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Interacting with online professors can be daunting. Often, virtual communication is more difficult than a face-to-face meeting. But, theres no need to fear. Follow these ten suggestions and youll be able to get the help you need. 1. Relax. Your online professors want to help you. Dont be afraid to ask for help when its necessary. 2. Introduce yourself. As soon as you begin an online class, take a minute to introduce yourself to the professor. Say hello in a class chat or drop him a quick email. Youll be more comfortable dealing with someone you know if a problem arises. 3. Seek answers from designated areas first. Professors are eager to help with legitimate problems. But, they dont want to waste time when the answers can be found elsewhere. If you have a basic class question, first seek solutions from the class syllabus, website, and general discussion boards. 4. Re-read your emails. Emails can often be misunderstood. Whenever sending an email to your professor, re-read to make sure that your message is clear and your tone is intentional. 5. Listen. When you receive a response, make sure you pay attention to what the professor is saying. Re-reading his emails will help you avoid missing the details. 6. Approach before the student rush. After a challenging assignment or an important test, your professor is going to be inundated with emails. Anticipate any problems and try to approach him beforehand, when hell have more time to give your concern attention. 7. Ask politely. Even an online professor is in the wrong, its always smart to keep your communications polite. Remember that emails, message board posts, and chat discussions are often saved. 8. Expect fairness. Avoid asking for favors that would be unfair to other students. If you have a legitimate need, your professor will be more willing to work with you than if you just want to whine about a grade. 9. Dont go over his head. In extreme cases, online students may find it necessary to complain about a course to the school administration. But, its almost always best to solve problems directly with the professor. If you have a non-urgent complaint about the course, work with the instructor or save it for the evaluations. 10. If web communications break down, ask for a phone meeting. Sometimes emails and internet chats just dont cut it. If you have a concern that isnt getting solved online, ask your professor to set up a phone meeting. If you live near the schools brick-and-mortar campus you may even want to meet in person.
http://distancelearn.about.com/od/managingyourwork/a/familyandschool.htm
Balancing school and family life can be a challenge, even for online learners. While many older adults choose to continue their education through the internet, they often find their study time interrupted by spouses and children who miss them and dont understand the need for alone time. Here are a few suggestions for maintaining good relationships with those you love while studying online. 1. Set some ground rules for all parties. Chances are youll need some peace and quiet to get your work done. Setting specific times and posting a schedule on your office door (or kitchen fridge) can be a great way to form a common understanding and keep resentments from forming. Let your family know when youll be available and when they shouldnt disturb you. If youre in an online chat meeting, for example, you may want to hang a do not disturb sign on the door. Let children know what instances are appropriate for interruption (a stuffed bear causing the toilet to overflow) and which are inappropriate (they have a sudden urge for ice-cream). This street goes both ways, however, and youll also need to set some ground rules for yourself. Be available to your family during your off-hours and give them the attention they need. Let them know that they can trust you to be available when you say you will, and theyll be more willing to wait. 2. Dont forget play time. Online courses can get intense at times, particularly if youre enrolled in more than one. But, dont get so caught up that you forget to have fun. If need be, set aside a family night to play games or find entertainment with your children or a date night to spend a little quality time with your spouse. Youll get much needed relaxation and theyll appreciate seeing you in a less stressful mood. 3. Be an example. If you have school-aged children, use your own studies to set an example for how they can succeed in their own classes. Try setting aside a study time each afternoon when you study along side your kids. Serve a nutritious snack (think smoothie and apples rather than green beans) and play relaxing music. Chances are theyll mimic the study skills you model and their grades will benefit. Meanwhile, youll get a chance to complete your own studies while spending some time with your kids. Its a win-win. 4. Involve your family in your learning. Dont just slink away into the back room and come out, red-eyed and silent, after a few hours of intense studying. Let your family know youre accomplishing something meaningful. If you discover something interesting, bring it up at the dinner table or discuss it while driving your kids to school. Let your spouse tag along on field trips to the art museum or city counsel. Chances are theyll enjoy being involved in this part of your life and youll appreciate the chance to share it.
5 Study Secrets
http://distancelearn.about.com/od/studyskills/a/testtakingtips.htm
Most students hate tests. They hate the feeling of trying to remember the answer to a question, worrying that they focused on the wrong material, and waiting to receive their results. Whether you learn at a traditional school or study from the comfort of your own home, chances are youll have to sit through many a test-taking experience. But, there are a few tricks you can learn now to avoid the worry before youre in the heat of the moment. Give these five proven study tips a try and see how much better you feel during your next exam. 1. Survey your textbook or workbook before you read. Take a couple of minutes to find the glossary, index, study questions, and other important information. Then, when you sit down to study, youll know where to find the answers you are looking for. Make sure you read any study questions before you read the chapter. These questions let you know what you can probably expect in any upcoming tests, papers, or projects. 2. Attack your textbook with sticky notes. As you read, summarize (write down the main points in just a few sentences) each section of the chapter on a post-it note. After you have read the entire chapter and summarized each section, go back and review the post-it notes. Reading the post-it notes is an easy and fast way to review information and, since each note is stuck in the section it summarizes, you can easily find the information you need. 3. Use a graphic organizer to take notes when you read. A graphic organizer is a form you can use to organize information. As you read, fill out the form with important information. Then, use your graphic organizer to help you study for the test. Try using the Cornell notes worksheet (you can download an example at Jim Burkes website). Not only does this organizer let you record important terms, ideas, notes, and summaries, it also lets you quiz yourself on that information by folding the answers upside down. 4. Make your own practice test. After you finish reading, pretend you are a professor who is writing a test for the chapter. Review the material you just read and make up your own practice test. Include all vocabulary words, study questions (theyre usually at the beginning or end of the chapter), and highlighted words you can find, as well as any other information you think is important. Take the test youve created to see if you remember the information. If not, go back and study some more. 5. Create visual flashcards. Flashcards arent just for primary students. Many college students find them useful as well! Before you take a test, make flashcards that will help you remember important terms, people, places, and dates. Use one 3x5 index for each term. On the front of the card, write down the term or question you need to answer and draw a picture that will help you remember it. This will help ensure that you grasp the study material as youll find that its almost impossible to sketch something you dont really understand. On the back of the card write down the definition of the term or the answer to the question. Review these cards and quiz yourself before your actual test.
Reading Strategies
Reading Efficiently by Reading Intelligently
http://www.mindtools.com/rdstratg.html
Whether they're project documents, trade journals, blogs, business books or ebooks, most of us read regularly as part of our jobs, and to develop our skills and knowledge. But do you ever read what should be a useful document, yet fail to gain any helpful information from it? Or, do you have to reread something several times to get a full understanding of the content? In this article, we're looking at strategies that will help you read more effectively. These approaches will help you get the maximum benefit from your reading, with the minimum effort.
Read Actively
When you're reading a document or book in detail, it helps if you practice "active reading" by highlighting and underlining key information, and taking notes(member-only article) as you progress. (Mind Maps are great for this). This emphasizes information in your mind, and helps you to review important points later. Doing this also helps you keep your mind focused on the material, and stops you thinking about other things.