Did you know that AU offers online courses that provide a flexible and accessible option for achieving your academic and career goals?
Whether this is your first or fifth online course, consider these tips to ensure your success as a distance learning student.
Stay in touch with your online professor.
Research suggests that professors can be an important role model for online students*. Don’t be afraid to email your professor to ask for help when you need it or for assistance resolving any conflicts with other students.
Check your email and Blackboard often.
Just as you will want to email your professor to obtain help, your professor will likely reach out via email and/or Blackboard to provide important information. Don’t forget to stay up-to-date on any new posted messages, announcements, or emails to ensure you remain on track in your course.
Build relationships with your online classmates.
Creating a network with your fellow classmates can greatly influence your engagement with, and success in, your online class. One way to do so is to read and respond to discussion boards more often than what is required by your professor. This gives you an opportunity to build a network of peers you can depend upon when you need help.
What are other helpful tips for succeeding in online courses at AU?
*Brown, M., Hughes, H., Keppell, M., Hard, N., and Smith, L. (2015). Stories from Students in Their First Semester of Distance Learning. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 16(4).
