Are you ready for an online class?
Our course is an Online Class and this is very likely the first online class you have ever taken. If this is the case, you need to consider if online classes are going to benefit you in the long run.
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Are you good with technology? This is a tech HEAVY class. You need access to a functioning computer with digital video capability (because we will be conferencing via Google hangouts). You need a gmail account. You need to feel comfortable publicly posting your writing (because all of your work will be posted and live on your Wix site) and comfortable making yourself safely visible on social media. If you are a strictly analog person who longs for the day that you can refab a tiny home on a trailer and live "Off the Grid," then perhaps online classes are not for you. If you have sketchy internet access at home and no access to FSU campus, a local library, or one of these many national chains which offer free WiFi, this class might not work for you.
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Are you good at keeping up with your assignments? This class makes all deadlines accessible on day one via the class calendar on this website, however, you are responsible for checking it and managing your time in order to keep up with your assignments. If you need a human being to stand in front of you to say,
"Remember class, that drafts are due
on Tuesday!", then online classes
might not work for you. I WILL NOT
constantly remind you of your
deadlines.
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Are you an Introvert or an Extrovert? What I mean by that is: do you need to be among people bouncing ideas off them, riffing on what they say, feeding off their energy in order to thrive? or, do you get enough of that on a regular basis where you can absorb information from a website as opposed to a classroom? If you learn best with physical human beings, then online classes might not work for you.
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Do you need the accountability of sitting in a classroom? Physical classrooms give you a specific time and a specific place you must go either two or three times a week. Online classes, however, have schedules and deadlines, they don't require you to physically be anywhere. The luxury of learning in your pajamas means you have to be motivated enough to check in regularly. If you need to be in the room where it happens, then maybe online classes are not for you.
Who is most successful in online classes?
This leads to the question: who are online classes for?
Online classes are for:
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Self-motivators
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Introverts, or extroverts who don't mind being alone
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Those who believe Internet friends are real friends
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the technologically comfortable (or adequate looking to become comfortable)
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People who want to participate but don't like talking in a classroom setting.
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Those who can manage their time
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Distance learners (because not all FSU students live on campus)
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ANYONE WILLING TO GIVE IT A SHOT
Because more than anything, this class requires a willingness to do something different. College is two things: it is a job and it is a game. It is a job in the sense
that you are required to show up and work. Throughout the semester you collect points and at the end receive a grade, which you can put toward your GPA and your degree. On the other hand, it's like a game too. You run around collecting gold stars and completing tasks which take you through multiple levels. There are bonuses and hacks. If you need assistance, you can google a walkthrough. Of course you should take it seriously, but it doesn't have to be torture, either. When you figure out how to meld the job and the game together, you will have a better experience in the semester.
And the way I recommend you do this is by being aware of your resistance. Writer Heather Sellers (FSU alum, shout out!) notes that before beginning any experience a person will develop an idea of what they want that experience to be.
Because of these preconceived notions, whenever anything veers from that idea of
what it "should" be, this results in RESISTANCE. Basically, your brain decides, "I want to learn, but NOT THAT WAY!"
At the beginning of this semester, you have walked into a variety of classrooms and collected syllabi and decided how much you want to participate in each class. Some classes are required for your degree. Perhaps you have a scholarship where you have to maintain a certain GPA. Or maybe the pressure of parents is weighing on you. Whatever is motivating you to be ready to learn, don't be resistant to the process. Don't get too hung up on what you think a composition class "should" be.
Strategies for Success in an online class
When you walk into a classroom, you often bring with you a backpack full of things which you know will ensure your success such as textbooks, laptop, pens, highlighters, and snacks. But what do you need with you when you tackle an online class? Consider the following tips and tricks to ensure excellence.
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Schedule a regular time to review the online lectures. I post each online lecture on Monday and Wednesday at 5 am. You decide which time works best for you to review the material. But note, pick a time where your brain is most sharp and ready to engage with the material.
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Take notes. Just because you are reading the lecture on a screen does not mean you are retaining that information. As you are reading, write down keywords, terms, and examples which will be useful for you. OR if reading digital text is frustrating for you, print the lectures out and review them with a highlighter.
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Read or watch all the links included in the online lectures. I provide many examples designed to help provide a deeper understanding. These links are not optional. I will continue to reference them.
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Check the Calendar. Checking the class calendar on this website is the easiest way to make sure you stay on top of your assignments. Write down all the deadlines in your time management system OR follow the calendar with Google Calendar and have alerts delivered to your phone.
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Schedule enough time to complete assignments. Some assignments take more time than others. Do not assume you can knock everything out in an hour.
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Don't push deadlines. If your Wix page or laptop collapses at 11:50 pm when your deadline is 11:59 pm, do not expect much sympathy.
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Ask questions on Twitter. You are not alone in this class, even though you don't report to a classroom. Your classmates might have the answers you seek. Also, I check Twitter regularly and will answer questions as well.
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Set up a video conference during office hours. Talking out what confuses you about an assignment or an idea can be very helpful.
Advice from former students
