As a relatively new online faculty member, I have some key takeaways from my first two terms of teaching. Although these suggestions aren’t directly related to classroom learning, they are great fundamentals to focus on in your first online course.
 
1. Buy the textbook … I repeat, buy the textbook. One of the most surprising things that I have noticed is there is a direct correlation between students who purchase the textbook prior to the start of the course and their academic success. For some reason, most students that are still chasing down textbooks during the first few weeks of the term do not seem to get out from being behind. As an added bonus, the earlier you purchase your textbook, the more options you will have to reduce your out-of-pocket cost through purchasing or renting a copy of the textbook.  Purchasing the textbook at the last minute usually means you are paying list price and possibly even express shipping.
 
2. Communicate with your faculty member. As an online student, you need to let your faculty member know about any challenges that you face. Life happens: children get sick, you have to travel for work, you’ve scheduled a vacation. Most faculty members are understanding and will make reasonable accommodations, but, as the student, you have to take the initiative.
 
3. Use citations. I’ll be the first one to admit citations are a drag. As an online student, it’s something you will need to become accustomed to using, and the sooner you do it, the more successful you will be. Citations not only protect you from plagiarism, they also ensure that you are going back to interact with the course content. Here’s a helpful site that I recommend to my students that aids in the process.
 
4. Participate in meaningful discussion. Discussion forums are part of many online courses. A discussion means a conversation. Feel free to challenge your classmates, interact, ask questions, and have some engaging educational fun. Do not just make hollow comments or statements like, “I agree.” Take advantage of the opportunity to share your experience and also to learn from the experiences of others.
 
5. Excel at written communication. In order to master an art, you have to practice. I was recently watching the HBO series, John Adams, and I was amazed at how the founding fathers were truly masters of written communication. Times have changed dramatically since then, and we now live in a world driven by Twitter that tries to communicate in 140 characters or less. As an online student, you will also need to hone your written communication skills. Although you may not be a master straight out of the gate, take advantage of the opportunity to communicate with other students in a learning environment. Remember, it’s okay to make mistakes in the classroom. If you keep honing your skill, after a few courses you will be a masterful communicator of the written word. If you need help, seek out academic resources at your institution—they should be available to every student, no matter if you are learning on ground or online. At Johnson & Wales University, students have access to Smarthinking, a free 24/7 service that offers a writing center and personalized feedback on assignments.
 
Contact one of our Online Admissions Associates today about Johnson & Wales online degree programs and what it’s like to pursue your academic goals online! Fill out the “Request Info” form on this page, call 855-JWU-1881 or email onlineadmissions@jwu.edu.