How to Be a Successful Online Learner ?
3 . Effec�ve and Appropriate Communica�on Skills Communica�on skills are vital in online learning because students must seek help when they need it . Teachers are willing to help students , but they are unable to pick up on non-verbal cues , such as a look of confusion on a student ' s face . Follow these �ps :
Use the tools provided by the school to communicate with your teachers . Many online schools and programs provide several ways for students and / or parents to communicate with teachers and staff . These might include e-mail , discussion groups , chat room office hours , cell phones , and even text messaging . Teachers and staff want to help you to succeed in your classes and will answer your ques�ons . It may feel awkward to talk with your teachers this way , but don ' t worry . If your teacher has chat room or cell phone office hours , don ' t be shy about using those tools to communicate with your teacher .
Use appropriate style and language for school . When communica�ng with teachers and other staff , you should write in full , gramma�cally correct sentences and with a respec�ul tone . Many students are used to a very informal style of wri�ng in chat rooms , blogs , text messages , and so forth .
Because of the distance , it ' s temp�ng for some students to say things out of anger or frustra�on that they would never say to a teacher in person . Online teachers are professionals . Treat them with respect and courtesy .
4 . Basic Technical Skills Online learners need basic technical skills to succeed . These include the ability to create new documents , use a word processing program , navigate the Internet , and download so�ware . Most online schools have new student orienta�on programs . These teach students how to use the school ' s learning management system and other online tools , but they typically don ' t cover the basics .
If you lack basic computer skills , you may want to find an online tutorial such as the one available through The Library Network . You ' ll also want to check the online school ' s main website for their hardware and so�ware requirements . Make sure your own computer meets those requirements .