Class Load

How to Manage the Work Load of an Online Class

Familiarize yourself with due dates;

	each class has certain requirements that you must meet in order to complete the course;
	calendars are provided with daily, weekly, and monthly tasks;
	your class homepage also has notices of due dates;
	use both to help you keep track of assignments;
	just as you would attend class, attend to these tools.

Organize early:

	set up a large ringed binder for course material;
	label each section accordingly;
	prioritize tasks;
	print out assignments as reminders;
	copy of everything you send.

Work Offline:

	download new messages, browse for new assignments, then log off;
	read through your email while off-line;
	messages can be read, created, replied to (to be sent later), printed mail and deleted while off-line.

The Unbearable Heaviness of Email:

	read your email then attend to it right away--read it, print it, reply to it (if you need to), save what's important and then delete the rest--if you let it pile up, it can become too daunting to handle;
	later is too late; putting email off until later leads to feeling overwhelmed.

Learn Your Email Program:

	some great programs exist that help with email organization;
	if you are unsure of how your program works, find someone who knows it well;
	don't let the computer be more important than writing and reading;
	most email programs have address books--use them so you don't have to type the same addresses over and over.

Learn Your Browser:

	Netscape and Microsoft Explorer have built in mail programs;
	configure your browsers so that you can send mail from them:
	use Netscape and Explorer during non-peak times in the day, so that your work will go faster.

Program Your Day:

	plan to devote at least two hours a day for class work;
	tell friends and family that you are in class during that time;
	set up a "study" environment, with your books and utensils in easy reach;
	work ahead of schedule.

Program Your Head:

	most students who fail online classes, do so because they think they have 'tomorrow' to do the assignment;
	there is no tomorrow--there is only Now;
	reward yourself after you have completed an assignment;
	when not busy on a class assignment, have fun visiting other sites on the Web.

Be the Owner of Your Online Destiny:

	if you don't understand an assignment, ask questions;
	your instructors check their email many times during the day, so jot a note to them, but don't stop there;
	write a note to one of the other members of the class;
	if that still doesn't help, contact one of the online writing labs -- for writing questions at least;
	no-one but you knows what you understand, so you must tell us;
	your success depends entirely upon you!

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