Online Study Habits

You are entering the exciting world of online study! Online study is not about being good with computers. Online study is about using a communication tool to connect with others and gain maximum control over your learning experience. You will find that you need to find your own motivation to study, discover your own most effective ways of studying, and the best times in each week for all the magic to happen.

Anticipating Your Learning Needs

You might start now by taking the learning style quizzes listed in External Resources on the left, and considering the information they give you. What does it tell you about how to use your online course to the best advantage for your own learning personality?

Did any give slightly different results? If so, did this have to do with the specific questions? You may even find ideas for study activities in the questions that you never thought of before that you'll want to try out!

Learning from Experience

Now, read these resources by those who have tested the online-study experience:

What Makes a Successful Online Student?
This paper, prepared by the University of Illinois Online Network, describes the skills and attitudes that contribute to successful online study. It is part of a broader resource, titled the Online Education Overview, which focuses on various aspects of online study that may be of interest to you.
Dispatches from Distance Education, Where Class Is Always in Session
In an article written by Jeffrey R. Young, published in the Chronicle of Higher Education, seven students discuss how they learn-and live-through a regimen of online courses.

Finally, have a look at this self-analysis and planning tool (as well as some of the other learning resources available at the same site):
http://www.bucks.edu/~specpop/Lrnprfil.htm

Related Subjects

HCO Policies & Grading. Start preparing for success by knowing where to look to be sure of expectations.

External Resources

Learning Styles Inventory. Includes a graphic of the results.
Learning Styles Questionnaire. From NC State University.
Learning Styles Questionnaire. This one at University of South Dakota Web site. Adapted from Instructor Magazine.
Learning Style Quiz. Offered in the Homework Tips section of About.com.
Dissertation timeline calculator at the University of Minnesota.Tool good for any class or research project. Plug in beginning and ending dates, and it creates a schedule of stages.