For those who are new to online study, joining the class and getting through the lesson can be a bit confusing and overwhelming. The technology and strategics of wading through a virtual classroom and taking notes on a topic that is new to you, makes knowing what to do and being prepared, vital. Otherwise your first few days can be scary and unnecessarily so.

Basic steps to being fully prepared and beginning your online learning experience are provided by Julie Harvard in her article below. Julie gives six practical steps to having a stress free first week with useful tips on what do and how to go about about it. Use the link to view relevant articles for online study. 

Online Study Tips - 6 To-Do Tasks in First Week of Study
By Julie Harvard

After you have enrolled into an online education program, the next thing to do is preparing yourself to attend online classes. Your first week in an online class can be a little disorienting as you may not be familiar with the online learning system used by the school. You need to learn how to navigate a virtual "classroom", interact with peers and professors through online system and familiar yourself with the online learning environment. Here are 6 online study tips that you can do in the first week of your online learning:

1. Review the course requirement

Once you received the course requirements for every subject, go through the requirements carefully to ensure you can really handle the workload. Many online students tend to dropout half-way of the course after they find out that can't cope for the course. Don't let this happen to you, if you find out the course is not suitable for you after reviewing the course requirements, and you decide to dropout the course, do it before the school's withdrawal deadline so that you can get a full or partial refund of your payment.

2. Buy text books and other materials

Buy all the textbooks and other course materials early so that you won't fall behind on your online study. Many schools have their own online bookstore or a recommended list of bookstore where you can purchase the course textbooks and other materials.

3. Upgrade computer hardware and install required software

Is your computer meeting the online system requirements? Most online learning system can be accessed directly from general internet browser such as Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox, but those online learning system may only run well in certain minimum version of internet browser such as IE 6.0 or Firefox 2.0, then you need to upgrade it if yours is an earlier version. The school may requires you to install their software on to your computer, make sure you read the software requirements and upgrade your computer if necessary before you install the software.

4. Get to known each other with your teachers and peers

Your online teachers may never get to know you if you are in an online course with a lot of students. Take an initiative to briefly introduce yourself by using online course message board to let your teachers aware about you. A teacher who knows a little bit about you will be more likely to help you through the course. Establish yourself as an active member in the online class, take the initiative to get to know your peers and trade your email or other online communication accounts with them. You will your life in online study much easier if you have made up your network between teachers and peers.

5. Plan your learning schedule

You should always balance your family, career (if any) and your online study life. The life balances can only be achieved with a proper time management. Establish a regular study schedule and stick to it with your best efforts. Let your friends know that you are unavailable during these times and plan your family time to fit your study schedule so that it won't crash with each other.

6. Mark the tests and assignment schedule on your calendar

One of the key factors for success online students is "self-motivation", nobody will look at your back and remind you on your assignment due date, and the tests schedule. You should be self-motivate enough to record all of the assignments, test, essays and project on your personal calendar once you receive a syllabus, which normally will be given out at the beginning of the online course.

Summary

Get yourself prepared for the classes at the beginning of the online course will help you to go through your learning journey smoothly. Use the above 6 online study tips to get started.