Starting Your Journey

So, we've addressed the nuances and what it means to be an online learner. What's next? Really, that's up to you. As you've reviewed self-management strategies, how to remain self-motivated, how you can be an active contributor to a community of learners, and how to translate all of this into the real-world experiences, we hope you've come to a similar conclusion that your experience and outcomes in college/graduate school are completely in your hands. Of course, the CSW and your instructors, advisors, and support staff are here to help you along the way- and knowing your resources and needs is critical to your success here at OSU.

Whether you're new to online learning or you're a pro, remember that every course has its own structure, pace, and types of activities. While we've covered a lot of material, at the very least be sure to implement the following strategies that will help you be successful in this and future courses.

1

Get in the mindset of directing and owning your learning.This online course is designed to give you flexibility in how, where, and when you do things, but that also means that you'll be responsible for keeping track of tasks, staying on pace to get things done, establishing good study strategies, and seeking help when you need it. If you're used to a classroom experience that seems more passive, then learning online will take some adjustment to your approach.

2

Look through the syllabus calendar and module layout, and establish a routine. Take time to get familiar with the routine of the class, and schedule your own work time accordingly, probably multiple times during the week. Because this class is fully online, the activities you'll do each week are a combination of what would've been, in a face-to-face class, bothin-class work (3 hours/week for a three-credit course), andhomework (typically calculated by the university to be about 6 hours/week to receive a C).This means that each week of this course will appear to have a substantial amount of work, but this is because you're seeing both of these types of activities.

3

Get familiar with the resources you have available. Check out the various student services that Ohio State offers to students, including those in online courses. You'll likely need to feel confident about how to access University Library resources, and you should be aware of the various types of academic and personal support you can take advantage of.

4

Know the best ways to get help so you're prepared if something comes up.There are different pathways to get help for different types of problems.Contact http://8help.osu.edu for tech problems; post in the Course Q&A discussion with general questions; and send a message to the instructor with personal questions about grades and feedback.

5

Make sure you have the right tools. The Course Syllabus page has an overview of the technology needed for the course. In general, though, you'll want to be sure you're familiar with Carmen and any of the other tools listed in the syllabus. You also need to make sure you have a well functioning computer and a stable high-speed internet connection.

Be sure to bookmark the multiple resources provided and be prepared to begin your online journey here with the CSW.