To be successful in a distance learning course, you need to manage your time. Students tend to procrastinate and drop out of distance learning at higher levels than in traditional courses. This may be partly due to a lack of time management.

• At the beginning of the course, make sure you understand course requirements and expectations in regards to completion of course material, activities and online participation. Estimate how much time per week you will need to spend on the course.
  • Generally students should expect to study about 2 to 3 hours for each credit hour.
• Schedule yourself, and stick to an assignment schedule, that coincides with the course syllabus deadlines, or that is negotiated with your instructor.
• Schedule yourself daily/weekly for course communications for
  • student interaction/peer learning via discussion groups, chat, case studies, etc. Often you will be required to work on group projects or case studies, whether at one location or through Blackboard.
  • feedback to the instructor
    Your feedback to the instructor is critical to the success of your online course experience and to the improvement of the overall quality of the course. Students are encouraged to provide regular feedback to the instructor on course material, assignments, progress or any other issue.
• assignment progress and submission
• progress reports: The instructor must provide feedback to you on your progress through the course. Request an evaluation schedule, conditions, and methods for your progress through the material.
• course communication policies: To help your instructor respond quickly to your request and provide timely acknowledgement feedback (assignment reception, response to questions, etc.), you need to keep in mind course communications and policies:
  • Submit your assignments from your ODU email account: jsmith@odu.edu.
  • Include course number followed by assignment number or question topic in subject line of your email: DL101_assignment1
  • Include your last name followed by assignment title in all attachment: jsmith_assignment1.
  • Send a carbon copy of your assignment emails to yourself and retain the copy until the grade is recorded in the gradebook.

• Create a study routine. If at all possible, try to study at the same time each day. Having regular hours at least five days a week will make it easier to habitually follow the schedule and to maintain an active approach to study.
• Space out your study periods. Fifty to ninety minutes of study at a time for each course works best. Relaxation periods of ten or fifteen minutes should be scheduled between study periods. It is more efficient to study hard for a definite period of time, and then stop for a few minutes, than attempt to study on indefinitely.
• Plan for weekly reviews. At least one hour each week for each class (distinct from study time) should be scheduled. The weekend is a good time for review.
• Leave some unscheduled time for flexibility. Students often tend to over-schedule themselves.
• Leave time for recreation.
• Do not wait until the last minute to complete assignments - many of these will require research, which is something that cannot be done properly in a short space of time. Set several smaller study goals - if you have been given a task that you find overwhelming, break it down into smaller parts.
• Make use of small windows of time that appear during your day. For example, an hour between classes is sufficient time to do something useful such as reading a chapter of a book, reviewing notes you have taken in a lecture. Do not be tempted to ALWAYS spend this time having coffee chatting to your friends.
• Give yourself rewards to keep you motivated.

  Find more good study ideas at www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/htimesch.html.

The following method of organizing time helps students establish long term, intermediate, and short term time goals.

1. Long Term Schedule Construct a schedule of your fixed commitments only. These include only obligations you are required to meet every week, e.g., job hours, classes, church, organization meetings, etc.
2. Intermediate Schedule - One per week Now make a short list of MAJOR EVENTS and AMOUNT OF WORK to be accomplished in each subject this week. This may include non-study activities. For example:

   Quiz Wednesday Paper Tuesday Ball game Tuesday night Finish 150 pages in History by Friday

   These events will change from week to week and it is important to make a NEW LIST FOR EACH WEEK. Sunday night may be the most convenient time to do this.
3. Short Term Schedule - One per day On a small note card each evening before retiring or early in the morning make out a specific daily schedule. Write down specifically WHAT is to be accomplished. Such a schedule might include:

   Wednesday 8:00 - 8:30 Review History 9:30 - 10:30 Preview Math and prepare for Quiz 4:45 Pick up cleaning on way home 7:00 - 10:15 Chpt. 5, 6 (History) 10:30 Phone calls

   CARRY THIS CARD WITH YOU and cross out each item as you accomplish it. Writing down things in this manner not only forces you to plan your time but in effect causes you to make a promise to yourself to do what you have written down.

Source: Test Taking Strategies and Study Skills for the Utterly Confused By Laurie Rozakis

For strategies on stopping procrastination, visit http://caps.unc.edu/Procrast.html and http://ub-counseling.buffalo.edu/stressprocrast.shtml