9 Tips to Being a Successful Online Learner (2024)

Students are taking advantage of online degree programs in record numbers. In 2017, six million students enrolled in at least one online course to help advance their careers, change jobs, or fulfill personal goals.

It should come as no surprise that enrollment numbers are growing, as online degree programs offer many unique benefits to learners, including a high degree of flexibility. Online courses allow you to learn whenever, wherever, and however works best for you, making it easier to earn a degree while balancing work and family commitments. And without having to attend classes in person, online learning affords you access to top degree programs across the country that might have otherwise been inaccessible or highly inconvenient.

Are Online Classes Easier?

It’s a misconception, that online degrees are easier than their on-campus counterparts. An online program demands the same focus and motivation as is required in a traditional classroom setting. Factor in additional distractions that online students encounter—such as children in the home while taking classes—and the workload can easily feel more challenging.

Online courses present challenges if you’re not prepared. But, if you develop skills for effective online learning, you’ll find the courses can be an excellent alternative to a traditional classroom setting. Here are some tips for online learning success to make sure you get the most value out of your next class.

9 Online Learning Strategies for Success

1. Get Organized

Before the semester begins, ensure you have the technical capability to access the required course materials, including e-books, online tools, and course websites. Take the time to practice navigating the online system so you’ll be prepared for your first class. This way you can focus on learning instead of struggling to log in five minutes into the lecture. Also, just as you would in a physical classroom, make sure you have materials on hand to take reliable notes. Keeping a record of your work throughout the semester will come in handy during final exams.

2. Set Up Your Workspace

Set up a dedicated learning environment for studying. By completing your work there repeatedly, you’ll begin to establish a routine. Not all students are alike—some work best listening to music, while others need peace and quiet. Experiment to discover which type of setting boosts your productivity. Whether your workspace is your kitchen table or the corner booth in a local coffee shop, just make sure you have a strong internet connection to access your coursework.

When choosing a workspace, try to limit distractions as much as possible, both physically and online. If you’re at home, resist the urge to turn on the television or finish that last load of laundry. Online, use apps like Freedom or ColdTurkey to limit interruptions and block social media sites that might compete for your attention during lectures.

3. Figure Out How You Learn Best

Once you’ve established where you’ll learn, think about when and how you accomplish your best work. If you’re a morning person, make time to study first thing. More of a night owl? Set aside an hour or two after dinner to cozy up to your computer. If the kids require your morning and evening attention, try to carve out a study session mid-day while they’re at school. Brew your usual cup of coffee, put on your go-to playlist, and do whatever you need to get into the zone and down to business.

Not everyone learns the same way, so think about what types of information help you best grasp new concepts and employ relevant study strategies. If you’re a visual learner, for example, print out transcripts of the video lectures to review. Learn best by listening? Make sure to build time into your schedule to play and replay all audio- and video-based course content.

4. Make A Schedule

Without a professor regularly checking in, it’s important to leverage your time management skills. Glance over the syllabus before your first day of class and make note of major assignments. Mark them on a calendar you check regularly so you know what workload is coming in the weeks ahead. Don’t forget to factor in prior commitments that may interfere with your regular study schedule, such as weddings or vacations, so you can give yourself enough extra time to complete assignments.

Commit to making your online coursework part of your weekly routine. Break up your workload into chunks by dedicating certain hours each week to reading, watching lectures, writing assignments, studying, and participating in forums. Then, set reminders for yourself to complete the tasks. Treat these blocks of time as seriously as you would a face-to-face lesson by showing up, letting others know you are unavailable during those times, and consistently using your designated workspace. Set a timer and give yourself permission to move on to other tasks once the time is up.

5. Be an Active Participant

Take initiative by reading materials, reaching out to classmates and instructors, and conducting additional research as needed. Productive online learners focus on acquiring and utilizing feedback for future coursework. Students who take time to engage with their instructors and classmates also tend to have the most success in their classes.

6. Stay Connected

Just because you aren’t physically in the same location, doesn’t mean you can’t get to know your fellow classmates. Build relationships with other students by introducing yourself and engaging in online discussion boards. Make an effort to ask and answer questions to enhance your understanding of the course material and build a bond with other students. Your peers can be a valuable resource when preparing for exams or asking for feedback on assignments. Make connections with the other students in your online classroom and you’ll have a built-in study group at your fingertips.

Don’t be afraid to reach out to your instructor to introduce yourself or ask questions, either. They are eager to engage one-on-one with their students, whether online or in person. And, if you do fall behind, speak up. Don’t wait until an assignment is almost due to ask questions or report issues. Email your professor and be proactive in asking for help.

7. Have an Open Mind

Some online learners feel more comfortable sharing their thoughts and opinions virtually than in the classroom. Online learning provides students with the time they need to actively reflect and organize their thoughts before answering a question or making a comment. Having an open mind helps students interact with the material—and fosters a more engaged and open community.

8. Ask Questions

The best online learners don’t hesitate to ask questions. They aren’t afraid to request clarification or guidance from other students and instructors. By doing this, they avoid confusion, become more engaged with the content, broaden their knowledge, and deepen relationships with their classmates. Posting to a group forum also allows online learners to ask questions other students may have. Professors encourage this type of interaction and value the community it builds.

9. Hold Yourself Accountable

Set goals at the beginning of the semester and check in with yourself weekly. In a traditional classroom setting, you’ll often receive verbal or visual reminders of an assignment’s upcoming due date. But without a professor actively reminding you, it’s up to you to make sure you’ve allotted enough time to complete the work so you’re not starting an assignment the day before it’s due. If you’re having trouble holding yourself responsible, pair up with a fellow classmate, or enlist the help of a spouse or friend to check in as an accountability partner. By being organized, proactive, and self-aware, you can get the most from your online class even when life outside of school becomes chaotic.

Setting Yourself Up For Success

Earning an online degree is a great opportunity to impress future employers and advance your career in a way that works for you. Adjusting to the nuances of distance learning, however, can take some getting used to. Use the nine tips and strategies above to become a successful online learner and take your skills to the next level.

Are you interested in earning your bachelor’s degree virtually? Explore Northeastern’s online bachelor’s degree completion programs.

9 Tips to Being a Successful Online Learner (2024)

FAQs

What are the 5 tips to be successful in online learning? ›

5 Tips to Succeed in Online Learning
  • Develop a Schedule. Commit to making your online coursework part of your weekly routine. ...
  • Set Specific Goals. Create daily goals and set reminders for yourself to complete tasks within specific windows of time.
  • Get Connected. ...
  • Create a Designated Study Space. ...
  • Stay healthy.

What makes you a successful online student? ›

Successful online students must be self-disciplined and goal-oriented as they work to complete their weekly assignments, post email messages, and work with their classmates in their online class.

What are the 9 strategies for effective online teaching? ›

Strategies for Teaching Online
  • Writing your syllabus. ...
  • Working with Teaching Assistants. ...
  • Creating inclusive and equitable online learning environments. ...
  • Engaging discussions online. ...
  • Promote student well-being. ...
  • Facilitating effective online meetings. ...
  • Other resources.

What are the 10 benefits of online classes? ›

Advantages of Online Learning
  • Flexibility. ...
  • Reduced Costs. ...
  • More Free Time. ...
  • Increased Course Variety. ...
  • Career Advancement Opportunities. ...
  • Increased Collaboration. ...
  • Personalized Education. ...
  • Enhanced Time Management Skills.

What is the key to success in online learning? ›

Persistence is perhaps the biggest key to success in online learning. Students who succeed are those who are willing to tolerate technical problems, seek help when needed, work daily on every class, and persist through challenges. When you run into a challenge, keep trying and ask for help.

What makes a successful student? ›

Successful students take advantage of extra credit opportunities when offered. They demonstrate that they care about their grades and are willing to work to improve them. They often do the optional (and frequently challenging) assignments that many students avoid. Successful students are attentive in class.

What are the 9 teaching strategies? ›

  • Identifying Similarities and Differences. ...
  • Summarizing and Note Taking. ...
  • Reinforcing Effort and Providing Recognition. ...
  • Homework and Practice. ...
  • Nonlinguistic Representations. ...
  • Cooperative Learning. ...
  • Setting Objectives and Providing Feedback. ...
  • Generating and Testing Hypotheses.

What are the most effective tips strategies to improve online modular learning? ›

8 Tips for Effective Online Learning
  • #1: Set daily goals for studying. ...
  • #2: Create a dedicated study space. ...
  • #3: Schedule time to study on your calendar. ...
  • #4: Keep yourself accountable. ...
  • #5: Actively take notes. ...
  • #6: Join the discussion. ...
  • #7: Do one thing at a time. ...
  • #8: Take breaks.
16 Mar 2020

What is the best way to study online? ›

Tips for Taking Online Classes
  1. Treat an online course like a “real” course. ...
  2. Hold yourself accountable. ...
  3. Practice time management. ...
  4. Create a regular study space and stay organized. ...
  5. Eliminate distractions. ...
  6. Figure Out How You Learn Best. ...
  7. Actively participate. ...
  8. Leverage your network.
26 Mar 2020

How important is online learning? ›

Online education enables you to study or teach from anywhere in the world. This means there's no need to commute from one place to another, or follow a rigid schedule. On top of that, not only do you save time, but you also save money, which can be spent on other priorities.

What are the top 20 advantages of online learning and digital courses? ›

20 advantages of online learning

Comfort of learning from your own home. Ability to work a job while you study. They offer ultimate convenience and flexibility. Earn bonus points for your resumé

Is online learning effective? ›

Online learning is not only more effective for students, but it is also better for the environment. Online courses consume 90% less energy and release 85% less CO2 per student than traditional in-person courses, according to the Open University in the United Kingdom.

What are 10 things successful students do? ›

Top 10 Habits of successful students
  • Get organized and make plans. Whether you are preparing for exams or doing an assignment, make sure to first make a plan. ...
  • Don't multitask while studying. ...
  • Divide and study. ...
  • Get adequate sleep. ...
  • Schedule your work. ...
  • Take regular notes. ...
  • Focus on Study. ...
  • Keep your study space organized.
14 Jun 2019

What are the 8 choices of successful students? ›

Explore 8 Success Strategies: A Successful Student...
  • Accepts Personal Responsibility.
  • Discovers a Motivating Purpose.
  • Takes Effective Action.
  • Builds Mutually Supportive Relationships.
  • Gains Heightened Self Awareness.
  • Becomes a Life Long Learner.
  • Develops Emotional Maturity.
  • Believes in Self.

What are the 10 qualities of a good student? ›

Qualities of a Good Student
  • Self-Discipline. Discipline is a must in a student's life. ...
  • Diligent. A student should be determined towards studies or any work allotted to him. ...
  • Punctual. Time is money so every student must value time. ...
  • Courteous. ...
  • Team player. ...
  • Confident. ...
  • Responsible.

What are 10 teaching methods? ›

List Of Teaching Methods
  1. Teacher-Centered Instruction. ...
  2. Small Group Instruction. ...
  3. Student-Centered / Constructivist Approach. ...
  4. Project-Based Learning. ...
  5. Montessori. ...
  6. Inquiry-Based Learning. ...
  7. Flipped Classroom. ...
  8. Cooperative Learning.

What are the 8 teaching skills? ›

The results revealed eight teaching skills in sequence: (1) question skills, (2) reinforcement skill, (3) variation skill, (4) explainning skill, (5) opening and close skill, (6) small group discussions skill, (7) class management skills, (8) skill of organizing small group work and invidual work.

How can you be an effective learner in this time? ›

Here are 10 practical tips to help you become a more effective learner.
  1. Seek Knowledge. If there is one thing you take away from this blog post, it should be this one. ...
  2. Ask Questions. ...
  3. Be a Voracious Reader. ...
  4. Be an Attentive Listener. ...
  5. Embrace Discomfort. ...
  6. Have an Open Mind. ...
  7. Find Your Preferred Learning Style. ...
  8. Do Not Memorize.
15 Jan 2020

How can we make online classes more effective for students essay? ›

15 ways to make online learning more effective
  1. Help your students get online. ...
  2. Learn your online platform. ...
  3. Recognize that your students have different levels of technological proficiency. ...
  4. Take care in setting up your home environment. ...
  5. Provide different learning options. ...
  6. Create shorter content. ...
  7. Assign group and pair work.

What is a 10 strategy? ›

In 1st grade, as students begin learning their basic addition facts, they apply that knowledge in a strategy known as “make a ten” to help make sense of facts that might otherwise be hard to memorize, such as 8 + 4 or 9 + 5. To use the strategy, students decompose one of the addends to make a ten from the other.

What is the Smart 7 strategy? ›

Kennedy (2016) stated that smart 7 strategy is a set of reading which consist of 7 steps, where students read and the box the title, number the paragraph or text features, read each paragraph then stop and think about.

What are the 7 elements of strategy? ›

Here are the 7 basic elements of a strategic plan: vision, mission, SWOT analysis, core values, goals, objectives, and action plans.

What is the best way to study better study? ›

Top 10 Study Tips to Study Like a Harvard Student
  1. Don't Cram! ...
  2. Plan Ahead—and Stick To It! ...
  3. Ask for Help. ...
  4. Use the Buddy System. ...
  5. Find Your Learning Style. ...
  6. Take Breaks. ...
  7. Cultivate a Productive Space. ...
  8. Reward Yourself.
24 Jun 2022

How can I successfully study at home? ›

Download and save a copy of the flyer.
  1. Establish a Routine. ...
  2. Have a Dedicated Study Area. ...
  3. Take Notes for Online Classes. ...
  4. Keep a Routine for Physical Activity. ...
  5. Don't Forget Your Social Time. ...
  6. Create a Study Plan and Share It with Others. ...
  7. Eat Well, Sleep Well. ...
  8. Avoid Multitasking.

What are the strategies in online class? ›

Tips for Taking Online Classes
  • Treat an online course like a “real” course. ...
  • Hold yourself accountable. ...
  • Practice time management. ...
  • Create a regular study space and stay organized. ...
  • Eliminate distractions. ...
  • Figure Out How You Learn Best. ...
  • Actively participate. ...
  • Leverage your network.
26 Mar 2020

What is the most effective strategy in teaching? ›

Every teacher's classroom practice is unique, so here are 7 effective teaching strategies you can use for inspiration to give your students a fulfilling learning experience.
  1. Visualization. ...
  2. Cooperative Learning. ...
  3. Differentiated Instruction. ...
  4. Using Technology to your Advantage. ...
  5. Student Centred Inquiry. ...
  6. Professional Development.
6 Sept 2022

What is effective online teaching? ›

An effective online pedagogy is one that emphasizes student-centered learning and employs active learning activities. “Interactivity, faculty, and student presence are essential in an effective online learning environment” (O'Neil et al., p. 21).

What is the best way to learning? ›

One of the most impactful learning strategies is “distributed practice”—spacing out your studying over several short periods of time over several days and weeks (Newport, 2007). The most effective practice is to work a short time on each class every day.

How can I be a good student? ›

How to Be a Better Student
  1. Set goals. Goals, both short and long-term, are a great way to measure your success. ...
  2. Adopt and stick to a study schedule. ...
  3. Stay well-rested. ...
  4. Take advantage of educator resources. ...
  5. Healthy study techniques for proper exam preparation. ...
  6. Develop note-taking skills. ...
  7. Extracurricular activities. ...
  8. Study buddies.

How can I succeed in online high school? ›

8 Tips to Help You Succeed in Online High School
  1. Schedule your time. ...
  2. Shower and get dressed. ...
  3. Get and stay organized. ...
  4. Do some extracurricular activities. ...
  5. Be an active participant in your learning. ...
  6. Try something new. ...
  7. Ask questions. ...
  8. Study in groups.

How can I make my teaching motivating and interesting? ›

Here are some strategies that can be used in the classroom to help motivate students:
  1. Promote growth mindset over fixed mindset. ...
  2. Develop meaningful and respectful relationships with your students. ...
  3. Grow a community of learners in your classroom. ...
  4. Establish high expectations and establish clear goals. ...
  5. Be inspirational.
4 Jun 2018

Which teaching strategy can help you improve a good student? ›

5 Effective Teaching Strategies To Help Your Students In School
  1. Visualization Of Information.
  2. Student-Led Classrooms.
  3. Implementing Technology In the Classroom.
  4. Differentiation.
  5. Inquiry-Based Instruction.
18 Sept 2019

What are 10 tips for good classroom management? ›

The top ten tips for classroom management are: (1) Build community; (2) Design a safe, friendly, and well-managed classroom environment; (3) Include students in creating rules, norms, routines, and consequences; (4) Create a variety of communication channels; (5) Always be calm, fair, and consistent; (6) Know the ...

What are the suggestions to improve the effectiveness of online teaching and learning? ›

Teachers should plan to spend the first several days of class helping students understand the technology and learn how to work with it. Practice exercises are a great way for students to try out the technology and make sure they understand what to do, asking questions and getting help before projects begin.

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