Most people who choose to take online courses do so because they already have very busy schedules, so time management can be a great concern. At the time that I began my program, I was teaching and working as the director of the fall and spring plays. Without careful planning, I knew that I would be setting myself up for failure in my degree program. More importantly, I knew that I had a responsibility to my students, and I refused to allow my coursework to interfere with their education. I must admit that I was initially intimidated by the thought of meeting all my responsibilities, but I soon learned that careful planning would bring unfathomable results.
On the first day of each term, I carefully reviewed the course syllabus and objectives for all my classes. This was undoubtedly the most important factor in enabling me to stay on task throughout the term. Before beginning any coursework, I would enter each assignment and due date into my planner. After this had been completed, I checked my planner for other major events near those due dates. For example, if an essay was due the weekend of the performance of a play I directed, I knew to plan accordingly. I also found that many of my instructors were very understanding of their pupils’ busy schedules. If I told a professor well in advance that I had a conflict that might prevent me from turning in an assignment on a scheduled due date, the teacher was often receptive to my needs and willing to adapt. Of course, I knew better than to take advantage of this- the teacher must be able to trust that the student genuinely has a conflict. Generally, if I planned enough in advance, I was able to complete major assignments before the conflict in question. This use of organizational tools and communication with professors was incredibly helpful in keeping me from feeling overwhelmed and showing me that I was, in fact, capable of accomplishing everything that I set out to do.
Why was I able to juggle directing plays, creating lesson plans, grading essays, and my own coursework? I wanted to improve myself, and I would not let anything stop me from doing so. This may sound simple, but without a desire to do well, a student is unlikely to push him or herself to succeed. Any student who is not willing to take this initiative him or herself might be better off in a more traditional classroom setting, because the online classroom does not have a teacher looking over the student’s shoulder with constant reminders to complete the coursework. Yes, the online instructor might send weekly e-mails encouraging students to complete the assignments for the week, but the online student must take the initiative to check that student e-mail account in order to get that extra push in the first place. Success in this environment takes a strong drive to do well. In fact, I challenged myself to receive better grades as a graduate student than I did in undergrad. This provided me with a stronger motivation, as well. By the time I completed my Masters, I still had a 4.0 because I would not accept anything other than the best from myself. Set high standards for yourself, as well, and you will be surprised by how far you will go. As a high school student, my grades were average. I got As, Bs, Cs, and an occasional D in Biology. I considered myself an average student and didn’t expect more than average grades from myself. I have since learned the value of having high standards for myself and I have learned that the only factor that made me average was my attitude.
Beginning a new degree can be intimidating for anyone, but choosing to work for this degree in an unfamiliar venue can be outright frightening. However, with the right attitude and proper organization, anyone can find success. Do not let fear, lack of time, or anything else stop you. An online degree not only teaches you the skills of your degree program, but it also teaches time management and shows employers that you have knowledge of technology that is vital in today’s workplace. Now, you simply need to take the first step and sign up for those classes!
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