Keys to Student Success

The same habits for success in face-to-face courses apply to learning online, and yet online learning poses certain additional demands.  Before we dive into habits for success, let's examine some common misconceptions about learning online.

Misconceptions about Learning Online

This video debunks some common misconceptions about learning online:

Below are some habits you can cultivate to boost your success in this and other courses:

Habit #1: Stick to a schedule.

When learning online, you may be able to turn on your computer and go to class any time you want. Although that is a great advantage, it can work against you too by leading to procrastination. (“I don’t have to study now, I’ll do it tomorrow.”)

Successful students stick to a schedule Links to an external site. anyway. Some sit down to do coursework at the same time every evening or morning. Others work for an hour before heading off to work in the morning. Whatever your preference, you’ll find that you’ll do better if you set a routine and stick to it.

See these 10 Rules of Good (and Bad) Studying Download 10 Rules of Good (and Bad) Studying as well as this video on studying smarter:

Habit #2: Get organized.

Get in the habit of setting up well-organized folders for your class projects, notes, and coursework, using tools such as OneDrive Links to an external site. and OneNote Links to an external site..  Keep drafts of papers and assignments in OneDrive or Google Drive, and take notes using tools such as OneNote, Microsoft Word, or Google Docs.  Good organization means something else too – if you back up your work, you will still have it when your course is over.

See this Organizing for Online Success tutorial Links to an external site. for more tips.

Habit #3: Start projects early.

This is a habit of all good students. But when you are working on your own, it can be hard to remember that the earlier you start on a paper or start studying for an exam, the better you are going to do. In classrooms, students can pick up on cues from other students by asking questions like, “Have you started on your paper yet?” In contrast, when learning online, you may have to work according to your own “internal clock.” And the best way to do that is to get into the habit of starting early.

Pomodoro Technique

One technique that has helped people get projects and papers done one piece at a time (instead of cramming at the last minute) is the Pomodoro Technique Links to an external site..  Set a timer for 25 minutes Links to an external site. and get as much work done in that time as you can, ensuring there are no distractions in your environment (silence your phone, close any distracting tabs or apps or the TV).  When the timer goes off, take a 5-10 minute break - perhaps even reward yourself by answering those texts, having a snack, taking a walk, etc.  Then, when you're ready, start another Pomodoro session.  See this video about the Pomodoro technique Links to an external site. (video transcript Download video transcript) for more details.

Habit #4: Ask for help when you need it.

All good students do this, but some learners hesitate too long before asking their course instructors for advice or help. The result? They can fall behind in their work or fail to build a solid knowledge base in the earlier units or lessons of their classes. So cultivate the habit of speaking up and asking for help. It’s a key to learning success.

For more tips and sample emails, see this page on Help - Emailing an Instructor Links to an external site..

And see the Academic Support and Student Services available for you, including tutors in the academic success centers, advisors, counselors, librarians, and online learning retention coordinators.

Habit #5: Go beyond the basic requirements.

In most cases, the instructors who designed and wrote your courses will have provided readings and supplemental materials that build a solid grounding in the subject you are studying. Yet the best students have cultivated the habit of digging deeper, by looking for other materials to read and explore. If you want to improve your academic success, remember to go beyond the basics.  Instead of studying to get an A on the test, study as if you had to explain the material to others in order to learn the material more deeply.  You could pretend like you are explaining it to your future self, who has forgotten much of the material.

This video lecture by Saundra McGuire on Metacognition: The Key to Acing Chemistry Links to an external site. (video transcript Download video transcript) also applies to all courses.  She shows how she's helped students raise their grades dramatically before the end of the semester, in part by learning the course material as if you had to teach it to others, rather than just studying (memorizing) for the test.

Habit #6: Talk about your plans and courses with other people.

Some learners fall into the pattern of keeping their studies to themselves. Really strong learners don’t do that. They talk to their friends and family members about what they are studying and learning.

There’s a practical reason why this is so important. When you share your plans with other people, they ask you about them. (“How is your math course moving along... what are you going to study next?”) Those questions keep you organized, motivated, and more likely to complete your studies.

See this tutorial on Personal Support Links to an external site. for more tips.

Habit #7: Develop a growth mindset vs. a fixed mindset.

There are two mindsets you can take with respect to your academic success, career success, and personal success.  One is a fixed mindset. This is the implicit belief that intelligence is fixed.  If you struggle on an exam, you might chalk it up to you just not being smart enough.  This is not how intelligence works.  The other mindset is a growth mindset.  Intelligence can be developed through effort, learning from mistakes, and persisting through failure.  Even the greatest scientists, engineers, athletes, writers, and other professionals have failed many many more times than they have succeeded Links to an external site. (video transcript Download video transcript).

See this video for an explanation of why and how to develop a growth mindset for success:

This page is adapted from Seven Habits of Great Online Students Links to an external site. and see this video with a list of more general habits of highly successful students: