Online Classes: Tips for SUCCESS

Taking online classes? WATCH THIS! I spent a year taking classes myself and researching online ed from the student perspective - this video summarizes my findings. This video is about how to determine if online ed is right for you, what factors pose the biggest threat to your success AND how to manage them. It's all about dopamine in the end. Isn't it always?

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Video Details:

The Penguin Prof's College Success Series
Challenges and Strategies for Success in Online Ed

One Year Online
Read everything I could about online ed
Took courses in online education and digital cultures
Took courses in other disciplines
some were free, some quite expensive
some from individual institutions, some MOOCs

Most importantly, I ASKED QUESTIONS of the students sharing my online classes
Why did you choose this course online? What else have you taken and where?
How happy are you with online classes in general? Are you successful in online coursework?
What works for you and what doesn't?

What Did NOT Predict Course Quality
Cost did not predict course quality
Institutional prestige did not predict course quality

What Did Affect Course Quality
The instructor
The input by other students
Student's interest and motivation in the subject
Web site ease of use, mobile access and information quality

Why Students LOVE Online Ed
#1 Control over their schedule
#2: They like "going to class" from bed, in pajamas
#3: Caregivers can stay at home AND take classes
#4: Save money (gas, parking permits, eating on campus)
#5: Save time (travel time, parking spot hunting, waiting for class to begin)
#6: You can still attend class even if you have to travel during the semester

Other Reasons Why Students LOVE Online Ed
Some students said they are easily distracted by other students in a traditional classroom
They feel more "one-on-one" with the professor
They can progress at their own pace through the material

Problem...

Distractions at Home are ENDLESS
Student is easily distracted while working on online classwork

Don't Feel Bad... It's Biological
Immediate rewards are FAR more desirable to our brain than distant rewards
This is called temporal discounting

Dopamine is to blame!
Functions in the brain:
Reward and motivation
Pleasure, euphoria
Fine motor function
Compulsion
Perseveration

Distractions like social media, movies, music etc. give us a jolt of dopamine and that feels GOOD! Distant rewards (final exam scores, degrees, etc.)... not so much

Online Success is Highest When:
Student is HIGHLY self-motivated
Student is already interested in the subject
Student likes technology (and has more than one device to access content)
Student is organized (time, materials)
Student uses a self-imposed regular schedule for the online class
Student participates in discussion boards / blogs / virtual office hours

Online Success is Lowest When:
Student is not interested in the subject
Student is not comfortable with technology
Student has erratic schedule and cannot make time for class work
Student does not participate with others in the class
Student procrastinates and misses deadlines
Students who do not read well (or do not enjoy reading)

Tips and Tricks
Watch "Time Management" video
Schedule class time AND study time (not the same thing!)
Study only during your Prime Productivity Time
Anticipate, minimize and deal with distractions

The Pomodoro Technique
Set a timer for 25 minutes
WORK for 25 minutes without interruptions
When the timer goes off, give yourself a small reward and a 5 minute break
Over time, increase the working period

Get Things Done (GTD) Apps
OmniFocus
Things
ToDo
Due
ToDoist
Remember the Milk
PrioritizePro

Priority Matrix
Covey's Time Management Matrix

Some motivational items and penguins... of course!

[katiemacintosh]

I am procrastinating from my online ed class right now.

[christianlee]

as a single dad I appreciated the use of a father and baby in the caregivers slide (:

[Darksunshinerain]

If they had recorded lectures in online classes things would be exponentially better.

[RafiqHalani]

Extremely helpful when I really want to take an online course for the first time in my life having 2 traditional bachelors and 2 traditional masters. I am quite clear now. Thanks a lot.

[mislastchild]

I'm taking online courses and I enjoy it, but your right, it seems as if online colleges have to prove themselves.

[latifawood]

Thanks for this ... online is definitely not for me! All the best to those who it works for.

[ZackGomez]

I did online college and today is my first day at Ashford University. I prefer online 100%. I am self motivated, know my purpose, value my work and have a lot of discipline and focus.

[missnobody]

As an online high school student, I also fell into procrastination in the beginning. It was really hard to get out of it, especially since I was a very productive person prior to enrolling in online classes. But once you get the hang of it, and realize you're actually the only one responsible for your education, then you will force yourself succeed. And I think that's the best part about online schooling. It forces you to change your perspective about things, and you learn more about yourself earlier than if you were in a traditional school setting. Online school just gives you more time to self-reflect.

[leopoldbirkholm]

I have the diagnose Asperger syndrome and I do not feel comfortable in crowded areas nor in classrooms. So online is very good for me. Thank you for a interesting video.

[boogieboo]

It's interesting watching this video now, going through COVID and what not, because for the past 2 years online school was a reality a lot of us had to deal with; one thing I learned about myself during all that time was that I am NOT cut out for only online classes. I function better with in-person classes because physically attending class holds me accountable for being attentive during lecture. I'm very much a procrastinator and I failed most of my online classes during COVID

[retrojoe]

I've taken online courses through a local college. In my experience, online classes are harder to succeed at not due to the subject matter but due to the extreme discipline necessary to stay on course. One doesn't realize the menagerie of distractions that interrupt their study time. I ended up having to go to the local library when I worked on the courses.

[albertmarble]

Instructor makes a difference too. In one class, there were lots of students missing deadlines over time and she was all, ‘Oh, that’s ok. It happens.” Those are the people she’ll respond to, instead of all the ones meeting deadlines and following the guidelines.

[amandademizio]

Unfortunately, I was forced to change my whole semester to online due to a broken ankle. Hopefully I'll have high success. 🙂

[albertmarble]

I totally agree with the point of cost and prestige NOT being the mark of a good course.

[dhank]

Excellent video. Very insightful. Thank you.

[kathya]

I am in the process of looking for a course online but I do feel overwhelmed I am 50 years old so this video has given some insight into how online courses work the real way thanks so much

[AJsGreenTopics]

This was a great video to watch. Thank you for all of your useful information. You have great communication skills.

[Christoferespinoza]

Thank you very much! Great advise! I have to take online classes because for me they are way cheaper and allow me to study after work, but I feel that some online classes do not do enough to deliver material. Reading through a long chapter is really difficult so I usually tend to go on YouTube and watch videos about the topic. I just wish my teacher would do the videos himself/herself...

[OnlineCoursesAust]

When a student opts for an online course, he can exercise a control over his schedule. They can "go to a class" literally in their pyajamas and study from the comfort of their living rooms. Not only does it save them a lot of time, they an plan their daily routine well and can progress with the study material according to their own pace.

[ШакирНурдинов-йс]

Pomodoro is not a 'stupid name' when you know the meaming of the word)) It is very much interesting but tomato in Russian is помидор (pomidor). Thank you for the video! You made it 6 years ago and now it is more than topical!