Technology just keeps making it easier for you to stay organized, whether you like to or not. New out is this great app called “Due Today“. This app helps you stay on top of your projects and assignments for class and life. It also allows you to add tasks, sub-tasks as dependencies, and recurring tasks on a schedule that you set. You can also create start dates and end dates for specific projects.

For those without an android phone or tablet there’s several different options to digitizing your to-do list. Toodledo is a great application that helps you keep your customize your tasks and increases productivity. And for those students that need an extra nudge try Time Tracker, a to-do list with a timer.

There’s no reason to not be more organized, especially as an online student, and making your task list virtual helps you take it with you. And the best thing…you won’t lose it! Check out our extensive list of tools and resource websites for the online student.

Assertiveness and initiative are qualities needed for success in online learning. You need to take the initiative to ask questions and resolve problems that the instructor may not be able to perceive. Many of the non-verbal cues that instructors use to determine whether a student is not understanding are not as available in an online class as they are in face-to-face learning environments.

If you experience difficulty on any level, either with the technology or with the course content, you need to communicate your concerns immediately, otherwise the instructor will not know how to help.

(source: University of West Florida)

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Wouldn’t it be nice if you didn’t have to pay for lunch at work, and it was provided to you? Or when you went to pump gas, your card never got charged?  What if you could use programs on your computer for school without having to take money out of your checking account? This last thought is not a commercial, it’s real. As for the others…you’re dreaming.

Getting technology for “free” isn’t as difficult as you think, and you don’t need to be a celebrity to get out of paying the bill. We have some great tools you can choose from or try out some of the ones listed below.

Misc. Tech:

• AVG Free- Protect your computer! AVG Free is a widely trusted anti-virus program. They provide anti-virus and spyware protection for Windows users. Very easy to install.
• Billeo – For all those with more than one bill to pay, but need a better way of organizing the whole process this free web browser is for you. It helps people track their finances and make online payments.
• Creative Pro Office – Whether you’re a busy professional looking for a project management system, or a student looking to manage your studies this tool has a wealth of features.

Storage and Collaboration Online:

• Mikogo – If you need to share you screen with your peers or your professor this tool allows you to do that. The program works with up to 10 people.
• 4 Shared- An online storage site iwth 5 GB of space to users signing up for a free account.

Document Creation:

• Adobe Buzzword- You can share project files, collaborate on documents, and host web conferences.
• Primo Online- Even if you don’t have the Adobe suite, there’s still a way for you to create PDF files for free. With the help of this online creation service you can do just that.

- By J. Mason

One of the unique aspects of online degree education is its focus on interaction and communication to facilitate effective learning. To take full advantage of online classes, you must be an active participant – there’s no sitting in the back, hoping not to be called on. Get in there and engage, discuss and collaborate. Much of the learning that occurs online takes place in the instructor-moderated course discussion boards where students exchange ideas with their peers.

The discussion board acts as a semester long conversation around a topic of interest in the field. A major benefit of online learning is that at the end of the course, a record of the discussion still exists. Students can re-visit ideas and questions that emerged along the way, and even look back at how their own ideas on the course topic evolved over the semester.

Source: AllOnlineSchools

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There will be times when you’ll find yourself at a mental roadblock, stuck on how to complete an assignment. Often, the best thing to do in those situations is to take a step back and stop working on it for a while.  Take cues from your body to determine break time. 

• Are your ideas getting stale?
• Is your mind wondering a lot?
• Are you feeling restless?

Think about your assignment off and on, in a relaxed way, while you’re doing something relaxing, like taking a walk. Sometimes your “background processing” may be much more creative than your “foreground processing.” In fact, there is research that taking a break to walk through nature significantly improved cognitive thinking skills.

 - Online Learning Tips Staff

One of the keys to your success will be how you study. We all know that cramming might help you get that quick grade increase before an exam, but is there a better way?  YES!  Pace yourself! 

As soon as you start learning about the material covered in the course, begin to study efficiently for the mid-term and final. Many courses also have other tests and pop quizzes, so by doing a small amount of studying every day, you’re preparing yourself for whatever your professor throws your way. Even just 15 minutes every night before you go to sleep can help you retain material. Come finals week, you’ll have a very good base of knowledge before you ever crack open a book to prepare for the exam.

 - Online Learning Tips Staff

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We cannot articulate this enough fellow students!  Create a schedule. Determine what time is best for you to study and work on your assignments. Is it every Wednesday while your partner is out for poker night? Maybe it’s Saturday mornings when the kids are at soccer practice. By creating a schedule, and setting task reminders, you’re less likely to become overwhelmed juggling school with your other commitments. 

A schedule is extremely important since your classes are online.  While you can access the classroom any time, by setting a regular schedule, you’re more likely to succeed and remember to dedicate yourself to the commitment of education.  A schedule will help you plan ahead, accommodate future appointments and meet your classroom assignment dates ahead of time.  If you lack a schedule, you will more easily forget about an assignment or procrastinate until you are overloaded.

 - Online Learning Tips Staff

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Even if you’re not a genius, you can use the same strategies as Aristotle and Einstein to harness the power of your creative mind and better manage your future.

The following strategies encourage you to think productively, rather than reproductively, in order to arrive at solutions to problems. These strategies are common to the thinking styles of creative geniuses in science, art, and industry throughout history.

Nine approaches to creative problem solving:

• Rethink – look at problems in many different ways
• Visualize – utilize diagrams and imagery to analyze your dilemma
• Produce – genius is productive
• Combine – make novel combinations
• Form – Form relationships
• Opposite! Think in opposites
• Metaphor/simile! Think metaphorically
• Failure – learning from your mistakes is one example of using failure
• Patience – don’t confuse inspiration with ideas

(source: Study Guides and Strategies)

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Education should be relevant and make a difference in your life. Discovering ways that your experience fits into the discussion makes the topic significant and applicable to your job or future education. Some courses naturally build on experience, such as business, sociology, or psychology.

Instructor want to see more than book learning. They want to see that you have synthesized the information and can use it effectively. You will find that because distance learning uses forum posts for discussion, you can take time to formulate a knowledgeable response before you reply. Online discussion questions are great avenues for creating relevance, and discovering the significance of a subject will help you internalize the information.

(Source: eLearn Magazine)

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Since the breakout of the iPod there have been numerous updates and upgrades made to the device. Not only can we listen to music, but we can watch videos, view our own images, and download podcasts for later use. One thing you might not have thought of is how to use your iPod to study for class.

As we are always looking for ways to integrate our favorite gadgets into our studies and daily lives, here are just a few ideas on how to get your iPod involved for school use.

• CramSession: A great option for computer and IT students studying for professional exams can find audio study guides here, ready to download.
• NPR Science Friday: Listen to clever, engaging discussions about science from National Public Radio’s popular program.
• Project Gutenberg: This large online library of audio books and e-books contains stories and books in languages from English to Greek to Danish to Korean. A wide variance for those interested in the arts.
• The Teaching Company: Supplement your class assignments and syllabi with courses and study guides from The Teaching Company. You can search topics like Ancient and Modern History, Religion, Philosophy, Science and Mathematics and more.
• Unerase Tool: Recover lost study guides, class notes and other materials with this handy tool made for iPods. There is a price on this tool, but well worth it if you store a lot of materials for school on your device.

These are just a few options from this great comprehensive list published by the Online Education Database. It’s just another way to better utilize your time. Try downloading a podcast on a topic you’re learning in class.

- By J. Mason