Online education isn’t for everyone, but following a couple guidelines can help you be successful in online learning. These steps can help you decide whether online learning is something for you or something you would like to try.

STEP 1: Time Management

One of the firsts steps of online education is time management. Taking online classes is a bit different than taking face to face classes.

When it comes to online learning, it is more of a self-paced and self-learning atmosphere. Based on your schedule, a typical online class that is a 3-credit course typically requires around 8-10 hours of work per week.

In online classes, there is no one to remind you of deadlines, and you need to stay on top of your homework assignments. The teacher is limited to very little time online, so it typically takes a while for them to respond.

Online classes tend to have more work than your typical classroom class. This is designed to help you learn more and get to know the other online students more.

For the best results in an online class, it is better to keep a detailed planner of what is due and how much time it may take you to do the assignment so that you can manage your time effectively.

Katelyn Brown, a student from the University of Nebraska at Kearney, has been taking classes through UNK’s e-campus and says, “Online classes are difficult, but with good time management and studying, you can stay on top of the class. Classes take a lot out of your schedule, but it is worth it in the end.”

STEP 2: Don’t Take on Too Much

Whether you are a person in their 20s or going back to school, everyone has their day-to-day activities. Many people have work, kids, families, and so forth to manage, and adding school work on top is sometimes a challenge.

As stated above, online classes take a little bit more time and you need to have good time management skills. Before signing up for classes, it may be a good idea to look at the amount of time you can give towards online classes.

Stevie May, a college student from Central Community College in Hastings is an expert when it comes to taking on too much for one person. Stevie tried to manage seven classes on top of working a full-time job working more than 40 hours a week.

She states, “It was the worst decision of my life. I was stressed all the time, failing a few classes, and not getting enough sleep.”

Taking on too much may not seem like a big deal, but you need to dedicate a certain amount of time towards online learning. Working full time or managing children or a family takes a big part out of your free time.

Seeing how much time you have during a day or week can give you a better idea how much time you can dedicate to the number of classes you can take. This also ties back into time management skills.

STEP 3: Set Goals

A good reminder when taking any type of classes whether online or face-to-face is to set goals. Ask yourself why are you going to school and what you are going to benefit going to school from? Who are you doing this for and why?

Setting goals of why are you a going to school is a key part of college. It is also a good idea to set goals while you are taking online classes. By setting goals such as studying better for a test or dedicating more time to a harder subject can help you stay focused in school.

Everyone has his or her own way of setting goals, but by striving to achieve a goal can help you stay on track to graduate and stay on top of your studies.

These are just a few guidelines for succeeding in an online education environment. Time management, taking on too much, and setting goals throughout your journey in online learning can help you succeed through your college career.