College is the next logical step after high school. It’s part tradition, and part necessity for most professions. Continuing your education will depend on your readiness for a new environment, as well as new responsibilities. So, how do you know if you’re ready for the next step?

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Your success in online learning depends entirely on you. Instructors and resources are readily available, but it is your responsibility to make the best of the experience. No pressure, right? Following simple yet effective time management and organizational habits will greatly improve your higher education experience, online or otherwise.

[Setting Up Great (and Successful) Study Habits]

Enter your program gradually so you can feel out what fits into your life and once you are comfortable, maintain that balance with some helpful tips from your academic advisor. You’ll notice that a lot of the recommendations overlap, which must mean we’re onto something worthwhile!

[related: Top 5 Questions an Online Student Should Ask Their Academic Advisor]

1. Keep an agenda.
   In the online setting, tangible reminders of assignments are hard to come by. We don’t walk or drive to class and we don’t see our professors writing notes on the board. While this saves time spent getting ready and money for transportation costs, distance education is a tougher setting to physically connect with. Your campus, classmates, and often course materials are on the screen in front of you. A simple way to help bridge the distance is with an agenda that holds all the pertinent information you will need to succeed. Getting into the habit of physically writing down assignments and notes helps cement the information. Even writing down what habits work for you in an agenda will be that one extra thought to motivate you to keep up the good work.
2. Take advantage of the setting.
   An online classroom holds a much more diverse population than you’d find in a traditional classroom. Online learners are often pursuing their education virtually to best accommodate busy lives and careers. Use the flexibility of the online environment to your advantage. The syllabus and assignments are available to you as soon as the class opens; plot out the course by prioritizing assignments, breaking down your schedule, submitting work ahead of schedule if you have time and know you won’t later, and utilizing online resources. Online advisors and instructors are aware of their unique student population so don’t hesitate to contact them for help navigating through unexpected hurdles that interfere with your academic plan.
3. Utilize resources.
   Taking courses online includes assignments and instructors; however it also comes with a wealth of resources. Most institutions have extensive online libraries, tutoring services, student and alumni centers, and much more. Too often students run into last minute, high stress situations and only then contact the necessary outlets. If you familiarize yourself with the campus and resources preemptively, you will be better off when problems arise. Browsing library resources can especially benefit your coursework because there is always an article or database with new information that may be relevant to a paper or project you could be working on.

Being an involved, self-motivated student requires hard work. Subscribing to quality work and time management habits will make it easy and the proof will be found in a high GPA and in seamless academic progress. Your online university is created to allow for a quality, flexible higher education experience so do yourself a favor and tap into all the wonderful resources out there!

By Emily Ludeman
Academic Advisor at American Public University

How can you apply your prior learning towards your degree?

Just ask B.S. Information Technology student, Robert Flowers. Throughout his twenty seven year career, Rob has been a police officer, held management positions, network engineering positions, private security positions, and teaching positions. He is currently an Enterprise Architect.

Rob began his career in law enforcement; and then went into private security where he started learning about computers. From there, Rob began learning all he could about computer networking through independent study and on-the-job trial and error. He recently participated in the Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) program at American Military University. Rob was able to demonstrate prior learning in computer science and networking based on what he had learned through experience. Rob completed seven portfolios (21 credits) towards his degree via the PLA portfolio program!

[How to Apply Prior Learning to Your Studies]

PLA is a great way to put your prior learning to the test and demonstrate your mastery of specific courses in your academic plan. Portfolio is not the only method by which to demonstrate prior learning. Rob also passed College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests to obtain credit in subject areas he was very proficient in such as Computer Science and Productivity Applications.

CLEP exams are available in a variety of subjects from general education courses, such as English and Mathematics, to specialized areas like computer science and networking. No matter what method of prior learning assessment you choose, PLA can help you earn your degree faster and save you money. Check with your school of choice and their transfer credit and prior learning assessment offices for specific policies, procedures, and fees, as they vary from institution to institution.

By Liz Jackson
Manager & Advisor, Prior Learning Assessment at American Public University System

The online student needs to make sure they have 5 areas of interest down in order to survive school. They need to know time management, how to take notes, refine their writing skills, how to conduct research effectively, and effective study habits. Here are 5 app types to facilitate the online learning process:

• Time management/Organization
  • GoTasks
  • Homework Tracker w/Reminders
• Note taking
  • Evernote
  • iAnnotate PDF
• Writing
  • Write 2 Lite
  • Papers
• Researching
  • Article Search by Foreminds
• Studying/Flashcards
  • Flashcards Pro
  • iCram Master

Check out my app picks in the podcast below!
By J. Mason
5 App Types for the Online Student by APUS