What It’s Really Like Being an Online Student
“What does this word even mean?” As an online student, you’ll most likely ask yourself questions like that on a daily basis. When your textbook doesn’t have the answers, you have to use your own ingenuity to figure out the concepts being communicated to you. Thank goodness for Google and YouTube, right? Personally, being a fully online student has been a game changer for me. I feel like I’ve finally overcome the constraints of the classroom and been given the flexibility to get my education in a way that’s more compatible with my learning style.
When you become an online college student, you’re not only responsible for your education and your schedule—but it’s also up to you to conceptualize new information. To some, the idea of that seems scary, but to others, being able to take that level of ownership feels like liberation or freedom. I believe the key to being a successful online student is not only to establish a routine and stick to it, but also to exhibit confidence and resourcefulness. If you can teach yourself to understand new concepts (then apply them to your assignments and tests), you’ll get through your online classes and walk away with the tools you need to be self-sufficient in the real world. Anyone can accomplish this; you just need to understand how you learn first. Once you know that, you can utilize the tools available to you to make your online classes just as effective as in-person classes—and you can tailor them to your learning strengths.
In addition to the obvious brick and mortar classroom versus virtual classroom aspect, there are distinguishable differences between in-person and online classes. At EFSC, we access virtual classrooms from the myEFSC portal via a Learning Management System (LMS) called Canvas. Inside Canvas, you can keep an eye out for the classes “opening” online before the actual start of the term, which gives you extra time to plan which ones to take. Many online classes include a tentative semester schedule (usually found in the syllabus) that tells you the due dates for assignments, quizzes, exams, etc. This information allows you to create a schedule that best meets your needs. For example, I always look at whether the instructor allows students the flexibility to work ahead in the course. If they do, I plan the entire semester out to get as much work done as possible early on, sometimes even finishing the class before the end of the term. That way, if emergencies come up or another class needs more attention later on, I have the ability to accommodate it without falling behind.
Wondering what resources you’ll have at your disposal? The main tools online students use are textbooks and/or textbook software (“course materials”). Beyond that, instructors often provide helpful videos, chapter outlines and articles they feel will help you understand the concepts. Instructors also make themselves available to answer your questions or help you get through a rut. If you’re like me and prefer to do things on your own, that’s where the ingenuity comes in. There are many supplementary materials online, such as instructional videos, that can help to finally make something click—just be sure you’re getting the information from a verified source! I’m a bodily/kinesthetic learner, so I try to find materials that show real-world applications. Or (if it’s math-related) I find it easier to grasp when I watch someone physically work through similar problems. There are many resources you can use to teach yourself new concepts. Once you give some a try, you’ll be able decipher which ones are a good fit for you (then use them to your advantage).
The beauty of online classes is the freedom you have to build your own lesson plan. Sure, the subject matter is chosen by the instructor, but you can tailor it to your personal learning style. Not sure if it’s right for you? EFSC offers this short quiz to help you decide if you’re a good fit for online classes—but take it with a grain of salt. According to the quiz, my compatibility with online learning wasn’t very high, yet it’s proven to be a very effective way for me to achieve my educational goals! If you’re really struggling to make a decision, contact Eastern Florida Online for more information. Being an online student requires a certain level of self-discipline, organizational skills and ingenuity, and it’s not always easy, but you won’t truly know if it’s right for you until you give it a try!
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