough time for the instructor to answer the question(s) and still allow time for the assignment to be turned in by the due date.

Set a Schedule & Keep to It Online instructors expect their students to be organized in setting a schedule that allows them to meet their deadlines. Most online classes require regular signing in and posting of messages in the classroom in order to stay current with class activities which include reading messages and lecture, interacting in discussion threads and work groups, and posting assignments. Online instructors expect successful students to log at least three-five hours of online work a week for threecredit class. In addition, most students find they are successful if they log two hours of homework for every credit

hour of class. Successful online students report that they log many hours above the minimum 12 hours expected. Meet Deadlines Online students who are successful in completing their courses know how to schedule their time to meet deadlines for classroom discussions, work group activities, and graded assignments. Successful online students understand that others in their classroom are counting on their participation in classroom and work group activities. 1. Develop a time-management strategy. Students were asked what time-management strategies they found most helpful. One challenge facing an online student is the selfdiscipline required to devote adequate time to class in courses that might not have regularly scheduled times to meet synchronously online or in person. Most students found that establishing their own schedules for class time helped them ensure enough time for class participation. One student commented, Setting and staying to specific study days was one factor that worked for me. For example, in the evenings, throughout the week, I read my lessons. Saturdays were generally reserved for writing assignments. Saturdays were also devoted to responding to other online postings and building on what I had already submitted. Another student stated that designating specific times to read, complete written assignments, and post dialogue to other students proved helpful. Students also emphasized the need to create a schedule that gave them some flexibility and wasn't overwhelming. One student explained, "I was careful not to put too much pressure upon myself when completing a homework assignment. I found that doing a little bit here and there avoided trying to do too much all at once." Developing a schedule that designates specific times to log in to and participate in class and to carry out other course-related activities such as reading and doing research promotes a student's success as an online learner. Students identified the most helpful time-management strategies as setting a schedule for study time (78.9 percent) and devoting time daily to the course (31.6 percent).

A key difference between in-person and online learning is the independence and ability to participate in the online class at a time convenient to the student. This also presents a potential problem, as procrastination could cause a student to fall behind in the online course. The graduates who participated in the study were asked how they avoided this problem. A few students (15.8 percent) commented that logging in to their course portal every day and checking for new postings or updates helped prevent them from falling behind. Other students (36.8 percent) commented that weekly assignments from the instructor kept them on a regular schedule in the course. One student explained, You have to discipline yourself in maintaining your schedule and not allow any distractions to disrupt your plan. I would allow myself one hour of winding down from work, eat my dinner, and get to my study room. I found that if I put in about 34 hours of studying during the week, the weekly assignment would be completed by Thursday or Friday. Another student stated that an upfront planning process was critical to succeeding in the online course because studying was integrated with many other responsibilities.

First and foremost, being a busy professional, it is vital to possess time management as a distance learner. The ability to manage time is the major factor of encouraging students to succeed as a distance learner. As a distance learner, it is vital to know that you will not receive persistent reminders about quizzes that are coming up, projects that are scheduled, or deadlines for papers that must be submitted. This must be done in a respectable amount of time prior to the due date and in a way that endorses knowledge continuation. This means that goals should be set as well as utilize some sort of time management system in order to keep track of everything. Having a time management strategy can help an individual avoid procrastination. Organizing a plan will provide a guide to be followed so that a learner will not waste valuable time deciding what to do next. This will promote motivation and allow one to be more successful in their distance learning courses. As Garcis (2010) points out, Good distance learners never put off their work. This ability to remain accountable for completing

course work in a timely manner is an attribute that distance learners must acquire in order to be successful. Distance learners must know how to manage their time as well as improve study habits in order to be a successful online learner. Be prepared to spend as much time per week as the course requires - usually 12 to 15 hours per week per course. Online courses are not easier than traditional classroom courses. You may find that they require more time, commitment, and discipline. Online is not easier than the traditional educational process. In fact, many students will say it requires much more time and commitment. 12/5/13 Successful Strategies in Online Education www.ou.edu/cls/online/success.htm 3/4 Be able to meet the minimum requirements for the program. The requirements for online are no less than that of any other quality educational program. The successful student will view online as a convenient way to receive their education - not an easier way. Have access to a computer and a modem. The communication medium is a computer, phone line, and modem; the student must have access to the necessary equipment.