The Basics of Distance Learning

Knowing the basics of distance learning will help you start off in the right direction. There are many learning resources and strategies that can guide you along the way. You will find that many times you will need to research different topics and use different learning techniques. There may also be times where you may feel overwhelmed with assignments. Here are some tips to follow that will definitely benefit you.

First off, you will need to get familiar with the classroom itself. Your instructor will give you the basics but for the most part, it is pretty self explanatory. A majority of the time, you will find yourself doing research and grammar exercises quit often. There are many different sources you can use to gather information from online. The University Library is very convenient and effective to use if you know how to use it. Once you are in the library you will want to use the tutorial to help you navigate around. There are also many search engines that will provide you with many different academic resources to choose from.

When searching, try to use only the keywords in your subject; this will narrow your search results so they are more effective. Taking notes while researching will help you summarize and remember the information. Bookmarking sites where you have received information from is a fast and easy way to go back to them if at all needed. It will give you easy access to the information and the site you received it from (which will come in handy for citing your sources).

It is expected of you, as a student, to be honest in your academic work. Academic Honesty ranges from providing false information to plagiarizing or misrepresenting documents. Axia's academic honesty policy (2006) states that you need to acknowledge references from the original to avoid plagiarism. This is a very serious issue that some students are not aware they need to pay attention to. One major key to upholding academic honesty is to properly citing your sources. To cite sources means to acknowledge the information you have collected as well as the author, if any. You must do this regardless if you are paraphrasing or using a direct quote.

To pursue a degree online, it is strongly recommended that you widen your study habits to be successful. There will not be an instructor by your side to guide you through each assignment and lesson being taught so it is very important that you learn to study independently. You will be able to contact your instructor if you are struggling but for the most part, learning the material is up to you. Make sure to keep up with your syllabus so you do not find yourself overwhelmed with assignments. Use guides to help you organize and study. The SQ3R technique is a very helpful process to use when researching and writing papers as it allows you to break down each step of the process.

Managing your time wisely will help you in every aspect of learning. Between work, school, and family responsibilities, you will need to make sure you use your time effectively. I know that if you are one of the millions of Americans with kids, you might be thinking "When will I have time for school?" There are times you will find yourself watching television, doing odds and ends around the house, or just sitting around; this can be the time you use for class. Even if it's on your lunch break at work, this is a few extra minutes where you can stop into class and see what you need to do for the week or even work on an assignment. It is very important you stay on top of your priorities without letting the little things get in the way.

Keeping track of your priorities is very important as it will keep you away from the feeling of being unorganized. Organizing assignments by there due date is a great way to make sure you have them completed and turned in on time. Since you will not have just one class at a time, you will need to make sure you are giving each class enough time to meet its participation and attendance, as well as completing its assignments. You will need to participate in discussion questions a few times each week. You might find it easier by having set days to post your responses so you can meet your participation requirements. Stay focused and do not let yourself get side tracked by unimportant things.

Everyone has goals in life wither they are short or long term. The first step to achieving these goals is to identify them. Take the time to sit and think about your goals and how you can reach them. Break down your long term goals into smaller ones that will build you up to completing them. Obviously, since you are enrolled in school, one of your goals is to earn a college degree. Looking at the big picture, this might seem like it will be difficult. By breaking this goal down, you will find it a lot easier than you ever thought it would be. Do not let yourself ever take failure for an answer. If you keep trying your best, achieving your goal is bound to happen. By having a couple classes at a time, this is the start of turning your big goal into smaller ones. It is up to you on how hard this goal will be to achieve by the amount of time and effort you put into it.

Now is where the journey begins. I hope that my guide will act as a resource to help you along the road ahead of you. Do not let yourself ever feel like you cannot do something because if you put your mind to it, you can; stay focused and follow your dreams. Good luck!