The graduate online credit courses and Specializations from the College of Business have been thought for the adult and non-traditional learner who needs professional development, or a degree to advance in his/her career. So the courses have been designed in a way that they provide flexibility and convenience to complete your coursework. That flexibility, however, means you have to take some extra steps to be successful. For instance, you will have to be proactive about creating some of the structure you get naturally in a face-to-face course. Here are some tips to help you have the most successful experience possible. Remember that these courses are part of the iMBA program, therefore they follow the same requirements and academic rigor that business courses at Illinois have.
1. Setting the Right Expectations
Your online courses will provide you with a rigorous academic experience, similar to what you would experience in on-campus courses. Please review the iMBA Student Manual and carefully read what is expected of you for each online course from Business @ Illinois. If you are prepared for the rigor of your courses and the time commitment required, you will be best situated for a successful experience.
2. Establish a Good Workspace
In on-campus courses, you split your time between a classroom and some place outside of the classroom to study and complete assignments. With an online course,your time is spent entirely outside of a classroom. Therefore, it is even more important that you have a good place to work. Find a quiet place with a good internet connection, access to power, and freedom from distraction. Ideally, this would be a place you can routinely visit throughout the course so that when you are there, you know it is time to work.
3. Know Your Resources
Figure out as early as possible all of the technologies, websites, and resources you may need to use in a course, learn and master them as soon as the course starts (or before if you have the chance). Ensure that your computer is working well, install all the recommended software, and verify that your browser is up-to-date. If a particular course requires the use of special tools, test them out early to ensure they work on your system so you can focus your attention on course materials and not be distracted by technical problems. Please review the technology requirements in the Student Manual .
4. Stay Organized
As with any course, but especially for an online course, it is important to stay organized. Organize all of your files in a way that makes sense to you. It is also wise to keep a copy of anything you submit in the event that a technology problem requires you to resubmit it. There are many free file management programs out there, and as an Illinois student, you will have access to Google Drive and Box accounts to help you manage all your files in one place.
5. Manage Your Time Wisely
A part of staying organized is having strong time management skills. Online courses certainly give you a lot of flexibility in terms of when you do your studying, but you will still need to schedule time (and enough of it) in your personal calendar to study the materials in your online course and complete assignments. Treat those blocks of time as seriously as you would a face-to-face class or a meeting. Let your friends and family know you are unavailable during those times and consistently use a designated workspace during those times. Keep a close eye on assignment due dates as well and utilize a personal calendar with automated reminders to stay organized.
6. Connect with Your Peers and Instructors
Interacting with your peers and instructors is critical to having a rich, engaging experience. Take advantage of course forums, webinars, and online networking opportunities to connect with others. Use social networking sites like Facebook and LinkedIn to stay connected and utilize the vast knowledge base and contacts of your peers and instructors.
7. Seek Help When Needed
The online space need not be an isolating one. Your instructor and classmates can be great sources of information and support. If you need help reach out to onlineMBA@illinois.edu.