You’ve probably noticed that all of my solutions have a similar first step: Contact Your Instructor. This can solve 99% of most class issues. But, what do you do when that is the issue? The primary method of communication between online instructors and students is email. In order for this to be useful to students … Continue reading Solutions: Communication
Category: Solutions to a Bad Online Class
What should you do if you find yourself in a bad online class? First and foremost, remember:
– As an online student you have all of the same rights as an on-campus student.
– You have the right to have reasonable expectations of both your school and your instructor, you’re the one paying tuition.
– A majority of issues in an online class can be solved with honest communication.
Solutions: Disorganized Content
An online class can be disorganized in many ways, but this post will focus on the issue of disorganized content. In this context, content includes any and all of the materials found on the platform (i.e. D2L or Blackboard) for the students to use or learn from. Here are some examples: assignment instructions, templates, or … Continue reading Solutions: Disorganized Content
Solutions: Flexibility
Generally, an online class’ flexibility is measured by the level at which a student can complete work at their own pace. Some flexibility restrictions are: anything that forces the student to answer to someone else’s schedule work not being accessible ahead of time so that a student may work ahead assignments that require previous assignments … Continue reading Solutions: Flexibility
Solutions: Inconsistent Schedule
Previously I gave an example of what a bad online course schedule might look like. I’m going to bring that back for reference so that I can share some tips and options for dealing with it. Discussion 1 – due by 4:00PM Tuesday Oct. 2 Discussion 2 – due by 8:30PM Saturday Oct. 13 Discussion … Continue reading Solutions: Inconsistent Schedule
Solutions: Unclear Expectations
So now that I’ve told you what makes an online class good, what should you do if you find yourself in a bad online class? Unclear expectations are a key attribute of a bad online class. For the most part a student should be able to find what’s expected from them by reading the syllabus. … Continue reading Solutions: Unclear Expectations
A Good Online Class: Communication
Whenever anything in an online class goes wrong, nine times out of ten it can be solved by contacting your instructor. For example: Say you've spent all day searching for a reading but you absolutely cannot find it, contact your instructor. You don't understand the instructions to an assignment, contact your instructor. There's something wrong … Continue reading A Good Online Class: Communication
Class On-The-Go 