As an online learner you will need to take responsibility for your learning. The instructor has prepared course materials and assignments, identified resources, and is available for support, assistance, questions, marking, and feedback. To be successful, you will need to familiarize yourself with the technology, participate as required to meet the objectives of the course including submitting assignments on time, completing tests and/or exams where required, contribute in discussion postings and/or chats, ask questions and complete a course evaluation. This may take a minimum of 5 hours per week.
Successful online learners understand that onus for learning is on the student. Be proactive and seek assistance from your teacher and fellow students when you need to. Should problems arise, you are encouraged to resolve the difficulty directly with the individual(s) involved. If you require assistance in initiating a resolution you may contact Karen Quinney. Deal with technical issues by contacting Technical Support.
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Take charge of your learning and enjoy your success!!!
You may need to commit a minimum of 5 hours per week per course depending on the level of challenge the material presents to you. Set aside time every week in order to stay on top of your course and meet deadlines. Good organizational skills are a definite asset. If for any reason you start falling behind, identify the reason and find a solution; your instructor may be able to help. Be sure to speak to your instructor as soon as possible; do not wait.
As soon as you have access to your course, login and review the course outline which will indicate how to proceed. Become familiar with the structure of the learning materials. Be committed to completing your course.
Online courses follow a critical path; that is there are due dates and timelines for all activities. Students will complete a schedule of tasks that may include readings, URL visits, assignments, projects, discussions, and evaluations. While you can access your course 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and generally do not have to be online at any specific time, you do need to follow the course structure and adhere to deadlines. Feel free to attend class at 2 in the morning or 3 in the afternoon. Schedule flexibility is one of many important reasons people select to learn online!
Do not expect to be able to hand in all your assignments in the last week. These may not be accepted or marked. Following the course schedule will allow the instructor to provide you with feedback that will help you build your skills and knowledge as you progress through the course.
Online courses do give you much greater freedom in terms of scheduling your time but are not necessarily easier than their in-class counterparts; exercise your self-discipline and be successful!
IMPORTANT NOTE: If for any reason you have difficulty meeting the schedule requirements, please contact your instructor immediately to see if alternate arrangements are possible.
You will require strong reading and writing skills to succeed in your online course. Of equal importance is your commitment and effort. You will be learning and communicating without face-to-face interaction. Many students find that taking an online course helps hone their communication skills. The process of working with the written word allows you to clarify thinking and responses to assignments, emails and postings from other students.
See Reading Tips.
Remember communication and interaction are keys to your success. If you find that your course material challenges your comprehension and you have a question, do not wait. Contact your instructor whenever you encounter difficulty understanding the course content. Think carefully about what you require assistance with, as well as what you think would help you understand, then contact your instructor. You will be able to contact classmates and teachers privately through email or publicly on the class discussion board.
You instructor will be happy to help you and provide feedback. Make sure you are specific when communicating, and be prepared for further discussion to clarify where necessary. Be aware that you may have to wait for up to 48 hours over business days for a response.
Note that only a few specialized courses require on-line chats as part of the course curriculum, however, students can feel free to set up non-mandatory chats with each other to discuss course material, questions, or to study.
Here is a list of fairly common "rules of online etiquette":
The instructor and participants need to be polite and respectful.
The instructor will give timely response to questions or concerns raised by participants.
Personalize comments by using peers’ names when communicating.
Any personal comments will be directed to individuals’ private mailboxes.
TYPING IN CAPITALS infers shouting - please do not SHOUT!
If someone sends you a response to your inquiry or comment but you would like to discuss the topic or issue further, politely acknowledge the response you received and specifically indicate what you need to proceed or would like to address.
Some students enjoy the independence of online learning while others may find it uncomfortable at first. You may feel that you are missing the interaction and feedback from peers. Remember to introduce yourself, ask questions, and interact with other students online. You may also find it helpful to find study partners online as well.
Plan around and learn to overcome distractions; find a quiet time and place to study.
Be aware that feedback on assignments and projects is not always immediate.
Don’t let the novelty of computers be a barrier to achieving your educational goals. If you would like to further develop your computer skills, consider taking a computer course – these are available online as well! Perhaps there is a member of your family or a friend who can go over the basics with you. Remember, every time you acquire new skills, there is a learning curve. Your effort and commitment can make the difference. Always remember that help is available from your instructor and the Embanet Technical Support Team. Embanet Corporation is the Technical Service Provider for OntarioLearn.com. They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to assist learners with technical issues.
You can assess your computer skills and equipment by visiting:
Online courses are student evaluation-driven. We assess our on-line instructors and courses every term, and student input is critical to the continuing success of Online Education. All evaluation data is anonymous. Students of every online course are given the opportunity to complete an evaluation at the end of their course and student participation is highly encouraged and valued.
If you have concerns you would like addressed before a survey is issued, contact Karen Quinney.
Have a positive, proactive and winning attitude.
Exercise self-discipline, initiative, and determination to create a successful experience
Set specific goals.
Adhere to the learning and assignment schedule and have a high attention to detail.
Break tasks down – read lectures, read textbooks, review assignments and think about how to approach them.
Are aware of areas of challenge and develop a plan to deal with any learning gaps.
Use other resources such as classmates, other books, tutors.
Change study strategies if required.
Take opportunities to review material and notes regularly.
Think about the kinds of questions that can be asked about course material and tries to find answers or asks for more information.
Often do most of the hard work alone.
Schedule study sessions for difficult material during daylight hours when possible to maximize comprehension and retention.
Have a support group.
Take care of their health and well-being.
Make thoughtful comments and connect past learning with their current learning.
Approach classmates and instructor by focusing on the course material, indicating what they appreciate and understand about it.
When communicating with the instructor or classmates, focus attention on the course material including what they appreciate and understand about it as well as what they need further assistance or information on. Respond to content and not attitudes.
Use excellent "Netiquette" skills, and are always polite and professional.
Communicate respectfully and value the feedback of others.
Avoid arguing and focus on solutions not problems.
Readily admit when they are wrong.
Study more than once before a test or exam.
Are often nervous before a test.
Do not let other students "panic" them before a test or exam.
Visualize a good performance.
Read directions completely before beginning a test or exam.
Do not associate self-worth with a grade.
Accept that longer and more complex sentences along with new vocabulary used in new content can mean that academic reading will take more time and attention.
If you find it difficult to understand the course textbook, the instructor may be able to suggest another supplementary text, which may be of assistance.
Work around distractions. Find a quiet place and time for more difficult reading.
Create a study environment and identify a time and space when you can work with your best concentration. Get comfortable and use a good light.
Have a dictionary close by. In some cases you may need a specialized dictionary – medical or legal for example.
Reread material that you don’t understand and break it into smaller sections. Take notes in your own words.
Consider not highlighting material on the first reading. Avoid over-marking text. It is difficult to revisit this material if it is too cluttered.
Use titles and headings to guide you to understand the material.
Take short breaks; concentrating is tiring.
If you find reading a computer screen tiring, remember that you can download and save and/or print all course materials. Reading printed materials may also let you change your location for studying.
Review your written notes within 24 hours to help maximize retention.