7 Habits for Success in an Online Classroom

Last Updated February 17, 2020

Working professionals are typically time-conscious people. Their schedules are often packed with obligations to work and family; there’s rarely dedicated time for extracurricular endeavors, and certainly not for attending class multiple times a week to further their educations.

This is one reason why online programs have grown in popularity recently. The flexible nature of online classes have allowed busy people to attend school without adjusting their schedules or sabotaging progress in their everyday lives.

However, with that added flexibility comes unique challenges. Online classes are typically very different than the traditional on-campus school experience. Here are a few tips to help you succeed:

1. Check for technology requirements – Before enrolling in a program, you should check to make sure you have the required technology to complete the class. In many cases, it’s as simple as having a functioning computer and an up-to-date Internet browser. In some instances, however, you might be required to print a document, or use a specific piece of software to view videos. If you don’t meet the technological requirements, professors can work with you and your constraints. But when you understand your limitations upfront, it allows you to better prepare for them down the line.
2. Stay organized – Traditional on-campus education generally has a set structure: attend class, discuss the curriculum, complete homework and repeat. Things like test dates and key learning points are front and center every time you show up to a class. Online learning, however, requires students to manage their own schedules and workloads. Students have the flexibility to decide when to study the curriculum and when to complete assignments, but with that flexibility comes responsibility. Stay on top of the coursework so it doesn’t overwhelm you.
3. Participate in your classes – Online courses can offer a distinct advantage to the traditional class setup: in online learning, you can visit your class as often as you like. It’s always in session. Learning materials are always available to you. Your grades are always available. Many online learning programs provide message boards to share ideas and emails so you can stay in touch with classmates and professors. Become an active participant. Log into your class every day, if possible, and ask questions, reach out to other students and review learning materials at your leisure.
4. Create a good workspace – If you’re an online student, you likely won’t have access to a classroom or a study hall, but you should still have a consistent space for study and learning. It might be a bedroom or a coffee shop; no matter where you choose to complete coursework, make sure it’s a quiet location that’s free of distraction. Keep things like cellphones and other electronics out of this space, and make sure the environment is comfortable.
5. Plan for obstacles – As a working professional, you likely have commitments beyond school. If not properly planned for, responsibilities with your children, your work or your technology have the potential to derail an entire semester of work in an online program. Depending on the class, one missed assignment can be catastrophic. That’s why you should sit down and plan for obstacles before they occur. Not just the obstacles, either. Plan for realistic solutions. Figure out ways to make your personal life, professional life and student life fit together comfortably.
6. Use school resources – Most programs offer some form of tutoring, and at the very least, some resource library you can access to answer questions and seek out guidance. Don’t hesitate to use these tools. Villanova University offers dedicated student advisors which can help you apply the curriculum you’re learning to your job, or in some other circumstances, find a career that better suits your interests and ambitions.
7. Be persistent – Online classes typically require a higher degree of accountability than traditional courses. They can be tough, complex and demanding on your time and setbacks aren’t uncommon. That’s why persistence, above all else, might be the biggest factor in your success. The most successful online students are generally those with great time management skills, who anticipate challenges and continue to make progress when the stresses of life and work start weighing on them. It’s very easy to become overwhelmed in an online program. If you want to be successful, you need to bear down, be accountable and let your persistence see you through to the end.