Online Classes: Virtual Learning Tips: 2. Ready, Tech, Go

Welcome to the second in a series of tips, tricks, and techniques for maximizing virtual learning through eLearning – online classes. These ideas, gleaned from a wide variety of eLearning resources, are especially important now. (Go here for Tip 1: Get Set Up for Success.)

The good news is how eLearning via online classes – with the right conditions and equipment considerations – will deliver the knowledge and skills you want. You might be going for a degree that gives you a foundation for success, such as an associate degree. You might be seeking a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Or, you’re taking coursework as you can, with a long-term goal of entering nursing, dentistry, medical, ophthalmology, or chiropractic school.

Whatever your career goals are, online classes are a valuable way to get where you want to go.

Encouragement for Going to Online Classes: It’s Effective

If you find yourself apprehensive about going online because it’s new or different than what you’re used to, you’ll find encouragement with these benefits of online classes:

• Online courses offer those who rate higher on the introvert scale a better chance to participate in class discussions, or immediately ask questions, often by chat or messaging features.

• Online classes mean not stressing out about travel arrangements, fighting traffic snarls, and spending more on gas money than you really need to.

• Your dream of reaching an educational goal can start while you’re currently employed. Most colleges offer a tremendous variety of online classes. Today’s offerings typically include prerequisite (preliminary) courses required for a degree as well as ones that mirror daytime classes.

Online Class Learning: Ready, Tech, Go

• Internet Access 
  Access to the internet is rarely a problem these days. Still, the setup location of your dedicated space for online classes can be interrupted if your Wi-Fi connection isn’t strong enough. Imagine nearing the final version of an assigned paper, and your internet connection drops off. Before beginning any online class, test your connection.

• Know Your Learning Management System
  Class sessions come to you by way of the school’s online learning environment, referred to as a Learning Management System (LMS), or simply a platform. The LMS used typically consists of a central online platform administered by the instructor. Students access the LMS from their personal computer, tablet, or smartphone. Typically, assignments are submitted through the LMS. There will usually be a feature that allows the uploading of assignments, so the instructor can see, review, and grade it. If you cannot find this feature, email your instructor for guidance.

• Essential Tech Tools
  If you aren’t familiar with “saving to the cloud” — saving documents to a remote location using a file storage service like Dropbox or Google Documents — do some homework on how to use them. These capabilities come in handy if you have limited storage space on your computer. Check out this link to cloud storage for options. Other tech tools you may encounter as part of online classes:
  • eBooks and eJournals
  • Videos
  • Recorded lectures
  • Quizzes and tests
  • Discussion forums
  • Live Q&A sessions.

Checklist for Online Learning

Although taking online classes isn’t rocket science, having basic computer knowledge and internet skills will increase your confidence and ensure you can keep up with class expectations. Here’s a checklist to review:

• Know which internet browser works best for you. Examples include Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Explorer. Be aware that certain online learning systems may require specific ones. Here’s a guide to help you. Make sure you can perform computer operations, including

1. 1. Using a keyboard and mouse/touchpad
   2. Managing files and folders: save, name, copy, move, backup, rename, delete, check properties
   3. How to download and launch any specific software or applications
   4. Using software such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel
   5. Email functions (create, send, receive, reply, attachments, printing)
   6. Ability to perform online research using various search engines and library databases. Most likely, you’ll also have access to on-campus library options.

• Finally, remember the online class setup should include a “How to” document, so review it before class sessions start.

Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC)

Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is in Overland Park, Kansas, within the Kansas City metro. For nearly 100 years, we’ve been on a mission to create a healthier world. It’s a mission where we’re seeking to deliver everything we do at a higher level.

CUKC is a university specializing in chiropractic and health sciences. Our degree programs range from an associate degree in biological sciences to associate degrees in healthcare support professions like radiologic technology and occupational therapy assistant to the doctor of chiropractic (D.C.) degree. Many of the prerequisite classes for CUKC degrees are available as online classes.

For more about important topics beyond tips for taking online classes, check out our blog posts.

Discover the right CUKC academic degree program for you today by visiting us at Cleveland.edu, or by connecting with an advisor here.