Tips for Starting out in Your Online Courses

Before the Course Starts

1. Make sure you feel comfortable with Haiku, our learning management system. The orientation is meant to help you with this, but if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email your facilitator and/or Erin Jones, our director (erin.jones@ileadschools.org).
2. Read and understand the course syllabus – Once you’re placed in your courses, you will be able to review the class policies. Be sure you’re familiar with what’s expected.
3. Engage the support of your facilitator to help you succeed. Our facilitators are happy to help! Make sure you let them know if you have any questions.
4. Spend time early in the course exploring all parts of the course.

Managing Your Time

1. Make online courses no less a priority than you would a face-to-face course.
2. Put yourself on a predictable schedule so that you allocate time for the course. Pace yourself, don’t procrastinate.
3. Manage the use of your time by blocking time for the semester on your calendar for reading, discussion board posts and projects. Also, block time for your exercise, meditation and eating right. It will make a big difference!
4. Make a routine of checking in on the iLEAD Online website and your course home. You don’t have to post every time you check the website, but make a plan to check it on a regular basis. Even go so far as to make appointments to post or read info on the website.
5. Don’t procrastinate. Work ahead when you can.

Protect Your Data

1. Backup! First and foremost, create your postings in a word processor and save it, to more than one place, then copy and paste it, or upload it.
2. This sounds very simple, but type your answers in separate documents before posting to a discussion board. This is beneficial for three reasons: 1. It allows you to layout and think through your answers before posting; 2. You have a record of the responses in case in the middle of posting you lose a connections; 3.  You keep an ongoing log of everything you have posted in the event that you need or want to refer to it long after the class is over.

Advice about Course Assignments

1. Read the course syllabus/policies, in detail. Most times that is where you find what you are looking for, or questioning.
2. Make sure to read the directions for your assignments. Take time to be sure you know exactly what’s expected of you, and don’t assume all your classes have the same expectations.
3. Try to make time and do individual research in related areas you are interested in more detail. It will help you get familiar with the online tools and likely will provide you with richer content to respond to postings and/or complete your projects.
4. ASK your facilitator BEFORE the due date, if you are not sure what to do. We’re here to support you!

Interacting Online with Others

1. Get to know your classmates and instructors.
2. Proofread your responses in the discussion board before you post.  Written posts can often be misinterpreted. For example, your humorous sarcasm might look offensive and threatening because readers don’t have the context or facial expressions (maybe use emoticons).
3. Try to build on others’ ideas and don’t be negative.

Enjoy the Experience

1. Enjoy learning by talking to others about what you’re learning. You’ll retain the most important lessons.
2. Enjoy the experience as it is over too soon!

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photo: northeastern.edu