If you are a typical FIT student, you probably have a million different things going on at once. Between internships, jobs, commuting, family, friends, and enjoying your college years, FIT students have a lot on their plate! With your crazy schedule, online classes may be perfect for you! From my personal experiences, online classes provided me with the flexibility to “attend” class and get my coursework done on my own time. Having that flexibility allowed me to work on the assignments in chunks, and not all at once in a single sitting. However, with online classes, they can often be twice as hard and twice the amount of work, since you are teaching yourself in coursework you’d otherwise learn in class in addition to the homework that is assigned. Here are my tips for surviving online classes:
- If you can fit the “in person” class into your schedule…do it. Online classes are often a last resort for when you need 2-3 days a week to work or intern. If the in-person class meets during a time that fits into your schedule, opt for that form of learning instead!
- Don’t look at the module’s coursework a day before it’s due. This may seem self-explanatory, but you absolutely cannot leave your online coursework for the very last minute. Often modules are set up 2 weeks at a time. While that may seem easy and breezy, there’s a reason why you are given 2 weeks to do the work!
- Go to the library. At the library, you not only have the textbook resources, but you also have the additional computer resources. I loved being able to work off of two screens while working. I could use one computer for research and the other to access my coursework.
- Communicate with your professor frequently. Since you will never actually meet your professor, it is important that you voice any concerns that you have about the class, missing links and articles, and where you stand with your grades.
- Stay organized. While you should stay organized regardless of the method of teaching, staying organized with online classes is especially important. Classes are often taught in chronological order, so if your binder is a mess, taking the midterm may be a mess as well!
Ashley