Ten Things to do Offline for Your Online College Courses

While the ability to connect to the internet and watch lectures or participate in discussions online is invaluable, time spent offline reading and studying is equally important. Here are some tips for managing the offline component of online college courses.

Set a Schedule. It is easy to fall into the habit of logging on at a convenient time and knocking out some coursework, but for every hour spent online another hour should be spent working offline reading course materials.

Use a Planner. Without the physical reminder that a class is underway it is common for online students to forget critical due dates. Buy an old style school planner, write down assignments, and refer to it daily.

Buy Offline Materials. Although Google incorporates a calculator and you can search for relevant supplementary study material, get used to browsing through your local library for books, and buy a good scientific calculator.

Talk to People. An often overlooked component of online courses is face to face interaction with people. Course material will seem far more relevant if you can discuss it with someone while looking them in the eye.

Distraction Free Study. Do not try to study while online. Turn off the computer and find a quiet nook in your home or library to read and work without the distractions of Youtube and Facebook.

Form a Study Group. Chances are you are taking online courses through a local school, and some classmates live in your area. Form an in person study group that meets weekly to go over course material.

Buy Textbooks. These days many textbooks are offered in an e-book format. But buying the physical textbook makes it easier to study offline without distraction.

Hand Write Homework. Instead of trying to fill out PDF files hand write the homework and then scan it into the computer in order to be emailed to your professor.

Call You Professor. Many online professors prefer to speak in real time to students rather than exchange impersonal emails. Call up your professor and start a conversation.

Get Outside. A breath of fresh air is sometimes exactly what is needed to restore calm and focus to a student’s life. Start taking walks around the block or in a park.