In the article Study Guide: Five Steps to Success in Online Learning there are five steps in which you can be successful learning online: Take responsibility, set goals, participate, print lectures and reading materials, and apply what you learned.
The first step is right where it needs to be on top. When you take responsibility to better your future, you are taking responsibility for your life. When put in charge of your own outcome of a grade or credits received through online courses the first step of responsibility will show how dedicated you are in achieving your goals.
Leading right into step two, which is to set the goals you want to receive through your learning experience. When setting goals it is crucial not to procrastinate, otherwise you are setting yourself up for failure. It can be very easy to procrastinate when taking classes online, any consequences for late or incomplete assignments you would not have to deal with them face-to-face.
Step three deals with participation, if you are a shy person this is a great thing. There are many resources available to stay in touch and accomplish your goals and you don't have to physically be there to do it! There is a down side by not having to deal with a teacher face-to-face it allows you to continue in the same pattern and will not have a successful experience learning online.
Print lectures and reading materials at this step I find it is easier to follow and study things that are in hard copy than reading them off a computer, which really strain the eyes. Lastly the article tells you to apply what you have learned. There is such a thing as all the power but not enough knowledge to use it. If you take a class and learn anything from it, take the knowledge and apply it, then you will see the power in which you gained.
Taking a online class is becoming the more preferred choice and CMC is being Incorporated more daily than it has ever been. The bottom line we communicate everyday and CMC is it.
