OK, I've signed up... What can I do to make the experience a success??

Many universities are offering alternatives to the traditional classroom format as a way for students to take courses and complete their degrees. Observation of students who have succeeded in these new formats has shown that these students demonstrate specific behaviors which are thought to contribute to their success.

These behaviors include:

• Being an independent learner -- these students like to gather information by reading or viewing instructional media. They can seek information from multiple sources to answer their questions
• Being self-directed -- these students can meet deadlines effectively. They are able to set study plans and keep to them. They meet course deadlines and avoid procrastination!
• Communicating effectively -- these students actively seek information from instructors and fellow students. They write clearly in course assignments and discussion groups. These students ask for help when their usual methods of information seeking do not answer their questions or solve their problems
• Reading course materials and readings carefully

• Enjoying the pursuit of new knowledge and information via non-traditional sources. The ability to learn supersedes any technical difficulties or additional time necessary to learn new skills

These are steps that need to be taken BEFORE the quarter begins. Reverting to that old habit of waiting till the second week of class to visit the bookstore will not be a good choice here! To maximize your opportunities for success, you should

• Go to the Online Course Homepage to make sure that you have the proper hardware and software on your computer
• Brush up your computer skills if necessary. Consult the Online Course homepage for a list of suggested functions that you should be able to perform as well as help manuals and tutorials for your use.
• Obtain your books either from the Rush University Bookstore or from our online book service.  

During the quarter, what should I do?

• Set a study schedule that fits into your busy life and keep to it!
• Don't wait until the last minute to meet deadlines. With any technology, there are always unforeseen complications. If your instructor didn't like "the dog ate my paper", he probably won't like "I couldn't connect to my online service" either! If you encounter technical problems with the course page, passwords, etc., there is an online help request form for you to use.
• Plan to invest the corresponding amount of time you would spend if you were taking a class on campus. While you may not be sitting in a lecture hall for 2-3 hours a week, you will be spending at least that much time reviewing instructor notes and assignments as well as posting your discussion comments in the course folders. You will still spend the same amount of time doing background reading and preparing your papers as you would in an on-campus course. Most of the students who complete our online courses say that the workload in online courses is equal to or greater than an on-campus course. Just remember-- you will probably be saving a great amount of commuting time to campus!
• Participate in the online discussion activities. Find out how easy it is to contact other online students via email or chat sessions. Many excellent projects have been completed by students living hundreds of miles apart! Students also report that they have experienced a great deal of support from fellow online students simply by using email
• Communicate with your instructor. If you have questions or need clarification, you can email your instructor right from the online class page. Our faculty do have office hours, so you can phone or visit if you wish.