Time Management

Balancing schoolwork with a career and family can be challenging. To be successful, the student must be motivated, committed, and organized. You will have to plan – and follow – a schedule for accomplishing your assignments and tests. MSU Online has provided several tips for online students to be successful.

Design your strategy for your online course in the same format as a campus course:

• Pick three 60 minute periods during the week and dedicate them to attendance in your online class.
• Establish set study times, put these dates and times on a calendar, and make them part of a weekly routine.
• Try to schedule these times when you are at peak proficiency and can be left undisturbed.
• Plan your courses from hardest to least difficult, and plan more time for the difficult courses.
• Plan a "cooling off" period between virtual classroom work and studying.
• Don't forget to build in time for meals and family.
• Put reminders up in your room or study area focusing on your goals.
• Review your calendar a week in advance making any necessary changes. Always keep your goals in perspective.
• When tests are planned, adapt your schedule for extra study time.
• Carry study materials with you and use any 'dead time' to study.
• Build time in your schedule for weekly exercise, date night, or family night. This will force you to walk away from the course work, rejuvenate, and spend quality time with family and friends.
• Consider your schedule a firm but flexible guide.

Technology Skills

To be successful as a UMC Online Learning student, you must maintain access to a reliable computer, with Internet access throughout your course. Some courses also require specific courseware, so know what is required before you start.

A basic level of technical competence is necessary for the online learner. If you are new to computers and the Internet in general, you may be unfamiliar with some of the terminology that may be used in the online environment. We have provided a list of some commonly used computer terms. If you are unfamiliar with any of these terms, please take a moment to look over their definitions.

Learning Styles

It takes a special individual to get the most out of online learning. Learning online is an adventure that will expose you to some entirely new - and not always comfortable - experiences. The ability to be flexible and remain open minded is critical to having a positive experience as you move into this uncharted territory. Being an active learner - one who is willing to shape your life and direct your studies - is an important attribute. Also being a visual learner, who is able to learn easily from reading and writing, is another big plus. If you learn best by physically hearing an instructor, then you may want to reconsider whether classroom learning is a better option for you.

Online learning is great for some, but it is not for everyone. We have provided two different assessments of E-Learning potential. First, the Self Evaluation for Potential Evaluation of Online Students from the Illinois Online Network will provide you with feedback on how well your circumstances, lifestyle, and educational needs match the characteristics of a successful online student.  Second, the Assessment of Online Learning Style from the UMC will help you to further understand which skills are necessary for you to be a successful online learner. I encourage you to look at both assessments.

Other Skills

Some other skills that are needed in the online learning environment are reading, note-taking, study, and test taking skills. Below are links to some additional resources if you need help in these areas. These are always available, so feel free to refer back to them often.