Tips for Succeeding as an Online Student

Whether you need to retake high school classes or simply are working on a different timetable than most people, online classes can be a great outlet to continue your learning. At The American Academy, our comprehensive online high school classes are designed to fit your timetable and workload limits while giving you the education you need.

Online classes offer a number of convenience points for many people, but this doesn’t mean they’re simply easier all the time or require little work. Success in these classes is earned just like it is in a classroom setting, and you’ll need to have proper work habits if you want to succeed. What are some tips to keep in mind for succeeding in online courses?

Time Management

Online courses offer you new ways to prioritize your time, but this doesn’t mean you can just forget about them for weeks at a time and call it good. You’ll have more control over your time than a classroom setting, but you’ll also be responsible for managing it correctly – scheduling study time, completing assignments and taking online tests. In the same way you’d make a schedule for any other important part of your life, make a schedule for online course completion as well.

Technical Requirements

Be sure to get clear on any and all technical requirements you may be faced with at the very beginning of your course, and clarify with your instructor if you have any concerns. You don’t want to get weeks into a course before realizing you can’t access certain materials or take tests due to some software problem.

Connect Early

Speaking of your instructor, it’s best to reach out to them early and establish proper lines of communication. You won’t see this person on a day to day basis like you would in a classroom setting, so it’s important to know how you can get ahold of them if you need help (most will use the course’s email system, but others prefer text, direct message or a different email address). The last thing you want is to do badly in a course because you had no resources in a pinch.

Organization

Beyond just scheduling, a general sense of organization is vital. Keep a specific workspace dedicated to your online course(s), and track due dates and project statuses. Don’t let details fall through the cracks – remember, these are 100 percent your responsibility in an online course setting.
Ready to continue your learning through a flexible, accredited online source? Contact our educators at The American Academy to learn more about our programs.