Step1
**They're not easier**
Many students will automatically assume that an online class is easier than it's on-campus cousin. Well let me tell you that's not true!
We'll teach the same material online as you'd get on-campus. The only difference is in the way we present that material. But it's not a boiled down or lightweight version as many students initially think.
Step2
**Be prepared to do lots of reading**
With online learning, you'll do a lot of reading. And that's not to load you up with extra work, but rather because we're not physically there to explain things verbally.
And so we need to use the written word to explain ourselves to you. That means your lessons will be written out and you'll read them. Now some of us will use different ways to do this.
For example, some will use PowerPoint with graphics and bullet points. Others will use PDF files. And many use MS Word docs. But regardless, expect to be reading your lessons and any other material we'll give you.
TIP: Many students will print them out so they can read them at their leisure. It's also good for referring back to or keeping in a notebook.
Step3
**Discussions**
Since we're not physcially there in the classroom to have verbal discussions on key concepts or additional material, we'll often substitute online discussion boards for these. And we'll use them to foster a more classroom feeling and allow you to interact with your classmates. Plus, we'll use them to get some feedback from you.
So anticipate the use of discussion boards during your class. And many of us, including myself, don't simply grade you for posting a comment. We're grade the quality of your posts. In other words, "ditto" won't cut it in my classes!
It's also important to understand that some of us, like myself have graded discussions, and others do not. In my classes, some are required and are graded, while others are not. In other words, I'll have required discussions that you receive a grade for, and optional ones that are ungraded and up to individual students to decide if they want to participate.
Often times, these discussions will help to clarify key concepts during class. Or give you a good sense of what to expect on exams. And it will help you further master and grasp the material you're learning about.
Step4
**Manage your time**
Many students incorrectly assume that online classes won't involve lots of time. Wrong! You may be required to log in multiple times or at specific times during the week. Or material may be posted at the beginning of a week, yet updated later on during that same week.
So it's very important you manage your time well with online classes! I suggest checking in periodically throughout the week, or at least at the beginning and near the end just to see if something has changed, or additional stuff has been posted.
For example, I might post some additional information or some clarifications later on during the week based upon student questions I've received. Or I might have a new item that I think students will enjoy.
So I think it's a good idea to check back to see if anything has been updated.
Step5
**Don't wait to study**
With classroom learning, it's quite common for students to prep for exams (tests) right before it. Sometimes, the night before the exam. I've been there myself when I was a students, so I know what it's like.
With online classes, I strongly suggest you not wait until the last minute to begin your studying! That's because it will hurt your grades, just as it would with a classroom course. So I suggest beginning your studying at least a week or so beforehand. That way, you'll be able to brush up on key concepts, ask questions, and still keep up with current material.
Remember, just because there's a test doesn't mean we stop new material. Online, we'll give you a test while at the same time posting new stuff. And so, you may have discussions, assignments, etc happening while you're suppose to be studying for your exam.
This is why managing your time well is extremely important to online success! And prepping more in advance for tests will help you juggle things better. Especially when material on the exam is based on older stuff we've already covered.
For example, in my classes, I may test something that's from last week, but also includes concepts from weeks before. That's because material builds upon older stuff. And so you need to remember the old stuff in order to do the new.
Step6
**Expect multiple question types**
Some instructors may use one type of question on all his or her exams. For instance, you may be given all multiple choice. However, in my classes, I use a wide variety of questions!
You'll see multiple choice, true/false, short answer, matching, etc. Why? Because with multiple choice or true/false, it's very easy to guess. And sometimes, you'll guess right. So to better determine how well you know your stuff, I'll use other question types where you cannot simply guess. You either know the concepts or you don't!
So I strongly suggest you prepare yourself for a variety of questions. And with online classes, we can run our exams in various ways. For instance, we can set a time limit. Or we can make them longer than we would with an on-campus class.
TIP: Anticipate a longer exam with online classes.
This is because we may not have the time restriction that comes with an on-campus class. For example, if my on-campus class is from 8-8:50, then my exam is limited to those 50 minutes.
But with an online class, I might not have that same limitation! For instance, my online class simply runs the length of the quarter or semester. But it's up 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And that means I could make my exam longer.
Now this doesn't mean it will be longer. But merely that it might. So I suggest preparing yourself for more questions online than on-campus.
Step7
**Deadlines**
With online classes, some instructors will remind you of upcoming deadlines. Others will post it once and then it's up to you to remember. So I strongly suggest you write deadlines down so you won't forget nor miss them.
Remember, some instructors deduct points for lates. Others do not accept them. And so your grade could suffer simply because you forgot a deadline. And it's not an instructor's job to remind you of an upcoming deadline!
Bosses in the working world very often don't remind you of upcoming deadlines. It's the employee's job to remember them. The same goes in the classroom. It's the student's job to keep track of deadlines.
All the instructor needs to do is tell you once. And if you forget or didn't write it down, then that's your fault. But as I said, there are instructors who will remind you. However, that's not an automatic nor always the case.
My point is to write things down on one spot so you won't forget, nor loose it!
Step8
**Studying lessons**
Whenever you are given a new lesson, I suggest you print it out if possible and highlight the key concepts and new terminology. This will make it easier for you to know what's important and new. When studying for your exams, you'll be able to immediately go back to it and refresh yourself.
I also suggest highlighting page numbers we may refer you to in your text. Or a table, figure, etc that we mention. This way, you won't have to do tons of flipping through pages. You'll be able to flip to important pages with key info.
TIP: We may test what's not in our lesson notes!
Remember, lesson notes are supplemental to your book and not a substitute! This is a big mistake that many students make. They assume that our lesson notes is everything they need. Not true. You still need to read your book and our notes.
In other words, your textbook and our lesson notes compliment each other. They're not substitutes for one another! And remember that we could and often do test what's not in our notes. This way, we can see if you've actually read your book.
With my classes, there are sometimes things in my notes that aren't in the book. And things in the book that aren't in my lesson notes. With my exams, students need to know information from both sources--book and my notes.
So view your book as a resource, with your notes supplementing it!
Authority 
