Every student wishes he/she knew the formula for getting that “A” in a class. And while he can’t guarantee a perfect grade, instructor William Tiernan can provide students with a few tips to ensure success in an online course. Here is Tiernan’s take on distance learning classes:

A traditional class goes like this. Pick up syllabus on first day. Attend subsequent classes. Listen to (or sleep through) lectures. Take notes. Participate in discussions. Turn in assignments and take tests – in person. 

Online classes are different. I learned this by teaching one, a first-year writing seminar at a small college in North Carolina. Via email I introduced myself and the class. Our first meeting was a two-hour, face-to-face session. Enough time to pour over the syllabus, explain the college’s online course system, and preach about time management and online etiquette. “Enjoy the class,” I finished. “See you online.”

The results were mixed. It was my first time teaching an online course, and the first time any of the students had taken one. Most students participated enthusiastically in the online discussions (mainly between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m.), contributed to the class resource pool, and easily navigated the course management system to turn in papers. But a few struggled. One student blamed a tardy paper on a broken printer; another came by my office– three weeks into the semester – to tell me he couldn’t access the online system; a few students never joined class discussions, although “participation” was part of the final grade; and one student flooded the message board with about 50 too many opinions on “Gossip Girl.” 

Six weeks into the course I called (emailed) for a traditional class, a chance to touch base and gauge the online experience. “We should do this more often,” one student said. “I feel like I don’t know anyone.” Another quipped: “Nope, too early for me.” It was 12:15pm! I reviewed the grading policy and explained the final paper. Then we adjourned to the virtual world. 

Looking back, teaching an online course was a fabulous experience. The virtual conversations were spirited, no one had to trudge to class when it got cold, and the mountain of information the students provided in the form of website links far eclipsed what I had started with. (One student even brought a book to my office she thought should have been required reading.) Still, some of the pitfalls we encountered could have been avoided with a basic primer for distance learners. 

Here are 5 tips for success:

1. Make sure you can meet the minimum technology and connectivity requirements. 
2. Get active online. If you’ve never participated in online discussions, join a few virtual communities that interest you. Contribute to discussions and make “friends.” This will help you acclimate to your online class setting. 
3. Be proactive in your contributions to the course, especially to course discussions and resources. To be silent online is to be invisible.  
4. Understand the rules of “netiquette.” Interacting online is different than face-to-face communication. Subtleties that normally are conveyed through body language and gestures are absent in online discussion. Online communication must be clear and explicit to minimize misunderstandings.
5. Realize that on-line classes require the same investment as face-to-face classes. Set aside a specific time during the day to “participate” in the course.

Tiernan taught at Greensboro College in North Carolina. Among other responsibilities, he lead the First-Year Seminar program, which consisted of online courses.