Learning Online Tips: Page 4

Accept and Value Feedback and Criticism

Remember online courses provide more opportunities for personal feedback than you would receive in a traditional classroom. Your instructors will be reading and responding to your work.

Take advantage of those opportunities that will help you monitor, assess and improve the quality of your work. Remember to ask for and give constructive not destructive criticism.

Know How to Work Online and Offline

Decide what work you need to do online, sitting at the computer connected to the Internet and what work may be more comfortable for you sitting in your living room or stretched out on your bed. Think about your own learning style and decide what environment works best for you.

Don't be shy!

If you have questions or problems, make sure to speak up and let the instructor know about it at the earliest opportunity. Just like you would raise your hand in class to ask for a question or clarification, you can send an email or instant text message to your instructor to get help. Or send a question out to other learners in your class through email or posting a question on the Conversation Café. Remember if you have problems or questions, it is your responsibility to communicate with the instructor as soon as possible.

Communicate your feedback!

Teaching and learning online using the Internet is still quite new to everybody. It would be helpful for your instructors and the coordinator if you can provide feedback about the class. Do not wait until the end of the class to communicate what aspects of the class are working well for you, and what things are not working so well. Frame your questions and observations in a positive manner and always comment from the perspective of how your comments can improve the course for future learners.