Lesson 8 - NOTES PDF

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Qualities of a Successful Online Student Online students face different challenges than students who sign up for a traditional educational setting. Online students must work with a high level of discipline and commitment, since they are the primary drivers of their education. One of the first things you want to do as an online student is to confirm the technical requirements of your institution: online classes can benefit students with busy schedules, but only if they can access the course materials. Make sure that your computer will work with Ashworth’s online tools, and that you know how to navigate them. Be sure to connect with course faculty early in your program. Staying in contact and reaching out for assistance is extremely important. Not only is your faculty there to assist you with your coursework, but getting assistance early on is vital to ensuring that you acquire the necessary skills and information that you need to be successful as you move through the courses in your program of study. Create a study schedule and stick to it. Consider using software tools or apps to help you schedule your study time. Stay organized. Online students may have to find their own strategies for staying on top of their coursework. Consider using that same scheduling software to remind you of assignments that need to be completed, chapters or articles that need to be read, or study goals you need to accomplish, and other academic milestones. Have a consistent space where you keep your school materials such as notebooks, planner, and physical textbooks if you have them. You may choose to work in different locations to keep yourself fresh, but be sure to always choose a location that is free from distractions and to return all books and materials to the same place in your home so you know where they are when you need them. Finally, it’s important to point out that perhaps one of the most important qualities of a successful online student is that you make yourself aware of all of the resources that the school provides to assist you in your studies and you use them! At Ashworth, you will want to become very well acquainted with the Learning Resource Center (LRC). Here you can find the following resources:  Academic Advisors and Faculty – you can call our Academic Advisors anytime for help with your course material.

 APA Style Central – you can find tutorials for writing research papers and for formatting citations, and you can find templates to help you.  Ask The Librarian – a message board where you can communicate with the Ashworth College LRC staff.  Career Services – this is where you can research careers, build a resume, get video interview advice, and begin your job search.  The Guidance Center – a place to find tips on health and wellness, personal finance, study skills, and test prep. You can also find resources for help if you have been victimized in any way.  The Library – Research guides for each of Ashworth’s programs.  The Math Lab – You can find videos, practice problems, tutorials and math games to help you with specific kinds of mathematical problems, or you can sign up for tutoring.  The Writing Lab – you can view self-paced writing tutorials or schedule a tutoring session. You will be able to access the Learning Resource Center from each of your Ashworth courses! The following is a list of individual habits and qualities that contribute to the success of the online student: Commitment Success in online education directly relates to the student's level of commitment to his or her studies. A student who is committed is able to complete all assignments and pass all required quizzes and exams in a timely fashion. Self-Disciplined, Self-Motivated It is important that online students be self-disciplined and self-motivated. Time management and resourcefulness are two skill sets that can help students remain self-disciplined. Online students must stay motivated and remain focused on both their short-term and long-term goals. Once you receive your degree, you will be able to pursue the job that you want, rather than the job that you need. Strong Communicator Students must communicate on a regular basis with Ashworth faculty, academic advisors, and student peers. Communication is most often conducted by e-mail, through online discussion boards, and via the online student community. Students can expect to receive timely and helpful

feedback from faculty and academic advisors. Never be afraid to ask for help or clarification regarding your coursework. Open-Minded Students will encounter thoughts and opinions that may differ from their own as they pursue their education. It’s all part of the learning process and will greatly contribute to your intellectual growth. It is important to remain open-minded about such differences, express your opinions in a professional way, and treat your faculty, advisors, and peers with respect.

Mastering Technology There is no doubt that to succeed in online education, you must know how to use technology. After all, this skill is at the heart of online learning. The ability to use computers is essential for online learning, but it’s also a skill that will serve you in any career you pursue today. The computer skills needed to succeed in college programs are often the basic abilities employers require their employees to have. The ability to improve and apply practical computer skills could, therefore, mean improved employability and increased job performance. So, let's talk about a few of these skills! Hardware

Computer

Without a computer, online learning is not possible. It is that fundamental. Your computer can be either a desktop or laptop. Make sure you have plenty of memory and storage, and always back up your files. Your smartphone or tablet can help you read and study on the go, but you will need to be able to sit down and type a paper as well. Microphones and speakers

In order to hear audio files, video clips, and lectures, as well as participate in live chats, you will need a microphone and speakers (both of which come built into most laptops). You may also need headphones (ideally with a built-in mic) to listen to these materials privately. Software Operating System

Your college will usually inform you of operating system requirements and compatibility for use with its Learning Management System (LMS) and software programs. Microsoft Office

Microsoft Office is a software program that is a must for most schools. It is used to create text documents using Word, spreadsheets using Excel, and presentations using PowerPoint. There are other options, such as Google Docs and OpenOffice, if you do not have Microsoft Office. Google Docs are automatically saved and can be used wherever you have internet access. If you click on the “Library” quick link in your courses, you can find helpful documents to help you navigate and master the use of Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Windows. Adobe Reader and Acrobat

Adobe Reader and Acrobat are programs needed for reading and creating PDF files. Many documents for reading come in these file formats. Media Player Plug-ins

For streaming audio and video, media player plugins are necessary. Flash, Windows Media Player, and QuickTime are downloadable, free, and easy to install. Required Skills

The following are computer skills that are essential for online students. Before you can develop these skills, however, be sure you know how to type efficiently. In online learning (and many professions), typing is a required skill for learning and communicating. Word Processing

It is necessary to have a thorough working knowledge of word processing programs and their full capabilities. All written work can only be done with the use of a word processing program. Some of the most common of these include Microsoft Word, Pages, and Google Docs, the last of which is both free and accessible. Email

Email is a basic tool used to communicate with faculty and advisors. Email is also used to send document files, images, videos, presentations, and website links. Notes

There is a handy note-taking tool called Microsoft OneNote. This program is used for taking, storing, organizing, and sharing notes for lessons, research papers, and other school work. That said, programs like Google Docs can also take the place of this as a tool for taking and saving notes that can be shared and accessed from any computer. Additionally, many of your courses utilize eBooks that include tools to allow you to make, highlight and save notes. Presentations

Most courses use presentation tools such as Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, and Keynote, either as part of the Lecture Notes or for projects required of students. So, it is useful to have a thorough working knowledge of the capabilities of presentation tools. Multimedia

Another important technology often used by instructors to support course work is multimedia (which includes videos, audio files, and podcasts). Be familiar with what they are as well as how to use and access them. Spreadsheets

It is important to have an understanding of the capabilities of spreadsheets (like Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, and Numbers). Remember, in the Library link you can find a supplemental document to help you with Excel.

Conclusion In this course, we've covered a great deal of topics that can help you succeed in your online education at Ashworth College. We analyzed learning styles and how you can use them to optimize your own learning. We explored tips to improve your reading comprehension and test taking skills. We discussed study tips and time management. We reviewed the foundational operations critical to solving math problems that you will encounter in your everyday life, academics, and future career. Additionally, (pun intended) we reviewed some important elements of financial literacy. Together, we examined how to think critically and how to use some helpful problem-solving techniques. Finally, we discussed written communication and research, as well as walked through tips and strategies for clear, strong, and persuasive writing. With all of this in mind, let's take a brief moment to review everything we’ve covered. We introduced you to the three main learning styles – visual, auditory, and kinesthetic – and you’ve given thought to what type of learner you are, as well as what tips to use to improve and optimize your learning skills. Next, we took a look at a few ways you can enhance your reading comprehension and examined test-taking strategies to use when tackling questions on a reading assignment. Then, we reviewed foundational math skills that you might find helpful in both your studies and future career. We also looked at critical thinking tips and applications that will help you tackle complex problem-solving. And we discussed the importance of research and how you can use research when approaching written assignments. After that, we explored key principles of written communication and reviewed helpful tips that will allow you to approach the common writing tasks you will encounter both in your studies and in the real world. And finally, we’ve shown you some of the ways to master your online learning. Motivational Goals You might have noticed that there was one portion that we left off the review. In this course, we also talked about your goals for completing your college education. A college degree can be a major step on the journey to

your realized success – whether professional or personal, it’s important to keep your goals in mind. Let's look back on some of them now...  Success: your college degree will help you succeed in your chosen career. There’s no doubt about it: you will earn more money and have a more secure future once you have your degree.  Confidence: completing your college degree will give you confidence in your abilities to face challenges and persevere with hard work, focus, and discipline.  Options: during your education journey you may discover talents and interests you never knew you had. Your growth will likely result in more options for you to pursue in your life.  Better Health: Statistics show that people with a college education live a healthier life. That’s a fact!  Pride: Earning your degree is a life-changing accomplishment; graduating is something you will take great pride in.  Leadership: a college degree establishes you as a leader and doer. You will inspire your friends and family to go after their own dreams. Self-Motivation If you recall, we also asked you to think about your goals for success. Think back on what those goals are. It is important to remember why you’re pursuing your degree and keep that focus. At Ashworth College, we want you to succeed, but your personal motivations are the key. We’d like to leave you with this thought from Oprah Winfrey: "The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you're willing to work."

You've already done so much. Good luck with your studies. Thank you for joining Ashworth College....