Wednesday is the sigh of relief for most people in the workforce. Once the day is over you’re about in the clear for the weekend where you can rest and forget about your responsibilities from that week. This may be true for some, but for most, especially online learners, it’s unrealistic. Most students need to have assignments submitted by Sunday, others have to have classwork posted by Wednesday.

Regardless of the day, there is no slowing down once you hit the hump of the week. The best way to avoid the sluggish pull of a lazy weekend is to tackle your assignments early so you can go out and play. Just like back in grade school, no TV or playing until your homework is done. The same should hold true now, even though you have may have a demanding job and a family at home. Wednesday shouldn’t be the day of the week where you slow down, instead use it to speed up and get your work in early.

-Online Learning Tips Staff

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Today I came across this great post from the PsyBlog, “Boost Creativity: 7 Unusual Psychological Techniques”. It  gave me a great idea for using these same techniques for boosting creative levels in online students.

The first technique was to use psychological distance. This implies not only separating yourself from the task, term paper, assignment by physical means, but also by mentally taking some space as well. Their suggested insight is to imagine the project you’re working on as distant and disconnected from your current location. That space should encourage higher level thinking.

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Going to school online requires a different set of supplies to be prepared for class. Instead of a planner you can use an online organizer. No paper required, there are programs for that. And your writing utensils, all you need are your fingers and a keyboard. Even though the work online still isn’t easy, the tools you need for school are much more easy, and most of the time, free to use and attain.

Need something to help you manage your homework? Most online classrooms will organize your grades for each specific class every semester, but you need to check on them in the classroom while you’re logged in. Another way to keep assignments, projects, and papers organized is Gradefix. The name is deceiving, but its true purpose is that of a homework management system. It will allow you to track homework in your classes as well as other tasks. It’s great for procrastinators, but you don’t need to be one to benefit from it. It will let you know when it’s getting late to hand in your work.

If you’re the type to need a tap on the shoulder on responding to discussion board posts, keeping track of notes that may be posted for a class, or an overall class organizer, then you should try CollegeRuled. It allows you to create your class schedule and track your progress through the semester.

Not everything in school is about being organized, but sometimes a good flowchart or diagram helps to keep you at the top of your class. For the classes that require presentations, reports, or if you just want to spice up a discussion post Gliffy allows you to do so. The sites unique interface is useful for students who need to produce flowcharts, process flows, network diagrams, chemical processes, and other technical or non-technical illustrations.

Want to get friendly with classmates, or collaborate for a study session or group project? Online learning doesn’t normally involve face-to-face interaction so for the most part chat programs and emails are used primarily for communication to different parties. Campfire is something that offers traditional web communication, but with upgrades suited to fit an online student. It’s a group communication tool that allows you to share content and graphics. To use you sign up and set up access lists, for your group, then send out invitations to the group by e-mail. You also have the ability to control what each person has permission to see in the private chat room, and the chat history is available to later reference. A great idea for remote study sessions on your next big exam.

Being more productive and keeping the lead in your studies can be easier than you think. Using tools at your fingertips is one simple way to stay organized and keep track of what is going on in your classes. There’s nothing worse than a “surprise” at the end of the semester, tracking your assignments and handing things in when you’re asked to alleviate that unnecessary strain and stress.

- By J. Mason

So here are some tips to help students make an informed decision before applying to a distance learning university: -

• How does one keep an educational goal?  Its dead simple- think about the future & what it holds for you, everything else will work out just fine!  Persistence and commitment to excellence will ultimately reward a secured lifestyle.  By dedicating your time wisely, an online school system will transform your career to a higher level.
• Distance learning is not to be taken lightly at all. It requires the same amount of dedication & effort as anyone would normally put into a traditional classroom setup.
• Internet based collaboration & communication is the key to success. More the interaction (video chat, webinar, and email); the less burdensome it will feel at the end of the day.
• According to a recent survey, e-learners are more adapt to problem solving in comparison to campus classroom students. This is due to the fact that students learning from home are constantly exposed to project simulation models and diverse software applications for completing their assignments.
• If you want your degree to be universally accepted by future employers; make sure that the web based university is fully accredited by the regional education council/panel of United States.
• Accreditation plays a big role in validating the credential of any type of digital degree offered by e-learning institutions. Students can find a certified & accredited logo displaying on the website of the distance college.
• Distance education gives the freedom to attend the classes at your own pace and time (asynchronous), so it becomes an individual’s own responsibility to keep up with the assignments, projects, and tests. In other words, online education requires a lot more focus and individual commitment to successfully complete all the courses.
• The money (tuition costs) spent on distance course is about the same amount as a regular college.  So there is no room for procrastination or a lack of effort.  Don’t toss your money away by self inflicting failure!
• Just remember that there is no one to motivate you on a daily basis, so be consistent by studying regularly. Take advantage of the opportunity and live in the moment itself.
• 24/7 Academic support will be provided by professors, but try to be self-dependent for getting the tasks done on time.  Remain pro-active by seeking online help from the instructors through persistent communication.  Curriculum advice will be right at your fingertips, so don’t be shy to ask for it!
• Prepare & polish your reading, writing, and vocabulary skills, it will come in handy for most of the assignments online. Comprehension know-how’s are crucial for communicating all the thoughts effectively.
• Time management is also an important element of e-learning. Set the priorities ahead of time, so you know how to avoid falling behind in lectures and tasks.
• Students must access their emails everyday and log on to the net portal for updates on daily assignments and course syllabus. It is recommended to use a browser based productivity tool for keeping a tab on everything.
• Keep yourself in isolation during online discussions and brainstorming sessions.
• Last but not the least, don’t listen to music or play games while attending cyber classes. Try to keep all the distractions away in order to make the most out of your classes!

So there you have it… a complete HOW TO, DO’S & DON’TS of virtual degree system! 

This post originated from Mottobiz blog.