How to Manage a Distance Learning Schedule

Making the decision to return to college (or to start from scratch, for that matter) after a period of time has passed since graduation is intimidating to say the least. If you're like many adults entering into the educational system, that's not all that's being juggled. There's home, work, family and other personal responsibilities that must be met on a daily basis. In order to solve this, some choose to take distance learning courses through colleges in order to earn their degrees. This saves commuting time, gas money and it allows students to work when they have time (so long as course requirements meet deadline). How can they manage their distance learning schedules? Let's take look.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Internet connection
• E-mail
• Pens or pencils
• Daily planner
• Wall calendar
• Notebook or binder containing filler paper

1. Print out a copy of each syllabus for your class or work directly from the computer screen. If there are any date discrepancies (which is common, unfortunately), e-mail your professor for clarification. Understanding the course, it's requirements and deadlines are all very important from the very beginning of each course.
2. Once you're set on what's due when, take out your notebook and assign one page to each week. On each page, write out what's due for each class. Be sure to add in dates, additional notes and any other information that's been provided by your professor. These notebook pages will act as your guide and must be updated when the professor makes new announcements from week to week.
3. Once the "to do lists" are completed in the beginning of the notebook, break each class down further by school day. If you're taking four classes, map out what you need to do each day (in the form of notes) in order to complete your assignments. This step is for mapping out what needs to be accomplished, we'll get to when it'll be accomplished in a moment. An example would be:
   
   Math: Section 2.1: 1-35 every other odd, 2.2: 1-61 every other odd, 2.3: 1-27 every other odd, 2.4: 1-53 every other odd. Break down how many problems need to be completed each day in order to complete this assignment before it's due at the end of the week.
4. Once you're notebook is set up, take out your daily planner. Mark out everything that's due throughout the duration of each course. Make notes for trips to the library for research projects or term papers. Mark out dates for studying for quizzes, taking quizzes, studying for exams, and taking proctored exams.
5. After the daily planner has been organized, it's important to mark everything off on a wall calendar also. This will keep courses on track, allow students to work ahead when needed and make things clear to the family about what you're doing.
6. Taking the time to do this work is imperative to success. You have all the work mapped out in your notebook, daily planner and wall calendar. All of that seems like a job in itself, but it's worth all the effort. Like a puzzle, piece in when you have time to work on all the action items you noted in the notebook and in the daily planner. If you notice you're falling short on time, find support through family members (are they picking up the slack for you around this house? can someone else run that errand? and so on).

Tips & Warnings

• It's a lot less frustrating to keep track of everything if you take the time to make note of everything in a notebook.
• Check things off as they're completed so a greater sense of accomplishment can be experienced.
• Talk often to your peers about what you're doing.
• Don't be afraid to talk to your peers about the need for additional support if you're struggling with your courses.
• There's nothing wrong with hiring a tutor for particularly challenging courses.
• Be sure to clarify all questions with your instructor the day the questions arise.