One of the most frustrating aspects of teaching online is that countless students hurt their grade by submitting assignments late. Due to the structure and nature of online courses, students are given a complete syllabus and course calendar on the first day of the course. Therefore, with proper planning and time management all students should be able to turn their assignments in on time, despite the many plates that online students juggle.
In my courses, I always stress that employers expect timeliness and therefore I expect the same in my classroom. While many online students are also working full-time jobs and raising families in addition to their school work, it’s vital that they set personal priorities. I assume since they are enrolled in college courses that college is a priority for them. For many, achieving a degree (and ultimately increasing their lifelong earning potential) does mean making sacrifices over the short-term.
Below are five tips I give students, drawing from my personal experiences, to help them to manage their time wisely within the online classroom:
1. Plan ahead.
Do not wait until the day an assignment is due to start working on it. You’re bound to have questions, become frustrated, or realize that the assignment is going to take longer than you anticipated. One of the best aspects of taking classes online is that you have the entire syllabus at the beginning of the class. This allows you to plan around any other commitments you may have.
2. Work ahead.
Set deadlines for yourself. For example, if a discussion question is due Thursday at midnight tell yourself it is due on Tuesday by midnight. That way, if you do have questions or something comes up you have some buffer room to finish the assignment on time.
For example, I am required to post your weekly feedback for the previous week by Monday. I usually set a goal to publish this feedback no later than Wednesday. This gives me some buffer room if I become ill, my children need me, or if any other unexpected challenge arises.
3. Stick to a routine.
Set aside specific times each day to work on your online classes. It doesn’t matter when it is as long as it is consistent. Try to set aside at least 1 hour each day that you devote solely to class work. That doesn’t count checking email, reading blogs, or stalking your friends on Facebook. J
I am currently teaching five classes and I devote about 6 hours a day to grading and posting. Keeping the timing consistent is helpful for me and for my family because we all know when I will be working and what to expect during those times.
4. Get up an hour earlier each day.
Do you have so many life commitments that you can’t find any time to work on your class? The easiest solution is to wake up an hour earlier in the morning. You’ll be amazed at how much you can get done when you add one extra hour to your day.
I started doing this when I began teaching online. I actually wake up about 2 hours before my children are up for the day so I can shower and spend about an hour working. Accomplishing focused work when my kids are home and awake can be challenging so this was the perfect solution for me.
5. Prioritize.
To-do lists are your friend! Make sure you print the calendars (or develop your own if the course doesn’t have one) listing everything that is required in your classes. At the beginning of each week map out what you need to accomplish and set aside time to complete those tasks.
What suggestions can you add for helping students online to manage their time wisely?
About the Author
Jamie Weitl is a WAHM teaching for several online universities and raising three precocious little ones. In her spare time she enjoys writing, baking, and running. For more info, see my Google Plus Profile.
