Setting yourself up to do well in an online environment is rooted in the same skills that have helped you do well in person — attentiveness, preparation, hard work, responsiveness, engagement—but the two modes of learning do have differences. Below are some tips to help you be successful in your online learning.

Being a Successful Online Student

Keep the following in mind:

First and foremost, take care of yourself and ask questions.
Check your technology and know where to get help.
Familiarize yourself with any tools you’ll use in your course.
Create new routines — or modify your existing routines — for your new learning environment.
Get prepared for class.
Talk to your professor.

Remote learning can be a powerful learning experience, especially if you stay engaged and put in a strong effort.

Read the full descriptions of these guidelines in the document "Being a Successful Student Online."

Watch the video on successful tips for remote learning from students in the School of Continuing Studies.

Set-up your Canvas Profile

Personalize your Canvas account by setting up your profile.

Set up your profile to help your instructors and peers learn about you and more easily identify you. The following video describes how to update your Canvas personal settings, profile, and profile picture. A video script is available from Canvas.

Use Calendars for Time Management

Use the Canvas calendar and consider importing it into your personal calendar to help with time management. The following calendars have instructions for syncing your Canvas calendar to a preferred calendar:

Google Calendar
iCal Calendar
Outlook Calendar

For more course and time management tips, visit the document "Tips for Managing Your Time As an Online Student."

Online Communication Guidelines

General Communication: You are expected to communicate in a respectful, effective, and professional manner. To promote an inclusive and respectful environment, please respect the opinions and thoughts of other students. Be courteous in the way that you choose to express yourself. Consider addressing others as you would wish to be addressed.

Discussions: In order for us to have meaningful discussions, we must try to understand what others are saying and be open-minded about their perspectives. If you want to persuade someone to see things differently, it is often much more effective to do so in a polite, non-threatening way rather than to do so antagonistically. Everyone has insights to offer based on his/her/their experiences, and we can all learn from each other. Civility is essential.

Email/Messages: Please use the following tips for sending academic and professional communications.

Check the syllabus. Before sending your e-mail or message, be sure that any included questions have not already been addressed in the syllabus or an announcement.
Use the preferred medium. Double-check in the syllabus or orientation to see whether email or Canvas message is your professor's preferred medium.
Be patient. You will receive a response within XX hours or business days. Please do not wait until the night before an assignment is due to ask a question.
Use a clear subject line. The subject line should include the topic of the message and the class title.
Greet & close. E-mail and Canvas messages should begin with a formal greeting and end with a closing as well as your name.
Check your writing. Proofread (i.e. grammar and spelling) your message before sending.

Failing to follow the guidelines may result in a delayed response.