Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College

A-B Tech Online - Becoming a Successful Online Student

Here are some tried and true best practices that will help you succeed in your online course..

• Don't make the mistake of thinking that online courses are easier than traditional courses, they are not. Allocate sufficient hours for study, usually two to three times the number of credit hours each week.
• Be sure to log in to your courses the first day of class. Complete all first week activities in a timely manner since some of these may be necessary for you to be registered as “In Attendance”.
• Navigate the entire course site and be sure you understand the course syllabus, policies, and schedule.
• Always ask questions when you are not sure about something.
• Always check if something doesn't "feel right"! If you're not sure about anything, if you don't hear back from your instructor, if your work isn't graded within a reasonable time, contact your instructor politely, just to be sure that there isn't a problem. It's possible that your instructor did not receive your work or previous communication.
• Stay ahead. Check your course schedule regularly. When you have an assignment to complete, read the assignment instructions as soon as possible, ask the instructor if you have questions, then plan how much time you need to complete and submit the assignment by the due date
• When you have an online test to complete, set aside sufficient time to complete the test. Be sure you have a quiet time and location. Let other people around you know that you should not be interrupted. Take a moment to read I need help taking an Online Test or Exam in Blackboard to avoid possible problems while taking your test.
• Communicate effectively.When you send email to your instructor, be sure to include your full name and the course ID, either in your Subject line or the first line of your email message.
• Take responsibility for your own learning. Structure your time and allocate sufficient time to stay on track.