How to Achieve Success in the Online Course

This is my teaching blog for this course. I hope this blog can offer another communication channel to assist you in this course. This blog will be the forum for me to offer tips, strategies and guidance so that you can be successful in this course. It is normal for students to experience a certain level of anxiety in taking an online course, especially if it is the first online course you are taking. However, you will gain experiences navigating and functioning in the online learning environment as the course moves along. Here are a few suggestions for you. Hopefully, you find them useful. 1. Lots of students think that the online course takes less time and efforts. It is a misconception. Contrarily, you need to spend more time and efforts in the online course. The online course is text-based. We write a lot slower than we talk. For example, it takes more time and efforts to participate in class discussions online than in face-to-face discussions. However, the pay-off is the flexibility of time and place. You do not need to travel to the campus for most class sessions and you can choose the most convenient time for your learning. 2. You need to log in at least twice a week. Ideally, you should log in every other day to keep yourself well informed of all the development in the course. When a mail is sent through the blackboard, it does not go to your Internet mailbox, it remains in the blackboard vista. Therefore, you do need to check your mail from time to time so that you do not miss any information. You do not need to stay on line for two hours and a half at one time. You can space your time between log-ins. 3. Come to face-to-face meetings. Bring all of your concerns and problems to face-to-face meetings. Face-to-face meetings are helpful in clarifying student confusions. You’ll learn new technology skills that you’ll need to complete your assignments. You will also have opportunity to meet your group members face-to-face to discuss group projects. 4. Read, read, and read carefully. The online course is text-based. Therefore, you need to spend time reading all the instructions carefully. Pay attention to the deadlines for the assignments and class discussions. Points would be deducted for late assignments. Worse, once a discussion closes, no one is allowed to post any more. Read carefully about the instructions for each assignment and discussion. Follow instructions. All the assignments are posted online for the whole semester, which should help you to plan your time and work throughout the course. 5. Communication is the key. There are various ways to communicate with me. I have set up a "Faculty Office" where you can post your questions. You can e-mail me if you desire. All the questions and mail will be answered within 48 hours. 6. This is a discussion-based course. All the assignments are based on class discussions. Without participating in class discussions, you will not be able to do your assignments. We also have group projects. Your discussion performance is seriously evaluated. Follow discussion rules. Rules are posted for each discussion activity.