Drexel eLearning Minute

Preparation for Your First Online Course

Welcome to Drexel’s e-Learning Minute, a series of short pod casts to help you plan and succeed with online learning. I’m Dr. Ken Hartman, director of academic affairs here at Drexel eLearning, and today we’ll talk about getting yourself personally and technically ready for your first online course…I’m calling it “Tech-prep for the eLearning rookie.”

Ready? Let’s get started.

When taking your first course online, you’ll want to have all your ducks in order before the course begins. Let me suggest 4 things you can do before the course starts to better ensure success in the course:

• First: Organize Your Schedule: Use an electronic calendar (e.g., Outlook) to block-out 6-9 hours per course/per week to write papers, read, and communicate with your instructor and fellow classmates. Consider your course work your second job.

• Second: Set Expectations: Let family members, friends, co-workers and others know of your obligation and commitment to your degree program. They’ll likely be more supportive, if they realize the importance of your academics.

• Third: Meet Your Instructor: Take the initiative to contact your instructor, sharing your background and asking about their experience, research interests, office hours, and the best time to contact them online. Trust me, the better your relationship with the instructor, the better the course experience.

• And finally: Do a little Tech Prep: Update your computer (operating system, web browser, applications), and then familiarize yourself with all the software applications needed for the course (spreadsheets, PowerPoint, etc.).

• Be sure to surf the electronic resources available online through your college library, e.g., e-journals, e-newspapers, e-periodicals, etc.

That’s it for this segment of the e-Learning Minute. Thanks for sharing your time with me. In our next e-Learning Minute, we’ll discuss another aspect of succeeding with your online degree.

 I’m Dr. Ken Hartman for Drexel eLearning.

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