Tips for Online Learners

All students need good study skills and habits.  These skills are especially important to distance learning students, where the environment may not be as structured.  Listed below is a list of skills that a distance learner should possess.

Computer Skills

It is very important that the online learner have fundamental computer skills.  The greatest barrier to online learning is often the student's lack of confidence with computer technology.  Before beginning an online class, a student should be able to:

• Send and receive e-mail, including attachments
• Locate, save, and retrieve files on the computer
• Use the features of your Internet browser to explore the web
• Search the Internet with an Internet search engine, such as Google
• Use a word processing application

Time Management Skills

The distance learning environment may not be as structured as the traditional classroom.  The flexibility that distance learning offers can be a drawback to those students who do not structure their time well.  The successful online student is usually one who can perform the following tasks:

• Establish a daily or weekly study routine
• Keep up to date with assignments
• Create their own daily reminders for assignment due dates
• Find a place to study or access the computer without distraction

Online Class Skills

In your distance education course, remember the following tips:

• Verify that your e-mail address in Blackboard is correct, otherwise you can not be contacted by the instructor and other students
• Improve your writing skills; most of your communication will be in the form of written e-mail or discussion board messages
• Give yourself ample time to think over whatever you write in an e-mail or discussion board
• Substantiate your opinions in discussions; instructors are usually looking for more than an opinion, so refer to facts or class materials
• Be in tune with your assignment due dates
• Decide how you will communicate with your professor; you can use your own e-mail or Blackboard's Send E-mail or Digital Drop Box
• Let your instructor know if your are having a problem; the sooner it is resolved the sooner you can continue your studies
• Don't forget that the telephone is still a valid form of communication; faculty phone numbers are in the Faculty Information section of your course
• Save time by placing the NLC Blackboard address in your web browser's favorites or bookmarks section