Several years ago, when I was teaching up to ten online courses at a time, I said this: “If I was paid a dollar this semester for every time I heard/read a student say this, I’d be rich. Well, at least I’d have enough for daily Starbucks.”
It’s so confusing having an online class! I can’t ever remember when things are due…
Online courses have become even more popular in the past few years, for painfully obvious reasons. Even if you are an on-campus student, it’s likely you are taking one or more courses online.
The best advice I have for you is this: create a Google Calendar for yourself. (Here’s how.) Your Google Calendar is available from any computer, and it can automatically synchronize with all popular smartphones — which means that you’ll have the ability to know when things are due no matter where you are, 24/7.
Check your online course(s) to see when you have the following:
- Synchronous lectures (where you are required to log in at a specific time to participate in class)
- Asynchronous lectures (where the lecture is recorded, and you need to review it by a specific date)
- Assignments due
- Quizzes/exams due
- Be sure you know if the date and time on the exam are when you must START it or FINISH it.
- Do you need a proctor? (If so, do you need to schedule one on your own?)
Create a calendar entry in your Google Calendar for each item that is due. Set interim deadlines for yourself for larger projects. TIP: You can tell Google Calendar to send you a reminder about any deadline you choose.
You might even want to set a reminder to touch base with your professor, either by email or phone.
And that’s all there is to it. At least, except for the “completing the assignments” part.
Hope you found this helpful.
(NOTE: If you have another calendar method you prefer, and it already works well for you, USE IT. No need to switch. But if you’re having trouble staying on top of your classes, try this method. It’s how I keep myself organized.)
