Taking Online College Classes? How to be Sure You’re Ready!

Getting started on your career dream via online college classes makes sense. You might be pursuing a degree that gives you a launching pad for success, such as an associate degree. You might be seeking a bachelor’s degree or higher because you want t to enter nursing, dentistry, medical, ophthalmology, or chiropractic school. (On that note, see why chiropractic college is more popular now than ever.)

Why You Should Consider Online College Classes

Do the analysis, and you’ll see the advantages of exploring college classes online:

1. Online courses offer those who rate higher on the introvert scale a better chance to participate in class discussions. They also have time to formulate questions and may find the “chat in” feature more comfortable for follow-up.
2. Opting for online college classes means not stressing out about travel time, fighting traffic snarls, and spending more on gas money than you need to.
3. Your dream of reaching an educational goal can begin while you’re employed. Today’s offerings typically include the preliminary (lower-level) courses required for a degree.

Online College Classes: Ready, Tech, Go

Learning Must Haves
Although access to the internet is rarely a problem, you’ll want to ensure your Wi-Fi connection is steady and strong. You don’t want to be nearing the final version of an assigned paper and have your internet connection drop.

Know Your Learning Management System
Online class sessions come to you through the university’s online learning environment. (These are called learning management systems, and are abbreviated as “LMS.”)

The LMS is a central online platform administered by the instructor. Usually, lectures, assignments, discussion boards, and quizzes are provided to you through the LMS. You upload completed assignments so the instructor can review, grade, and provide you feedback on them.

Essential Tech Tools
If you haven’t had experience saving documents to a remote location or using a file storage service, do some homework on how to use them. Remote storage capabilities are useful when you have limited storage space on your computer. Check out this link to cloud storage for options.

Other tech tools/terms you’ll want to feel comfortable with as part of preparing for online college classes:

• eBooks and eJournals
• Videos
• Recorded lectures
• Quizzes and tests
• Discussion forums.

Checklist for Online Learning

Having computer knowledge and internet skills will help ensure you can keep up with class expectations. Here’s a checklist to review:

1. Know which internet browser works best for you. Examples include Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Safari. (Microsoft Explorer is being retired.) Certain universities may require specific browsers that have recently updated versions. Here’s a guide to help you.

2. Make sure you can perform computer operations, including

• Using a keyboard and mouse/touchpad
• Managing files and folders: save, name, copy, move, backup, rename, delete, check properties
• How to download and launch specific software or applications
• Using software such as Microsoft Office (Includes Word, PowerPoint, and Excel)
• Email functions (create, send, receive, reply, attachments, printing)
• Ability to perform online research using various search engines and library databases.
• Accessing on-campus library options.

3. Finally, review your university’s “How to” instructions before online class sessions start. Such a document lets you know grading standards, how much you should study per credit hour, how to participate in online discussion forums, and other course-specific expectations.

Online College Classes at Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC)

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

CUKC degree programs range from an associate degree in biological sciences to associate degrees in healthcare support professions like radiologic technology and occupational therapy assistant. Since 1922, more than 11,000 alumni have earned their doctor of chiropractic (D.C.) degrees from CUKC.

Many of the prerequisites for CUKC degrees are available as online college classes. Is this right for you? Check out our online learning assessment.

Discover the right CUKC academic degree program for you today by requesting info here. Plus, to be up to date on financial aid options and requirements, click here for our free eBook: Your Guide to Navigating College Financial Aid.