Keeping up with Online Courses

You're taking an online course for a purpose!

Write down your reasons with specific, powerful, and visual details on why, how it fits with your bigger plans, and how you're going to feel when it's done.
Post your motivations where you will see them everyday.
Be intentional when you sit down to work on you class.

Plan where you're going to do work.

If you are at school, in an academically supported setting - you're set.
If you are at home, find someplace where you won't be interrupted. Go to that place every time you work on the class and never skip a study session.
Going to a library or coffee shop are also options and part of the benefits of accessing course material at any time.

Use your time wisely when you work on the course.

Give yourself time to do your reading and content work - lessons, tutorials, articles, and videos - take notes. Make it a habit to read over your notes every day or two and add what's missing.
Prepare to do really well on all evaluation. The pre/mastery/unit tests force you respond with your understanding - if you have difficulty, don't ignore what needs to be learned.
Working for 5 hours a week is a good rule of thumb for any course - a couple of two hour sessions and a one hour session is a good habit and should give you time to learn, review, and work on projects as you progress through the class.
If you need to take frequent breaks - set alarms for 20 minutes of intense work time - take a 5 minute break and get back to work. How long you work in one sitting is up to you.

Manage your time and limit your recreational screen time.

Put down your phone, don't play games, and don't watch television when you're doing your course.
You have time to do a course - give it priority and treat your study time as important.

Connect with your instructor

Helpful Resources