ONLINE EDUCATION 1
ONLINE EDUCATION 2
For an online student to be successful it has been determined that they must have certain
qualities. Studies have shown online students that have good time management qualities, utilize
all the student discussions, use the material learned in class in their everyday life, ask meaningful
questions, stay motivated, communicate the instruction techniques that work, and make
connections with their classmates. In another study it shows that these same principle qualities
are important for success in online learning. There are many challenges that online adult learners
face and having the right attitude could make or break how well someone can do. One of the
challenging factors is time management. If you procrastinate and do not have the self-discipline
to work on the material a little every day, you will probably not do as well. Also, with
procrastination, students can fall behind in class work, and ultimately the student will lose the
motivation to keep striving to do well. In many studies online discussions are found to be the
most beneficial thing for online learners. Interacting with meaningful content and questions with
professors and classmates can also keep you motivated. Students have said how interesting and
enjoyable it is to interact with online discussions. It has been proven that no matter the avenue a
student will take to learn it is important to keep the key qualities in order to be a successful
student.
Schrum and Hong identified seven critical factors believed to be related to student success in
the online environment: personal traits such as self-discipline, life style factors such as adequate
free time to commit to the course, motivation to perform well in the course, strong study skills,
a preference to text-based learning, reliable access to technology, and technology experience
prior to the course (Waschull, 2005, p. 190).
Most importantly from both studies is every student is different; therefore, every student learns
differently, in turn every student must figure out what will work for them to be successful online
learners.
ONLINE EDUCATION 3
By having self-discipline, you are not as likely to procrastinate on the work. You will
also be more likely able to budget time to get assignments done, so that you are not late in
turning in work. I think that with having self-discipline you are more likely to have the
motivation to get the work done. Once I have procrastinated an assignment I lose interest in the
work altogether and end up getting further and further behind. I think for me specifically
keeping the focus and discipline are the reasons I can be more successful with online learning.
Specifically, for psychology, I think it is equally as important to stick to a strict schedule and
have good studying skills. This class is intriguing, but also challenging especially if you get
behind in the material. This course is also an 8-week program and I feel like the material
necessary to know to pass this course is crammed into every single day of the 8 weeks. Making
sure you have the personality traits that is talked about in the Waschull article is all equally
important. Roper found that staying involved in the online discussions were crucial to the
learning experiences. I believe that discussions help with making you understand the material
you are reading and having your classmates critique your work, you in turn learn things better.
For me, I find that when I teach or write out what I have learned, I find sections of the material
that I read still a little confusing. Asking other classmates questions while I am doing this helps
me learn the material better as well. I think for me to be successful in the psychology class I
need to stay disciplined, motivated, involved in all discussions, ask lots of questions, plan a
schedule to read and study and do the assignments, and try to relate the material to my everyday
life. Roper (2007) discusses the “use it or lose it,” (p.63) and how if you do not try to use what
you are learning every day even after the course is complete, you are likely going to forget all
the material you have learned. These key qualities are things I use in every online course I take
and I have done well so far.
ONLINE EDUCATION 4
When creating the below weekly table, I wanted to make sure I was including some type
of school work on every single day. I know that Sunday’s are a lot of people’s rest days, but for
me if I give myself a day off I tend to procrastinate. I also wanted to make sure that I gave my
family my time before I did any school work, because they deserve the best of me and not my
left overs. Creating a schedule is most important for me to be successful in any class, also this
helps give me little goals to get school work completed. I try to give myself a few things to do a
day because I feel like it does not make me as overwhelmed. Based on the articles I read, it is
important for me to be successful if I structure my days with school work to do every day, stay
motivated by the little assignments that are overcome during the week, and following this day to
day so that I do not get behind and/or procrastinate.
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturda
y
Sunday
Week Work 0700-1600
Dinner/Family
Work 0700-
1600
Work 0700-
1600
Work 0700-
1600
Work 0700-
1600
Family
time/chores
0730-1200
1200-1400
(Final
draft on
Online
Success
Assignmen
t and have
husband
proof
read.)
Family
time 1400-
1900
Work out
1900-2000
School
work 2000-
2100
(Complete
Chapter 1
quiz.)
Church
0700-1100
1Time 1600-1900
Work out 1900-
Dinner/Famil
y Time 1600-
Dinner/Family
Time 1600-
Dinner/Family
Time 1600-
Dinner/Famil
y Time 1600-
Family
time 1100-
2000 1900 1900 1900 1900 1600
School work Work out Work out Work out Work out Small
2000-2200 1900-2000 1900-2000 1900-2000 1900-2000 groups
(Course check in, School work School work School work School work 1630-1900
watch 2 Videos, 2000- 2000- 2000- 2000- School
read both articles, 2200(Read 2200(Start 2200(Complet 2200(Proof Work
take notes while and take notes working on e Online read and edit 1900-2100
reading/watching on Chapters Online Success Online (read
) 1-2, watch the Success Assignment Success Chapter 2
other video) Assignment and continue Assignment, over and
and start studying for re-read the study
studying the two two chapters notes)
materials by quizzes.) from the text
making flash book.)
cards.)
Week Work 0700-1600
Dinner/Family
Work 0700-
1600
Work 0700-
1600
Work 0700-
1600
Work 0700-
1600
Family
time/chores
Church
0700-1100
2Time 1600-1900
Work out 1900-
Dinner/Famil
y Time 1600-
Dinner/Family
Time 1600-
Dinner/Family
Time 1600-
Dinner/Famil
y Time 1600-
0730-1900
Work out
Family
time 1100-
2000 1900 1900 1900 1900 1900-2000 1600
School work Work out Work out Work out Work out School Small
2000-2200(Take 1900-2000 1900-2000 1900-2000 1900-2000 work 2000- groups
ONLINE EDUCATION 5
Chapter 2 quiz
and turn in
Online Success
Assignment.)
School work
2000-
2200(Read
and take notes
on Chapter 3-
4)
School work
2000-
2200(Watch 1
presentation,
and 2 videos)
School work
2000-
2200(Post
Discussion
Board, review
notes from the
previous days.)
School work
2000-
2200(Re-read
chapter 3 and
4)
2100
(Complete
Chapter 3
quiz.)
1630-1900
School
Work
1900-2100
(Complete
Chapter 4
quiz.)
Week Work 0700-1600
Dinner/Family
Work 0700-
1600
Work 0700-
1600
Work 0700-
1600
Work 0700-
1600
Family
time/chores
Church
0700-1100
3Time 1600-1900
Work out 1900-
Dinner/Famil
y Time 1600-
Dinner/Family
Time 1600-
Dinner/Family
Time 1600-
Dinner/Famil
y Time 1600-
0730-1900
Work out
Family
time 1100-
2000 1900 1900 1900 1900 1900-2000 1600
School work Work out Work out Work out Work out School Small
2000- 1900-2000 1900-2000 1900-2000 1900-2000 work 2000- groups
2100(Discussion School work School work School work School work 2100 1630-1900
Board Replies to 2000- 2000-2200 2000-2200 2000- (Complete School
2 classmates.) 2200(Read (Watch 1 (Post 2200(Re-read Chapter 5 Work
and take notes presentation Discussion chapter 5 and quiz.) 1900-2100
on Chapters and 2 Board, review 6) (Complete
5-6). videos/take notes from the Chapter 6
notes). previous days.) quiz.)
Week Work 0700-1600
Dinner/Family
Work 0700-
1600
Work 0700-
1600
Work 0700-
1600
Work 0700-
1600
Family
time/chores
Church
0700-1100
4Time 1600-1900
Work out 1900-
Dinner/Famil
y Time 1600-
Dinner/Family
Time 1600-
Dinner/Family
Time 1600-
Dinner/Famil
y Time 1600-
0730-1900
Work out
Family
time 1100-
2000 1900 1900 1900 1900 1900-2000 1600
School work Work out Work out Work out Work out School Small
2000- 1900-2000 1900-2000 1900-2000 1900-2000 work 2000- groups
2100(Discussion School work School work School work School work 2100 1630-1900
Board Replies to 2000- 2000-2200 2000-2200 2000- (Complete School
2 classmates.) 2200(Read (Watch 1 (Post 2200(Re-read Chapter 7 Work
and take notes presentation Discussion chapter 7 and quiz.) 1900-2100
on Chapters and take Board, review 8) (Complete
7-8). notes). notes from the Chapter 8
previous days.) quiz.)
Week Work 0700-1600
Dinner/Family
Work 0700-
1600
Work 0700-
1600
Work 0700-
1600
Work 0700-
1600
Family
time/chores
Church
0700-1100
5Time 1600-1900
Work out 1900-
Dinner/Famil
y Time 1600-
Dinner/Family
Time 1600-
Dinner/Family
Time 1600-
Dinner/Famil
y Time 1600-
0730-1900
Work out
Family
time 1100-
2000 1900 1900 1900 1900 1900-2000 1600
School work Work out Work out Work out Work out School Small
2000- 1900-2000 1900-2000 1900-2000 1900-2000 work 2000- groups
2100(Discussion School work School work School work School work 2100 1630-1900
Board Replies to 2000- 2000-2200 2000-2200 2000- (Complete School
2 classmates.) 2200(Read (Watch 2 (Post 2200(Re-read Chapter 9 Work
and take notes presentation’s, Discussion chapter 9) quiz.) 1900-2100
on Chapter 9). 3 videos and Board, review (Review
take notes). notes from the notes)
previous days.)
Week Work 0700-1600
Dinner/Family
Work 0700-
1600
Work 0700-
1600
Work 0700-
1600
Work 0700-
1600
Family
time/chores
Church
0700-1100
6Time 1600-1900
Work out 1900-
Dinner/Famil
y Time 1600-
Dinner/Family
Time 1600-
Dinner/Family
Time 1600-
Dinner/Famil
y Time 1600-
0730-1900
Work out
Family
time 1100-
2000 1900 1900 1900 1900 1900-2000 1600
School work Work out Work out Work out Work out School Small
2000- 1900-2000 1900-2000 1900-2000 1900-2000 work 2000- groups
2100(Discussion School work School work School work School work 2100 1630-1900
Board Replies to 2000- 2000-2200 2000-2200 2000- (Complete School
2 classmates.) 2200(Read (Watch 2 (Start working 2200(Re-read Chapter 11 Work
and take notes presentation’s on personality chapter 11) quiz, 1900-2100
on Chapter and take assignment, continue to (Proof read
11). notes). review notes work on work)
ONLINE EDUCATION 6
from the
previous days.)
personality
assign.)
Week Work 0700-1600
Dinner/Family
Work 0700-
1600
Work 0700-
1600
Work 0700-
1600
Work 0700-
1600
Family
time/chores
Church
0700-1100
7Time 1600-1900
Work out 1900-
Dinner/Famil
y Time 1600-
Dinner/Family
Time 1600-
Dinner/Family
Time 1600-
Dinner/Famil
y Time 1600-
0730-1900
Work out
Family
time 1100-
2000 1900 1900 1900 1900 1900-2000 1600
School work Work out Work out Work out Work out School Small
2000- 1900-2000 1900-2000 1900-2000 1900-2000 work 2000- groups
2100(Finalize School work School work School work School work 2100 1630-1900
personality 2000- 2000-2200 2000-2200 2000- (Complete School
assignment and 2200(Read (Watch 1 (Post 2200(Re-read Chapter 12 Work
turn in) and take notes presentation’s, Discussion chapter 12) quiz.) 1900-2100
on Chapter 2 videos, and Board, review (Discussio
12). take notes). notes from the n Board 2
previous days.) replies)
Week Work 0700-1600
Dinner/Family
Work 0700-
1600
Work 0700-
1600
Work 0700-
1600
Family
time/chores
8Time 1600-1900
Work out 1900-
Dinner/Famil
y Time 1600-
Dinner/Family
Time 1600-
Dinner/Family
Time 1600-
0730-1900
Work out
2000 1900 1900 1900 1900-2000
School work Work out Work out Work out School work
2000-2100(Read 1900-2000 1900-2000 1900-2000 2000-2100
take notes School work School work School work (Complete
Chapters 13-14) 2000-2200 2000-2200 2000-2200(Re- Chapter 13
(Watch 1 (Post read chapter quiz, Chapter
presentation, Discussion 13-14, and 14 quiz, and
1 video, and Board, review notes) last two
take notes). notes from the discussion
previous days.) board replies)
ONLINE EDUCATION 7
References
Roper, A. R. (2007). How students develop online learning skills. Educause Quarterly, 1, 62-65.
Waschull, S. B. (2005). Predicting success in online psychology courses: Self-discipline and
motivation. Teaching of Psychology, 32(3), 190-192.
10.1207/s15328023top3203_11
