• Have a built-in support system. This will help tremendously since you will be at your computer hours at a time. Surround yourself with colleagues, friends, and family who understand and respect what you are doing and will help by giving you quiet time, helping with the kids, etc.

Log on to your course(s) every day

• Check discussion board, chats, assignments, and calendar on a daily basis. If you fall behind it is hard to catch up. You may see something on a discussion board that will help you or answer a question you had.

Participate

• Your instructor is not the only source of information for the course. Contribute ideas or comments in chats and discussion boards. You may be separated physically, but you don't have to be doing it alone.

Chat room etiquette

• By being in a distance learning format you can have anonymity. You don't have to be intimidated by others. But just because you have anonymity does not mean to let yourself go either. Being polite and respectful is not only common sense, it is absolutely obligatory for a productive and supportive distance learning environment.

Speak up if you have questions or problems

• Remember, no one can see you, so you must speak up. If you do not understand something, ask questions; the chances are that someone else has the same question. If you have technology problems, let your instructor know.

Become a true advocate of distance learning

• Discuss the merit and value of distance learning with others; it will help to reinforce its merits for you.

Be realistic

• Although with an online course there is no class scheduled for you to attend, you will have regular academic course work due at scheduled times. If you don't allow yourself enough time to complete your assigned work (approximately four hours each week per course), you can become frustrated and stressed.

Identify tools necessary to complete course

• Before registering or immediately after registering, make sure you have the tools necessary for the course: software, hardware, e-mail, etc. Read the entire course syllabus and familiarize yourself with the course design.

Set goals and deadlines; then stick with them

• Keep a calendar listing the number of weeks and the assignments and work for each week. Mark days for tests and project due dates. Don't fall behind in you work!

Have private space to study

• Find a place that is free from distractions. Avoid interruptions and distractions. Have a room where you can shut a door, take the phone off the hook, and leave your papers out. Organize your study schedule and stick to it. If you miss too many study times then revise your schedule to free up more time to devote to your class.

Stay in touch with your instructor

• Contact your instruction regularly, especially when you have questions or problems. Instructors are available by phone, mail, fax, and e-mail.

Communications and Progress

• Pay careful attention to instructions and be certain that you understand the assignments. Evaluate your own progress. Reread the course objectives and standards and how you are progressing with them.

Keeping backups of your work

• Keep a back up of work. When sending information to your instructor via e-mail, send a carbon copy to yourself or to another e-mail account you may have. This will help in situation where you may have computer trouble or just proof that you sent an assignment. By having a back up of your work, if your system should crash you can continue on with a different computer.