Preparedness

Are you ready to take remote courses

Is online learning right for you? There are a few things to know about remote courses before you participate in the program online, to see if online learning is a good fit for you.

Setting Goals

  • Online learning requires time, focus, resources, and support. In order to balance your educational goals for online learning with outside jobs and commitments, there are several aspects to consider. Can you carve out time in your schedule to dedicate to coursework? Are your family members, employers, and co-workers ready to support your endeavors in an online program? Are you prepared for this adjustment?

Communicating

  • Being an online student requires communication with various people in the university! You must be on the lookout for emails from instructors. You may be asked to talk to classmates through discussion boards. It is helpful to initiate meetings with academic advisors for guidance. University support staff may contact you by phone about enrollment, etc. All of this requires that you regularly keep up with emails, voicemails, and online course homepages for announcements.
  • To aid in communicating, you’ll need reliable access to a computer with an up-to-date browser, and stable high-speed internet. A printer, microphone headset, and web camera are also very helpful. Using a cloud storage solution such as OneDrive (access provided by UNM), routinely backup coursework. If your original work files get lost or destroyed, you’ll be glad you did.

Following Instructions

  • Online courses are rigorous and keeping up with them requires paying close attention to the given instructions and following the instructions closely and carefully. Ask questions if you do not understand any part of the instructions! Failure to follow instructions can result in some serious grade deductions. Ask for clarification first if you find yourself considering skipping any part of the instructions.

Committing to a Studying Routine

  •  Assignments and deadlines are easy to forget about without a calendar. Maintaining a calendar and keeping it regularly updated helps track your responsibilities in each course. It is good to have designated times, at least 3 times per week, dedicated to working on your courses.
  • Minimum study time is set by the number of weeks a course is taught. A 16-week (or full semester) course requires at least two hours of study per credit hour, per week. For an 8-week course, you should expect the minimum study time to be four hours per credit hour, per week.

Navigating Unfamiliar Technologies

  • Be open-minded about new technologies and software! There may be a learning curve in using some of the equipment and interfaces that are necessary for online courses.
  • ​​The University of New Mexico currently uses Blackboard, known on campus as UNM Learn.
  • There are free software options available to UNM students, particularly collaborative technologies. The University of New Mexico also supports several applications within Office 365.

Seeking Resources and Support

  • Utilize the vast expanse of information on the internet to teach yourself about new technologies and academic concepts. Googling skills are key to success in online learning. Once admitted, students have access to university resources and support.