Strategies+for+Success

= You've Registered For Your First Class, Now What? =

1. **Don't panic.** You can do this and you can succeed.

 * Make sure your firewall/anti-virus software is up to date, download and install any software your program requires. My courses at UMUC require JAVA and the very first time I logged into my class I was directed in how to download and install it. Different schools and programs have different requirements. These will be clearly listed when you sign into your course.

2. **Be prepared**. Make sure you have your text books, and any supplies you may need.
3. **Collect** online resources to help you:
 * Taking a math class? Visit Khan Academy this website has videos on everything from business to physics and there are LOTS of math tutorials for everything from basic algebra to calculus and beyond. It's a great resource for school aged children too.
 * Haven't written a paper in a while? Look for writing and grammar help online- see the resources on the Learning Tools page
 * There are tools to help you with just about every learning challenge you'll face- you just need to look for the ones that help you best.

4. **Sign into** your online classroom and **READ** everything!

 * Find the syllabus and read it to the end- this information may seem boring but you need to know it and you need to know where to find it.
 * Find the course schedule and print it out, multiple copies. Keep those copies with you everywhere: in the car, on the fridge, on your desk etc. Then you'll always know where you stand and what you should be doing that day or week.

6. **Plan ahead**

 * Determine when you are going to study: at home after the kids go to bed, at the park, at baseball (soccer, football, dance) practice, first thing in the morning, at nap time whenever. And then put that in your schedule- commit to that time as many times a week as necessary to stay on track.
 * Read and work ahead as much as possible. You never know when life is going to go crazy on you; the kids will get sick, you'll get sick, your car will break down, something will happen and your well planned study schedule will go out the window. If you are ahead as much as possible you're ready to handle what comes at you.

7. **Make friends**

 * This may sound like advice for a kindergarten child, but it applies to adults too. Watch how people post in class, connect with people whose postings resonate with you. Comment on their posts, engage them in a conversation by asking questions. This will eliminate some of the psychological distance inherent in online learning and will make you feel more connected to the program you are enrolled in.
 * Those friends can come in handy when you are up against a deadline or confused about an assignment- send a friend a message to share ideas, ask questions and get feedback.

8. **Collect the email addresses** for you instructor and teaching assistant (if there is one). Store the address in multiple places.

 * You'll need these addresses if your computer crashes, you get sick and need to ask for more time on an assignment, or if you have some other issue arise.

9. **Ask questions**

 * There really is no wrong question. You may sit there thinking you are the only person wondering about something but chances are someone else out there is wondering the same thing. And even if you are the only person with that question- you still deserve an answer.

10. **Prepare for the worst**

 * Picture this: you've been working for hours on a paper, and your computer is attacked by the worst virus ever and you lose your work. Now peel yourself off the ceiling, and calm down because you've been smart and you've been saving your paper periodically, sending it to your email account as an attachment, storing multiple copies to "cloud" storage, or you've saved it on a memory stick. It doesn't matter which method you use, you use one or more and protect yourself.