How to Be a Successful Online Learner

If you are considering taking an online course or program, here are a few suggestions to help you be more successful.

Treat the online course or program as if you were attending in-person.
Treat it like work (being on time, troubleshooting in advance, treating others as you would colleagues, etc.).
Look at the schedule and set goals for yourself to keep you motivated, organized, and focused.
Actively participate in discussions, activities, assignments, Q and A’s, group sharing, etc.
Avoid having your discussion and answers go off-topic and remember that others are trying to focus on the topic of discussion.
Provide your email or phone number if you wish to have others connect with you outside of the course/program times, in order to create professional relationships and to have extra support from classmates.
Have your video on and stay muted unless otherwise specified.
Be self-aware: everyone can see behind you, see you and what you’re doing, your body language and facial expressions.
Have a quiet and organized workspace to learn from, minimizing distractions around you.
Make sure you have a strong internet connection in the workspace you will be using.
Use breaks (always turn off your video and mute your microphone) to get up, stretch, eat a healthy snack, drink water, and avoid excessive screen time.
Reflect on the day’s learning once the course has ended for the day.
For better audio, use headphones.
Avoid distractions by turning off your phone or having it in another room, having only needed materials and resources at your workspace and closing the door (if applicable).
Use how you learn best to maximize your learning experience. Take notes, follow along on-screen, ask relevant questions, give others opportunities to share, etc.