Time Management Skills

Many students take online classes because they have busy lives and work schedules. Though online classes allow for a great degree of flexibility and mobility, it is very important to manage your time wisely in order to be successful in a fully online environment.
Tips:

  • Schedule time slots during the week that will be devoted to completing your online activities and assignments. Since online classes usually require more reading and writing than regular face-to-face classes, we advise you to create a schedule for each class you are taking. Your schedule may vary depending on the course you are taking. So pull out your syllabus and try to determine the rhythm of the class by looking at the following factors:
  • How much reading does this class entail?
  • How often does your instructor expect discussion board contributions? When are initial discussion board contributions due?
  • When are your exams and tests scheduled?
  • Are there assignments and papers? When are those due?
  • Are there any group or collaborative assignments? You will want to pay particular attention to the timing of any assignments that require you to work with others. They may take a longer time to complete when you are learning online because it can be more complicated to schedule times to get together.
  • Do not procrastinate! If you have an assignment that has a due date, login your course ahead of time to review all requirements and guidelines. If you have questions about a particular assignment, it is important that you contact your instructor in advance to clarify your questions. Due dates and course policies will vary depending on a course you are taking. So review your course syllabus as specific course policies are usually outlined in the syllabus

Last Updated October 20, 2020