top of page

Should I take an online course?!

  • sandwichpeerhelpers
  • Dec 7, 2014
  • 4 min read

High school students! Are you on the fence about taking a course online whether it be during the school year or during your summer break? If you're new to the idea of taking a course online, or you aren't really sure what it is or how to set it up, go check out our last post which outlines the steps on how to get yourself set up and on track with taking a course online! If you have already read our last post and are trying to figure out if you have what it takes to be successful during an online course, keep reading!

So, what do you need to know?

Keyboard

1. Stay On Track (be organized!)

One of the biggest challenges students who take online courses face is the faster pace and course load that you will be taking on during the duration of the class. Because online courses (especially in the summer) are about 3 weeks long, there is A LOT of information that needs to be fit into a time slot that would usually take about 5 months to learn! But don't get scared off so easily- you CAN get through it successfully! Depending on the teacher, they may give you specific deadlines that you must meet for each assignment and test. Some may use these deadlines as guidelines and other teachers may be extremely strict and turn away a late paper. Either way, make sure that you can plan your time accordingly so that you are meeting the deadlines and you don't fall behind. If you plan out what you have to work on each day, you'll have a clear idea of the goals you need to accomplish daily in order to maintain a reasonable workload and the class will be a lot more manageable!

2. Use Your Resources (hint* it's ONLINE!)

Another challenge that may prove to be difficult is that there is no after school help or help during school lunches where you can get feedback and ask questions from your teacher. Fortunately, in past experiences I have still had great communication with my teachers. You have their email and after every assignment, with your grade they attach a detailed description of their thoughts as well as constructive feedback for you to improve on the following projects. They are quick to answer any questions you may have- just contact them! They are there to help you. In addition to your teacher, there are many great websites that can help you along the way. For example, when I was completing a Grade 11U English class online awhile back, I was always reading about my literature piece on Spark Notes! I was extremely nervous that the way I perceived my story would be incorrect, so I would check different sites to see if I was on the right track- it definitely helped a lot. Another great online tool is YouTube videos. There are many very knowledgeable people who make videos for the sole purpose to help out students in their studies! Two great examples of this are Khan Academy, which does tutorials primarily in math and science, as well as Crash Course on YouTube, which is narrated by the famous author John Greek (you know, The Fault in Our Stars) for History and English Lit, and his brother, Hank Green, who focuses on Biology and Chemistry. They make the material you are learning more exciting and fun so that it is more comprehensive and less of a bore.

Links:

Checklist

3. Know What YOU Can Handle

My biggest advice for people considering taking a course online at any point during the year is know yourself and what you can do successfully without being overwhelmed. School is meant to be difficult and challenging, but don't stress yourself out unnecessarily! If you are in Grade 10 or 11, it may be a good idea to take a course during the summer that you are stronger in as it is a much more independent way of learning than how school during the year operates. Do not take a course that you think you will need a lot of assistance with unless you have people around you (like a tutor) to aid you in understanding the material.

Taking courses in the summer allow you to free up your school year in grade 12, as you have the ability to fast track (take grade 12 courses in grade 11) to free up your semesters in your last year. As the average of your top six marks is extremely important in Grade 12, you may want to make room in your schedule to take some easier classes along with challenging ones so that you can make sure your average is strong. Online classes are a great way to get extra credits so that you can bump up your average!

Lastly, make sure you will have the amount of time needed to dedicate to the class. Traditionally, most students choose to take courses online during the summer. If you know that you are going on vacation during the class or will be really busy volunteering/working, be honest with yourself! Don't do more than you know you can handle. Online classes will require a few hours of work EACH DAY, so make sure you are prepared and able to dedicate the appropriate amount of time to it!

Overall, taking courses online is not easy but it is extremely worthwhile! It's a quick way to obtain a credit, but it requires a lot of hard work to complete it properly. With that said, if you work hard in your course, you will be making it easier on yourself come the school year. So, think of your schedule for the coming years ahead of time so that you can plan in advance and do the best that you can! Hope this helped! If you have any other questions on taking online courses, or any other aspect of high school, feel free to tweet us or comment on our website!

Good luck!

-Alexa Govette

Grade 12 Peer Helper


 
 
 

Comments


bottom of page