Amy began her education in a traditional university setting, but after she moved from Utah to California with her husband, she decided to finish her degree, her Ph.D., online. She is now an online professor and teaches Media and Society and Media Issues in American Pop Culture, and she believes her students benefit from the same things she did.
The major benefit, she said, “is flexibility.” Amy allows her students to turn in assignments up until 4 a.m. in the morning on the day they’re due. “I’m a late-nighter, so I thought some students would appreciate it. One student specifically said the 4 a.m. time was a plus with his schedule, because he works all day,” she said.
Amy teaches between 20 and 30 students in each of her classes, and although many of them are in their early 20′s, she does have some non-traditional students. One of them is a man who is a 53-year-old chef who went back to school to get a degree in nutrition.
Amy uses online teaching programs such as Blackboard, which she says her students have to learn in order to participate in class discussions. She also communicates with her students via e-mail. Many professors like Amy give out their telephone numbers in case of a “class emergency” or for difficult questions that can’t be addressed via e-mail. Amy loves teaching online for the same reasons she loved taking classes online: “I do my teaching and grading while my kids are asleep or at school. Right now, they’re 7, 5 and 5 months, so they’re pretty dependent on me,” she said.
Amy found her teaching job by answering a mass e-mail sent out by the dean of the school she teaches for. “So far, I have really enjoyed my classes,” said Amy. “It’s really interesting to hear their opinions of reality TV shows, Playboy magazine, [and] Britney Spears…to name a few. They definitely don’t hold back their opinions!”
Amy doesn’t let her students miss out on a classroom community either. “The community feel is there with my emphasis on posting on the discussion board. They are required to post two original comments and two responses per week,” she said.
About the author
Cara Wieser has a Master’s degree in journalism and communication. She has taught many university classes and has been published in numerous newspapers, magazines and online publications, as well as read on the radio. She enjoys riding her horses and curling up to a fire with a good book (who doesn’t enjoy this!).
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1. Go to all orientations. Yes, that’s right — it really is necessary to attend all the school orientations. The more familiar you are with the school as well as its rules and expectations, the better you’ll do. Armed with a thorough understanding of all aspects of campus life — or, at least, those aspects you can glean from orientation — you will feel more at ease when issues arise, as they always do.
2. Get organized. In high school, teachers tend to shepherd students through homework and due dates. In college, by contrast, professors post the assignments and expect you to be prepared. They don’t have much patience for excuses like “I didn’t know when it was due.” So do what you have to do — buy an electronic organizer, a planner, or a big wall calendar — but get organized.
3. Study regularly. Kind of a no-brainer, but this is an essential part of success. In addition to studying regularly, you should find an ideal place for you to study, whether at the library or a quiet place in your dorm, whatever works best for you. Like with most things, when it comes to study time, quality is better than quantity.
4. Be on time to class. What happens when you’re late or don’t show up to class? You get behind, miss out on assignments and lecture notes, and often project an “I don’t care” attitude to the professor. Often it is tempting to sleep through early morning class or skip it altogether — resist temptation. Make it a priority to attend all of your classes on time. Your grades will thank you later.
5. Meet with your professors when appropriate. Not only should you meet with professors to ask questions about assignments but also to get to know them. Remember there are upsides to having a personal relationship with your professor, especially if you run into snags late in the semester. Professors schedule office hours for the sole purpose of meeting with students — take advantage of that time.
6. Get to know your academic adviser. The job of the academic adviser is to help you make informed decisions about majors and minors, resolve course conflicts, and add or drop classes. In short, your academic adviser is your life preserver in college — make sure you use them. If your assigned adviser doesn’t have time for you, or if the two of you don’t click, don’t be afraid of requesting another one.
7. Maintain a balance. College offers students the chance to expand their education, to meet friends, and to develop talents. But concentrating on one area too much can be dangerous. Without proper attention to school, grades will fall. But without a social life, college can become a burden. Be sure to maintain a balance — study hard and play hard.
8. Get involved. Many new college students struggle with homesickness and feelings of not belonging. A good way to overcome these feelings is to join various student organizations, clubs, sororities or fraternities, or sports teams. You’ll make new friends, learn new skills, and feel more connected to your school.
9. Don’t feel pressured to make crucial decisions too soon. Sometimes students feel like they need to choose a major and begin preparing for a specific career during their first semester. Not true. Remember that part of the college experience is getting to know others and yourself. It is not a race. Feel free to explore your options, talents, likes and dislikes. Make an educated decision — not a hasty one.
10. Make time for yourself. Finally — and most importantly — remember that you should take time out of each week for yourself. Whether spent exercising, watching a favorite movie or television show, or spending time outdoors, personal time is essential to mental, emotional, and physical wellness, which has a profound effect your college performance. Thus, one of the most important lessons you should learn in college is how to relax. That being said, be careful of taking too much time for yourself. Remember you’re at school to work. While these ten tips are especially relevant for college students, it should be observed that many can be applied elsewhere. College is a microcosm of life; as such, your ability to excel in college is often a good predictor of how you will fare in other situations, such as the workplace. Thus, these skills are not only tips on how to survive college but also how to survive life.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kari Whitaker is a technical as well as creative writer. In addition to articles on education and careers, she also enjoys writing short stories, essays, and poetry.