Adapting to Online Classes

Your course will be either synchronous and given at a specific time, requiring you to login with the rest of your classmates. Or, it will be asynchronous, where you are provided the materials and can learn on your own time. Or, your course could be a combination of both. Whatever method your course is delivered through, be sure you are clear on the expectations that have been set and hold yourself accountable for the work you need to complete.

Your instructor will still be holding you accountable for the work you do in online discussions and collaborations, just as they would in a face-to-face class. Be sure the expectations are clear and if not, don’t hesitate to reach out to them with questions!

So back to that camera thing. Most computers come with built-in webcams these days. If the green light is on (or sometimes a red light), it means everybody can see you. If you're wearing your pajamas, just be aware of that fact. Keep in mind that, depending on how your computer is set up, if you have the camera on, students you may be having a group meeting with might see some of your family members in the background. That's why it's important to check out the Workspace module, too - to plan out your study space.

Beyond that, this is an opportunity to become more tech-savvy. Learn how to use your computer efficiently because it is the primary tool through which you will now be learning. Familiarize yourself with any chat boards, library portals, file sharing programs, or video-conferencing software required for your courses. If your computer, peripherals, or internet connection are not up to speed, it could cause problems. Freezing video screens, a sketchy internet connection, or time spent downloading updates can get in the way of your learning experience. Make sure everything is working, up to date, and that you know how to use it all.

Types of Online Education

Online education does not fit a single mold; there are many different models of distance learning utilized by community colleges today. Some of the various type of online education, listed at Campus Explore, include:

Asynchronous Learning

Asynchronous learning is a style that allows students to work at their own pace. Its primary popularity lies in its extreme flexibility; students do not have to follow a set schedule for lectures, homework assignments or other coursework. Material is generally distributed online and often includes audio or visual aids to bring the material to life. Students often have opportunities to interact with other students online, and assignments are typically delivered through an electronic bulletin board or similar format.

Synchronous Learning

Synchronous learning involves set times for class work, whether through physical classrooms, online chat rooms or video conferencing. Students have less flexibility with this type of learning environment, but they do have more opportunity for interaction with professors and other students. This type of learning may also be referred to as “fixed-time” courses, where students have to sign onto their computers at a set time each day to get the necessary material and information.

Hybrid Learning

Another popular style of online learning is a hybrid between asynchronous and synchronous classes. This model might vary substantially between classes, based on the preferences of the students and professor running the course. In some cases, students might be required to sign in for video conferencing and/or chat rooms once or twice a week, but homework assignments are still based on a flexible schedule. Others might allow students to explore material on their own time, but set dates for assignments and tests that must be adhered to without fail.

As a guideline, here are the 7 Cs of Communication, to help you communicate better with your online professor (or you classmates!).

Clarity – Clear writing is easier to understand. When you’re writing an email or a discussion post, consider your word choice and the formatting of the text to avoid confusion.

Completeness – While communicating, provide a complete picture, trying to include ALL the necessary information your professor or fellow students will need to take action and respond.

Conciseness – While working within the requirements concerning completeness, try to avoid including unrelated information, repetition and lengthy explanations that do not add value to the conversation.

Concreteness – If needed, adding visuals to your communication can help reduce or even eliminate the possibility of anyone misunderstanding your message.

Correctness – A message with a typo is not professional. Proofreading should always be done before hitting "send" or "submit" or "post". Use spell check, but remember, sometimes making a typo results in the correct spelling - just of the wrong word. So you have to use spell check AND proofread your work.

Courtesy – Even when conveying emotion or urgency in online communication, your tone should remain professional at all times.

Consideration – This tip is directly linked with courtesy. Remember to focus on the needs and expectations of your professors and fellow students when communicating with them.

Working a discussion board in an online class isn't the same as texting your best friend. Did you ever send someone a text that you thought was funny, only for the recipient to be offended? Or write something you thought was clear and to the point, only for the recipient to think you were rude? It happens. We live in a world where communication is increasingly mediated by mobile device. We’re all completely dependent on the written word to exchange information and ideas with one another. But we’re not necessarily excelling in our use of the written word.

As an online student, your ability to both communicate through your writing, and to receive information the same way, will be a big part of your success. We're not talking just about essays or research writing. It’s more basic than that. Most of your interactions with your instructors and classmates will require you to write emails, give feedback, and chat board messages in complete, coherent, and informative sentences. Being misunderstood leads to confusing, sometimes anger and hurt feelings, and perhaps even to poor grades. Also, your professor is not your buddy, even if he or she is really cool. So when you send your professor a message, no abbreviations, no emojis, and no LOLz. Compose an email as if you’re speaking to a future employer, and write discussion posts as though you were working with a professional colleague, each and every time. Your grades will depend on it.

You may not have expected to find yourself in online classes; the coronavirus pandemic may have made that decision for you, in which case, you probably already know what we're going to say here. But if that's not you, if online college was your plan for an easy way through college, you should come up with a different plan. First of all, your experience should be just as rigorous and challenging as the brick-and-mortar experience. In fact, the challenges of time-management and self-motivation noted in the Pros and Cons Of Online Classes section above can make online college even more difficult for many students. This is true even if the curricula are identical. That shouldn’t be a problem if you consider yourself up for the challenge. On the other hand, if you thought online education would somehow be academically easier and thus a more attractive option, you’re doing it for the wrong reasons. Gear up for a challenge and prepare to work hard like you would in any class.

There’s no longer any trolling for a parking spot to make you late, but there's also likely no one instructor taking attendance - unless, perhaps, you've got a synchronous lecture to attend on Zoom. It’s assumed you’re in the class because you want to be there. Make it your business to back up that assumption with action. To do that, treat online college the way you’d treat a traditional education. Wake up the same time every day, engage in your usual routine - shower, make the bed, coffee, brush your teeth, etc. Keeping a routine is one of the most important things you can do.

Plan the rest of your day around your class time, study time and, if you are working, work time. Prepare any materials you’ll need for class ahead of time and put some time aside every day to complete readings and assignments. Not only will this help you formalize your online educational experience, but it’s a good way to prevent the responsibilities of work, life, and school from piling up at once.

Now that you’re working almost exclusively through the internet, you must know the rules of order when it comes to cheating, plagiarism, and academic integrity. Admittedly, the lines are a little blurrier these days, with authorship of online content becoming increasingly diffuse and hazy. Social media only further complicates the question of that which can be considered original content and that which must be cited. So here’s a simple rule of thumb for approaching a complicated matter. If you came up with it and wrote it, it’s yours. If you copied, borrowed, quoted, or even paraphrased the information or idea from somewhere else, it belongs to somebody else. Credit that person, persons, publication, or website accordingly. Of course, your new online school will have its own policies, procedures, and guidelines concerning plagiarism. Familiarize yourself with this information so that you don’t run into any problems by virtue of either ignorance or temptation.

What we said a minute ago about communicating professionally with your professors? Well, use those great writing skills to get to know them, too! If you only engage your online education by showing up to virtual lectures or writing on discussion boards, you simply aren’t taking advantage of the access you have to your professor. Not only that, but your professor probably has no idea who you are, which won’t help if you find yourself needing a bit of extra support. Send a personal email to each of your professors at the start of a semester. Introduce yourself and let them know how excited you are to be taking their class; don't lay it on too thick, be genuine. If you're not excited about the class, at least let them know you're looking forward to learning what he or she has to teach.

The important thing is to open lines of communication and keep them open. Don’t be afraid to correspond outside of class time to ask questions, seek clarifications, or even just express a greater interest in subject matter that really speaks to you. You never know when you might be initiating correspondence with a future mentor, somebody who can truly deepen your knowledge and appreciation of a subject. Correspond only through the proper and preferred channels; some faculty prefer the Canvas messaging system, some prefer email. Your online Economics professor won’t be impressed if you show up in her personal Facebook feed (people still use Facebook?!?) asking about QE2 (and no, that's not the Queen Elizabeth II cruise ship). But a respectfully enthusiastic email now and then could foster a valuable relationship.

Pros of Online Education

There are a number of benefits to taking community college classes online, including:

• There are no travel costs or time spent commuting to and from classes.

• With little excuse for not pursuing higher learning in order to obtain a degree, more and more people are turning to online classes in the hopes of fortifying their careers and obtaining a good salary. Regardless of your obligations, you should be able to take advantage of the flexibility that online education provides.

• Students are no longer limited by geographical location when selecting a school and degree program.

• Students who are disabled or have other reasons why they cannot attend classes regularly can get the same benefit at home.

• If you are employed, have family to raise, live in a rural area or find yourself constantly on the move, online learning provides a viable setting where you can actually fit classes into your schedule. The ability to study on your own time, as well as review classes and lectures again if you need to, is an extremely convenient factor.

• Most of your study materials, including lectures and texts, can be accessed whenever you need them. For many busy people who want to get ahead in their lives, learning at their own pace is a very smart way to obtain a college degree.

These benefits can be significant to students seeking a community college education – especially if they fit into some of the situations listed above. Online classes also offer a cost savings, allowing students to reap the benefits of an education without paying for transportation, housing or class materials. Despite the many pluses online education affords, there are some downsides to consider as well.

Drawbacks of Online Education

Some of the disadvantages to distance education might include:

• Students may not get questions answered by professors as promptly as they would in a classroom.

• Wherever you can access an internet connection, your online coursework will be available. As long as you have the self-discipline required to maintain the continuity of your schedule and keep yourself on track, you will enjoy the freedom of taking online classes; however, with the freedom to take courses at your own pace comes the need for greater responsibility, requiring proper organization to create a workable schedule that you can realistically adhere to. You will only be at a disadvantage if you are not able to maintain this self-discipline.

• Online education limits the amount of interaction students get with peers and faculty. Real-time socializing with peers can be either a plus or a minus, and this depends on the type of person you are. Campus interaction can be stimulating in many cases, but it can also be a distraction for some students. Conversely, online interaction can be equally as stimulating, but it can also make you feel like you are all alone in your coursework because of the inherent lack of a physical presence. Whenever the opportunity arises to reach out to your instructors, counselors, and classmates, you should take advantage of it.

• Students may not have as many audio and visual resources to draw from when learning new material.

• Students must be very comfortable with technology to ensure the online system works properly for them.

These drawbacks, like the advantages should be carefully weighed when determining whether an online education is the best fit for you.